Article — eDPI Calculator (Effective DPI for Gaming)
eDPI calculator — effective DPI for FPS games
eDPI equals mouse hardware DPI multiplied by in-game sensitivity. It is the universal way to compare FPS sensitivity across players and setups. Two players with the same eDPI move their crosshair the same physical distance, regardless of their separate DPI and sensitivity slider values.
The eDPI metric came out of competitive Counter-Strike in the early 2010s. Pros kept getting asked "what is your sens?" and the answer changed depending on whether the player meant DPI, in-game setting, or both. Multiplying them produces a single comparable number — eDPI 800 means the same physical mouse-to-crosshair ratio whether you got there at 400 DPI × 2.0 sens or 1600 DPI × 0.5 sens.
What is eDPI?
eDPI stands for effective DPI. DPI alone refers to your mouse hardware sensor — how many dots per inch of physical movement it reports. In-game sensitivity scales that signal before applying it to the camera. Multiply them and you get the actual sensitivity your hand experiences.
Two players running 400 DPI × 2.0 sensitivity and 800 DPI × 1.0 sensitivity have identical eDPI of 800. They aim the same. If you swap their mice, their muscle memory still works. eDPI is the only sensitivity number that survives hardware changes.
The cm/360° metric (centimeters needed for a full in-game turn) is even more game-portable than eDPI. eDPI varies between games because each game scales sensitivity differently. cm/360° is purely physical and works across CS2, Valorant, Apex, and Overwatch. Pros increasingly cite cm/360° rather than eDPI.
The eDPI formula
The formula is one multiplication: eDPI = DPI × sensitivity. Simple. The companion formula for cm/360° is also clean: cm/360° = (2.54 × 360) / (eDPI × yaw). The constant 914.4 comes for CS2/Valorant default yaw 0.022, cm/360° ≈ 41,564 / eDPI.
eDPI DPI × sensitivitycm/360° 914.4 / eDPIinch/360° 360 / eDPIMatch pro pro eDPI / your DPIThe cm/360° figure is what you measure on the mousepad with a ruler. Spin in-game 360 degrees. Mark the start and end points of the mouse. The distance is what cm/360° predicts. If they match, your setup is reporting accurate numbers.
eDPI and cm/360° explained
cm/360° turns sensitivity into a physical, real-world distance. It dictates how much desk space your aim needs and how reliant you are on arm vs wrist movement.
Arm aimers swing the whole forearm for big rotations and use the wrist for micro-adjustments. Wrist aimers do almost everything from the wrist, which is faster for tight rooms but less precise at long range. Most CS2 and Valorant pros run 30–50 cm/360° — heavy arm aim. Most Overwatch DPS players run 15–25 cm/360°.
Pro player eDPI ranges
Sensitivity ranges by game reflect each game's intended playstyle and movement speed.
- CS2 / CS:GO pros — 400–1,200 eDPI, median around 560 (s1mple, ZywOo zone).
- Valorant pros — 200–500 eDPI, headshot-focused precision.
- Overwatch 2 pros — 5,000–11,000 eDPI (different scale).
- Apex Legends pros — 800–2,400 eDPI, mid-range for movement plus aim.
- Fortnite pros — 40–80 X/Y (use a separate scale, not directly comparable).
- Casual FPS players — 1,000–3,000 eDPI typically.
Copying a pro's eDPI to your mouse
If you want to replicate a pro's setup, the eDPI is what matters — not the raw DPI or sensitivity values. To copy a pro who plays at 560 eDPI: pick whatever DPI your mouse supports comfortably (most modern sensors are accurate at 400, 800, or 1600), then divide.
Example: pro at 560 eDPI, you want to use 1600 DPI. In-game sensitivity = 560 / 1600 = 0.35. Set 1600 DPI on the mouse and 0.35 in CS2. Your aim now matches the pro's exactly — same cm/360°, same muscle-memory translation.
For game-portable settings, lock in a target cm/360° rather than an eDPI number. CS2 at 30 cm/360° and Valorant at 30 cm/360° will feel identical. Same eDPI between the two would NOT feel the same because Valorant scales sensitivity 0.07 percent higher per unit.
Low vs high eDPI tradeoffs
Low eDPI (under 800 in CS scale) requires arm movement, gives the most precision at long range, and is the default in tactical shooters. The downside is that quick turns need lots of desk space, and 180° flicks are slow.
Above 2,000 eDPI you can flick anywhere instantly but micro-adjustments at long range get jittery. The same small wrist twitch covers more screen, so headshots become harder. Casual FPS players default high; competitive players lower over time.
Finding your ideal eDPI
The reliable method: start at a moderate setting like 800 eDPI for CS2 or 320 for Valorant. Play for at least 20 hours. Track your performance. Then adjust by 10–20 percent in either direction and play again. Most players find their optimum within three or four iterations.
Aim trainers like Kovaak's and Aim Lab are useful for stress-testing changes. Run identical scenarios at different eDPI and compare scores. The sensitivity that wins the most scenarios is usually right for your playstyle.
Common eDPI mistakes
Three patterns hurt aim. First, changing DPI and sensitivity simultaneously — fix one, vary the other only. Second, using mouse acceleration on top of eDPI calculation; acceleration makes eDPI meaningless because the effective sensitivity changes with movement speed. Third, copying a pro's eDPI without copying their mousepad size, monitor distance, or grip style — the number alone is one input among many.
A fourth subtle trap is forgetting that ADS (aim-down-sights) and scope sensitivities are separate multipliers in most modern shooters. CS2 has zoom_sensitivity_ratio_mouse. Valorant has a scoped sensitivity setting. Apex has hipfire, ADS, and per-scope multipliers. Setting eDPI right at hipfire does nothing for your scoped aim if those multipliers are out of sync. Match cm/360° across all zoom levels for consistent muscle memory.
Polling rate is another overlooked variable. Most modern gaming mice support 1,000 Hz or 4,000 Hz polling. Higher polling reduces input latency but does not change eDPI. If two players have the same eDPI but different polling rates, their aim feels different in fast micro-adjustments even though the math is identical. Match polling rate when comparing setups.