DPI Analyzer Pro

DPI vs eDPI – What's the Difference?

By Musab Mehmood, Founder & Editor · Last updated: October 8, 2026

"I play on 800 DPI" tells you almost nothing about how fast someone's aim actually is. Their crosshair speed depends on their in-game sensitivity just as much as on their DPI — and that is exactly the gap eDPI (effective DPI) fills. It combines both numbers into one, so you can compare your true sensitivity against anyone else's.

This guide explains the formula, works through real examples with the math shown, and clears up the limits of what eDPI can and cannot tell you.

The formula: eDPI = DPI × in-game sensitivity

That is the entire formula. Take the DPI set in your mouse hardware and multiply it by the sensitivity value in your game's settings:

eDPI = mouse DPI × in-game sensitivity

Two examples:

One important assumption hides inside this formula: it only describes your real sensitivity if Windows pointer speed is at the 6/11 notch (the 1:1 mapping) and pointer acceleration is off. Any other Windows setting inserts an extra multiplier the formula does not know about. Lock the baseline first — our DPI change guide walks through it.

Want the answer without the arithmetic? Our free eDPI calculator computes it instantly, including per-game presets.

Worked examples with real turn distances

eDPI becomes much more intuitive when you translate it into physical movement — how far you actually move your hand to turn around completely (cm/360). Each game converts sensitivity to rotation with its own "yaw" value (degrees turned per mouse count at sensitivity 1.0): Valorant uses 0.07°/count, CS2 and Apex use 0.022°/count. The formula:

cm/360 = (360 ÷ (yaw × sensitivity × DPI)) × 2.54

Example 1: Valorant — 800 DPI × 0.35 sens = 280 eDPI

Example 2: CS2 — 400 DPI × 2.0 sens = 800 eDPI

Example 3: Apex Legends — 800 DPI × 1.2 sens = 960 eDPI

Notice something important: the CS2 player has nearly triple the eDPI of the Valorant player (800 vs 280), yet turns around in only slightly more physical distance (52 cm vs 46.7 cm). That is because eDPI numbers are not comparable across games — each game's sensitivity scale is different. Within one game, though, eDPI is a perfect apples-to-apples comparison.

Why pros talk in eDPI instead of DPI

Browse any pro-settings database and you will see players listed with wildly different DPI values: one Valorant pro on 400 DPI, another on 1600 DPI. Comparing their DPI numbers directly is meaningless — the 400-DPI player might run 0.7 sensitivity (280 eDPI) while the 1600-DPI player runs 0.175 (also 280 eDPI). Same true sensitivity, completely different DPI.

eDPI strips away that confusion. When our Valorant pro settings page says most pros sit between roughly 200 and 400 eDPI, that statement holds regardless of whether a given player uses 400, 800, or 1600 DPI. It is the common language of sensitivity — and the reason every serious settings discussion uses it.

This is also why "what DPI do pros use?" is the wrong question. The right question is "what eDPI do pros use?" — then you pick whatever DPI is convenient and set your in-game sensitivity to land in that eDPI range.

Same eDPI, different DPI: is anything actually different?

Yes — one thing: granularity. Take two Valorant setups that both equal 280 eDPI:

Both turn at exactly the same speed for the same hand movement. But the 1600-DPI setup resolves that movement in steps four times finer. In practice this matters in two situations: at very high sensitivities, where coarse steps can skip over pixels (the pixel-skipping debate, with math), and for micro-adjustments, where finer steps give the game more precise input to work with.

For most players at normal sensitivities, the difference is subtle to nonexistent — which is why pros are split across 400, 800, and 1600 DPI while clustering tightly on eDPI. The eDPI is the decision that matters; the DPI is mostly a question of which native step your sensor handles cleanly.

eDPI vs cm/360: which should you use?

Both describe your true sensitivity, but they serve different jobs:

Use eDPI when talking to players of your game and when browsing pro settings. Use cm/360 when switching games and wanting the same feel — our sensitivity converter does exactly this conversion, showing you the formula it uses.

Common eDPI mistakes

Three errors account for most eDPI confusion:

How to find and use your eDPI

  1. Confirm your DPI. Check it in your vendor software or measure it — do not guess.
  2. Read your in-game sensitivity from the game's settings menu (not from memory).
  3. Multiply. Or use the eDPI calculator.
  4. Compare. Look at the eDPI ranges in our FPS guide or your game's pro settings page to see where you sit.
  5. Adjust once, then stop. If you are far outside the typical range and struggling with aim, move toward it in small steps — and change only eDPI (via sensitivity), keeping DPI fixed, so the experiment is clean.

One last honesty note: eDPI describes sensitivity, not skill. A "pro" eDPI will not give you pro aim — but a wildly inappropriate one (say, 3000+ eDPI in a tactical FPS) will actively fight your muscle memory. Get into a sane range, then let practice do the rest: our aim improvement guide covers the routine.

Frequently asked questions

What is eDPI?

eDPI stands for effective DPI. It is your mouse DPI multiplied by your in-game sensitivity setting (eDPI = DPI × sensitivity). It represents your true sensitivity in a game, combining the hardware setting and the software multiplier into one comparable number.

How do I calculate eDPI?

Multiply your mouse DPI by your in-game sensitivity. For example, 800 DPI with a Valorant sensitivity of 0.35 gives 800 × 0.35 = 280 eDPI. Our free eDPI calculator does the math instantly.

What is a good eDPI for Valorant?

Most professional Valorant players use between roughly 200 and 400 eDPI. For example, 800 DPI × 0.35 sensitivity = 280 eDPI, which sits in the middle of the pro range. See our Valorant pro settings for current data.

What is a good eDPI for CS2?

Most professional CS2 players fall roughly between 400 and 1200 eDPI. A classic example is 400 DPI × 2.0 sensitivity = 800 eDPI. See our CS2 pro settings page for current player data.

Can I compare eDPI between different games?

No, not directly. eDPI is only comparable within the same game because each game scales sensitivity differently (different yaw values). To compare feel across games, convert via cm/360 instead, which measures real physical mouse movement per full turn.

Is higher eDPI better?

No. Higher eDPI just means faster crosshair movement. Lower eDPI gives finer control for precise aiming but requires bigger mouse movements; higher eDPI is faster but twitchier. The right value is the one you can control consistently.

Does eDPI include Windows sensitivity?

The standard eDPI formula (DPI × in-game sensitivity) assumes Windows pointer speed is at the 1:1 notch (6/11) and acceleration is off. If your Windows pointer speed is anything else, the formula no longer describes your real sensitivity. Set it to 6/11 first.

What is the difference between eDPI and cm/360?

eDPI is a unitless number (DPI × sensitivity) that is only comparable within one game. cm/360 is a physical measurement: how many centimeters you must move your mouse to turn 360 degrees. cm/360 works across games, which makes it the better tool for converting sensitivity between games.