DPI / eDPI Calculator

DPI, Sensitivity, and eDPI Explained for Gamers

Finding the right mouse sensitivity is one of the most impactful adjustments you can make to improve your aim in competitive games. Whether you play CS2, Valorant, Overwatch 2, or Apex Legends, your effective sensitivity is determined by the combination of your mouse's DPI setting and your in-game sensitivity value. This calculator helps you understand and compare these settings using industry-standard metrics like eDPI and cm/360°.

What Is DPI?

DPI stands for “dots per inch” and measures how many pixels your mouse cursor moves for every inch of physical mouse movement. A mouse set to 800 DPI will move the cursor 800 pixels for each inch you move the mouse on your desk. Higher DPI means the cursor moves faster for the same physical movement. Most gaming mice allow you to set DPI in the mouse's software, typically ranging from 100 to 25,600 or more.

What Is In-Game Sensitivity?

In-game sensitivity is a multiplier that the game engine applies on top of your mouse DPI. It controls how much your character's viewpoint rotates per unit of mouse movement. A sensitivity of 2.0 will rotate your view twice as fast as 1.0, given the same DPI. Every game implements sensitivity differently, which is why the same sensitivity number feels completely different across games.

What Is eDPI (Effective DPI)?

eDPI, or effective DPI, is calculated by multiplying your mouse DPI by your in-game sensitivity: eDPI = DPI × Sensitivity. This single number lets you compare sensitivity across players who use different DPI settings. A player using 400 DPI with 2.0 sensitivity has an eDPI of 800, which is identical to a player using 800 DPI with 1.0 sensitivity. Both will experience the same in-game turning speed.

Understanding cm/360°

The cm/360° metric tells you how many centimeters you need to move your mouse to complete a full 360-degree turn in the game. This is widely considered the most universal way to compare sensitivity across different games because it accounts for the game's yaw value, which varies from title to title. The formula is: cm/360° = (360 × 2.54) / (DPI × Sensitivity × Yaw). Lower cm/360° means faster turning (high sensitivity), while higher cm/360° means slower turning (low sensitivity, more mouse movement required).

What Is Yaw?

Yaw is a game-engine constant that defines how many degrees of rotation occur per mouse count per unit of sensitivity. CS2 uses a yaw of 0.022, meaning each mouse count at sensitivity 1.0 rotates the view 0.022 degrees. Valorant uses 0.07, Overwatch 2 uses 0.0066, and Fortnite uses 0.5555. Because of these differences, a sensitivity of 1.0 in CS2 feels completely different from 1.0 in Valorant. Using cm/360° normalizes across all games.

Pro Player Sensitivity Ranges

Professional players in tactical shooters like CS2 and Valorant overwhelmingly use low to very low sensitivities. The average CS2 professional plays at around 850–900 eDPI (with the default 0.022 yaw), translating to roughly 40–55 cm/360°. Valorant pros average slightly higher, around 250–350 eDPI (with Valorant's 0.07 yaw), which corresponds to a similar cm/360° range of 35–50 cm. In faster-paced games like Overwatch 2 or Apex Legends, pros tend to use medium sensitivities in the 25–40 cm/360° range to balance tracking with quick 180-degree turns.

Finding Your Ideal Sensitivity

• Start in the medium range: A cm/360° of 30–45 is a good starting point for most FPS games. This gives you reasonable precision without needing an enormous mousepad.
• Consider your playstyle: Snipers and players who hold angles benefit from lower sensitivity (more precision). Entry fraggers and flankers may prefer slightly higher sensitivity for faster target acquisition.
• Keep your DPI at 800 or above: While some pros still use 400 DPI, 800 DPI or higher is recommended to avoid pixel skipping on high-resolution displays. You can then adjust in-game sensitivity for finer control.
• Use the same cm/360° across games: If you play multiple FPS titles, matching your cm/360° across all of them builds consistent muscle memory.
• Give it time: After changing your sensitivity, play for at least a week before judging. Your muscle memory needs time to adapt to new settings.

DPI Myths and Misconceptions

A common misconception is that higher DPI is inherently “better.” In reality, there is no advantage to using extremely high DPI with a very low in-game sensitivity versus moderate DPI with moderate sensitivity, as long as the eDPI is the same. The main practical consideration is that very low DPI (below 400) can cause noticeable pixel skipping, while extremely high DPI (above 3200) may introduce sensor smoothing on some mice. For most gamers, 800–1600 DPI with in-game sensitivity adjusted to reach their target cm/360° is the sweet spot.