What Is eDPI?
eDPI (effective DPI) is the true measure of your mouse sensitivity — calculated by multiplying your mouse's hardware DPI setting by your in-game sensitivity value. A mouse at 400 DPI with a 2.0 in-game sensitivity has an eDPI of 800. This single number lets you compare sensitivities across different DPI settings, games, and players. The average eDPI for professional CS2 players is approximately 280, though optimal eDPI varies widely by playstyle and mousepad size.
How to Calculate Your eDPI
The formula is simple: eDPI = DPI × In-Game Sensitivity
Examples:
400 DPI × 2.0 sensitivity = 800 eDPI
800 DPI × 1.0 sensitivity = 800 eDPI
1600 DPI × 0.5 sensitivity = 800 eDPI
All three are identical in actual movement speed.
This is why debating "400 DPI vs 800 DPI" is largely pointless — what matters is the combined eDPI, not either value individually. Modern sensors are equally accurate at both settings. Use our free eDPI calculator to find your number in under 30 seconds.
What eDPI Do Pro Players Use?
According to ProSettings.net data from 150+ active professional players across CS2 and Valorant (Q1 2025):
| eDPI Range | % of Pro Players |
|---|---|
| < 200 | 8% |
| 200–400 | 41% |
| 400–600 | 31% |
| 600–900 | 14% |
| > 900 | 6% |
Source: ProSettings.net database, Q1 2025. CS2 and Valorant combined.
Pro Player eDPI Database — Top 20 CS2 and Valorant Pros
The following table shows the exact DPI, in-game sensitivity, and calculated eDPI for 20 of the most-watched professional CS2 and Valorant players (data as of Q1 2025, sourced from ProSettings.net). Note the diversity of approaches — there is no single "correct" eDPI even at the highest level of play.
| Player | DPI | Sens | eDPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| s1mple | 400 | 3.09 | 1236 |
| ZywOo | 400 | 2.0 | 800 |
| NiKo | 400 | 1.15 | 460 |
| device | 400 | 1.1 | 440 |
| sh1ro | 400 | 1.62 | 648 |
| ropz | 400 | 0.875 | 350 |
| Twistzz | 800 | 0.74 | 592 |
| broky | 400 | 0.75 | 300 |
| dupreeh | 400 | 2.4 | 960 |
| TenZ | 800 | 0.408 | 326 |
| ScreaM | 400 | 0.78 | 312 |
| Asuna | 1600 | 0.29 | 464 |
| ShahZaM | 800 | 0.3 | 240 |
| yay | 800 | 0.25 | 200 |
| cNed | 400 | 0.83 | 332 |
| Derke | 800 | 0.44 | 352 |
| nAts | 800 | 0.49 | 392 |
| Jame | 400 | 1.1 | 440 |
| electroNic | 400 | 2.5 | 1000 |
| karrigan | 400 | 1.2 | 480 |
Source: ProSettings.net, Q1 2025. Color coding: blue = low (<350), green = medium (350–599), yellow = high (600–899), red = very high (900+).
Ideal eDPI by Game — What Pros Use Per Title
eDPI norms differ significantly between games because each title has different movement mechanics, field of view, and engagement distances. What's optimal in CS2 may feel too slow in Apex Legends:
| Game | Pro Avg eDPI |
|---|---|
| CS2 | 480 |
| Valorant | 350 |
| Apex Legends | 600 |
| Overwatch 2 | 700 |
| Fortnite | 800 |
| Rainbow Six Siege | 350 |
| PUBG | 450 |
Important: These figures are game-specific sensitivity values multiplied by DPI — they are NOT interchangeable. A Valorant eDPI of 350 produces a very different actual cursor speed than a CS2 eDPI of 350 because each game applies a different internal multiplier. Always use cm/360 for cross-game comparisons.
How eDPI Relates to cm/360
cm/360 (centimetres per 360-degree rotation) is a more universally accurate sensitivity metric because it accounts for different games having different sensitivity multipliers. Two players with the same eDPI in CS2 can have completely different cm/360 values in Valorant, because Valorant's sensitivity scale is not 1:1 with CS2's.
A rough conversion for CS2: eDPI 400 ≈ 42 cm/360. eDPI 800 ≈ 21 cm/360. Most pro riflers prefer 25–45 cm/360; AWP players often use 30–60 cm/360 for more stable long-range control.
eDPI is useful for quick comparisons within the same game. For cross-game sensitivity comparison, use a dedicated sensitivity converter tool that takes cm/360 as its input.
How to Find Your Ideal eDPI
Start with 800 eDPI (e.g., 800 DPI × 1.0 sensitivity or 400 DPI × 2.0) if you're new to optimising your setup. This is close to the middle of the professional range and works across a wide variety of playstyles.
The practical test: set up a target dummy in your game of choice and practice 180-degree turns. If you consistently over-rotate (go past your target), lower eDPI by 10–15%. If you consistently under-rotate or find precise tracking difficult, raise it. The right eDPI is the highest value at which you can still make small, precise adjustments reliably.
Pair your eDPI with a 1000Hz polling rate for consistent, low-latency tracking. A well-chosen eDPI combined with high polling rate and a clean sensor removes hardware as a limiting factor in your aim.
Arm Aim vs Wrist Aim — Which eDPI Is Right for You?
Your natural aiming style is one of the most important factors in choosing your eDPI — more so than copying any pro player's settings directly.
| Aspect | Arm Aim | Wrist Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Primary movement | Shoulder + forearm | Wrist rotation |
| Typical eDPI range | 200–600 | 600–1,200 |
| Mousepad needed | Large (45cm+) | Medium (30–45cm) |
| Best for | Precise rifle tracking | Fast flicks, smaller desk |
| Fatigue risk | Low (larger muscles) | Higher (repetitive strain) |
| DPI recommendation | 400 DPI | 800 DPI |
Arm aimers drive the mouse primarily from the shoulder and forearm, using the wrist only for micro-corrections. This technique delivers the most consistent tracking because large muscle groups produce smooth, controlled arcs. It pairs naturally with low eDPI (200–600) — each millimetre of physical movement translates to a small on-screen shift, giving precise control over small angles. The trade-off: you need a large mousepad (at least 45cm wide) and sufficient desk space for full arm sweeps.
Wrist aimers rely on wrist rotation for most movement, keeping the forearm mostly still. This suits players with limited desk space or those who prefer faster, snappier responses. Wrist aim works best at medium-to-high eDPI (600–1,200) — without the longer arc that arm movement provides, you need higher sensitivity to reach targets. The downside: smaller muscles fatigue faster, and fine tremor at high eDPI can affect micro-adjustment precision. If you identify as a wrist aimer, set your DPI to 800 and adjust in-game sensitivity to land in the 600–1,200 eDPI range.
eDPI, Polling Rate, and Sensor Accuracy: The Full Picture
Your mouse's accuracy in translating physical movement to on-screen cursor position depends on three interrelated factors:
1. eDPI — determines the ratio of physical-to-virtual movement. Too high and small movements overshoot; too low and you can't react quickly to sudden angle changes.
2. Polling rate — determines how frequently movement data is sent to your PC. At 125Hz (8ms polling), the cursor position updates 125 times per second. At 1000Hz (1ms), it updates 1,000 times per second. For gaming, 1000Hz is the standard minimum. Check your actual polling rate with our Mouse Polling Rate Test.
3. Sensor accuracy — the optical or laser sensor's ability to accurately count surface micro-movements. Modern gaming mice with sensors like the PixArt 3395 or Logitech HERO have zero meaningful tracking error at any gaming speed. Older sensors could "spin out" (lose tracking) at very fast flicks, but this is not a concern with any mouse sold after ~2018.
The optimised setup: use 1000Hz polling, choose 400 or 800 DPI, set your in-game sensitivity to target your preferred eDPI range, and pick a mousepad surface appropriate for your movement style (control pads for precision aim, speed pads for flicks).
Step-by-Step: How to Find and Set Your eDPI
- 1
Verify your mouse's hardware DPI setting
Check your mouse software (Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries GG, etc.) and note your current DPI setting. Most gaming mice default to 800 DPI. Set it to either 400 or 800 — both are equally valid.
- 2
Calculate your current eDPI
Multiply DPI × your current in-game sensitivity. For CS2 at 800 DPI and 0.8 sensitivity: eDPI = 800 × 0.8 = 640. Compare this to the pro averages in the tables above for your game.
- 3
Start from a benchmark
If your eDPI is above 1,200, try halving it. If below 150, try doubling it. Start in the 400–800 range and adjust from there. Play 1–2 hours before judging.
- 4
Test with aim training
Use Aim Lab (free) or KovaaK's scenarios to test your tracking and flick accuracy at the new eDPI. The 'Gridshot' scenario is a good quick test — if you overshoot targets consistently, lower eDPI; if you're slow to reach them, raise it.
- 5
Lock it in for 2 weeks
Muscle memory requires 2–4 weeks of consistent practice to form. Don't change your eDPI during this period even if it feels uncomfortable initially — most improvement happens after the adaptation period.
- 6
Verify your polling rate
Run our Mouse Polling Rate Test to confirm you're at 1000Hz. Some mice default to 125Hz or 500Hz out of the box. Low polling rate causes inconsistent movement even at a good eDPI setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good eDPI for FPS gaming?
Most professional FPS players use an eDPI between 200 and 800. The average across CS2 and Valorant pro players is approximately 280 eDPI (Source: ProSettings.net, Q1 2025). Lower eDPI (200–400) is preferred for precise rifle play requiring small aim corrections. Higher eDPI (600–1000) suits aggressive players who flick frequently. There's no single 'correct' eDPI — it depends on your playstyle, mousepad size, and monitor resolution.
Is 400 DPI better than 800 DPI?
In terms of raw accuracy, there is no difference between 400 DPI × 2 sensitivity and 800 DPI × 1 sensitivity — they produce the same eDPI (800). The myth that 400 DPI is more accurate than 800 DPI comes from the era of older sensor technology, where higher DPI settings introduced more electrical noise. Modern optical sensors (PixArt 3395, Focus Pro 30K, etc.) are equally accurate at both 400 and 800 DPI. Use whichever feels more comfortable.
What eDPI do CS2 pro players use?
According to ProSettings.net's database of 150+ active CS2 professionals (2025), the median eDPI is approximately 256. Common combinations include: 400 DPI × 0.7–0.9 in-game sensitivity (eDPI 280–360) for rifle fraggers, and 800 DPI × 0.5–0.7 in-game sensitivity (eDPI 400–560) for AWP and entry players. Some players like s1mple have used extremely low eDPI (200), while others like NiKo use higher values around 400–450.
How do I convert my sensitivity between games?
Sensitivity settings are game-specific — a sensitivity of '1.0' means different things in CS2 vs Valorant vs Apex. To convert, use the concept of cm/360: how many centimetres you move your mouse to turn 360 degrees. Many pro players aim for 30–50 cm/360 for rifles. Sensitivity converter tools (like mouse-sensitivity.com) can calculate the equivalent setting in any game for a given cm/360 value.
Does mousepad size affect what eDPI I should use?
Yes, significantly. A smaller mousepad forces a higher in-game sensitivity to achieve full 360-degree turns without lifting the mouse. Players with desk space limited to 20–25cm of mouse travel typically use 800–1200 eDPI. Players with large (90cm) XL pads often use 200–400 eDPI. The right eDPI is the one that lets you execute a comfortable 180-degree turn in the natural range of your mouse movement.
Should I use 400 DPI or 800 DPI?
Either works equally well on modern sensors. The popular 400 DPI preference among FPS pros is a historical artifact from when higher DPI settings caused more sensor noise on older laser sensors. Contemporary optical sensors (PixArt 3395, Focus Pro 30K, Logitech HERO) are equally clean at both 400 and 800 DPI. Many pros use 800 DPI because it allows more in-game precision (using the lower decimal portion of sensitivity) while achieving the same eDPI. Choose whichever feels natural with your in-game sensitivity values.
How does polling rate interact with eDPI?
Polling rate and eDPI are independent — polling rate determines how frequently your mouse reports its position to your PC (Hz), while eDPI determines the ratio between physical mouse movement and on-screen cursor movement (sensitivity). However, at very low eDPI (below 200), polling rate matters more: at 125Hz your mouse only updates 8 times per second, meaning slow, precise movements at low sensitivity can feel 'steppy'. At 1000Hz (1ms polling) even very low eDPI settings feel smooth. For any eDPI below 400, use 1000Hz polling.
What is the difference between DPI and CPI?
DPI (dots per inch) and CPI (counts per inch) describe the same measurement — how many individual steps a mouse reports per inch of physical movement. Mouse manufacturers historically used both terms interchangeably. Most modern specifications use DPI, though technically CPI is more accurate for optical sensors (which count surface details rather than printing dots). There is no practical difference between a mouse rated at '800 DPI' vs '800 CPI'.
Should I use arm aim or wrist aim, and how does it affect eDPI?
Arm aiming uses the shoulder and forearm to drive most mouse movement, with the wrist making fine micro-corrections. It pairs naturally with low eDPI (200–600) and requires a large mousepad (45cm or wider). Wrist aiming relies on wrist rotation for most movement and typically works best at medium-to-high eDPI (600–1200), since smaller physical movements need a higher sensitivity multiplier to achieve the same on-screen effect. Neither style is objectively better — arm aimers tend to have more consistent tracking, while wrist aimers can flick faster in smaller desk spaces. Match your eDPI to your natural aiming style rather than copying a pro who uses a different technique.
Is lower eDPI always better for FPS gaming?
No — lower eDPI is not automatically superior. The myth that 'lower is better' comes from observing that many pro riflers use 200–400 eDPI, but this only works if you have a large mousepad (60–90cm), use arm aiming, and have trained extensively with that sensitivity. An eDPI that is too low for your desk space will cause you to lift the mouse constantly, destroying muscle memory consistency. An eDPI that is too low for your aiming style (especially wrist aimers) causes fatigue and slows reactions. The correct eDPI is the lowest value at which you can comfortably execute a full 180-degree turn without exceeding your mousepad. For most players, that is somewhere between 400 and 1,000.
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