What Is eDPI in Gaming?

eDPI stands for effective dots per inch. It is one number that combines your mouse DPI and your in-game sensitivity, and it answers a simple question: how fast do I actually turn in this game?

The formula

eDPI = Mouse DPI × In-game sensitivity

That is the whole formula. Two examples in the same game:

• 800 DPI × 1.0 sensitivity = 800 eDPI
• 400 DPI × 2.0 sensitivity = 800 eDPI
• 1600 DPI × 0.5 sensitivity = 800 eDPI

All three setups turn at the same speed in the same game, because the product is the same. This is why players compare eDPI instead of DPI or sensitivity alone: neither number by itself describes turn speed, but their product does — within one game.

What eDPI is good for

Comparing players and settings in the same game. If two Valorant players report eDPI values, you can compare their turn speeds directly, even if one uses 800 DPI and the other uses 1600 DPI. If a guide recommends “around 280 eDPI for Valorant”, that recommendation is meaningful regardless of your mouse DPI: you can reach 280 eDPI with 800 DPI × 0.35, or 1600 DPI × 0.175, or 400 DPI × 0.7.

eDPI is also useful for tracking your own changes. If you switch mouse DPI, adjusting sensitivity to keep eDPI constant preserves your turn speed exactly (in the same game). The eDPI Calculator computes this, and the Mouse DPI Calculator shows the same relationship from the DPI side.

Typical eDPI ranges (community-reported)

These ranges are community-reported guidance for regular players, cross-checked 2026-10-25 against converter-site ranges. They are not official pro-player statistics and carry no publisher endorsement. A setting outside the range is not wrong — comfort and consistency matter more than copying a range.

Notice how different the scales are: a “normal” Valorant eDPI (280) would be absurdly slow in Overwatch 2, and a “normal” Overwatch 2 eDPI (4000) would be uncontrollably fast in Valorant. That is the next section’s point.

What eDPI cannot do: compare across games

This is the most important limitation, and the one most often ignored. Every game scales sensitivity differently, because each game has its own yaw — the rotation produced by one mouse count at sensitivity 1:

Yaw values above are community-documented converter values, not official publisher specifications, documented with verification date 2026-10-25. Because yaw differs, the same eDPI produces different physical turn speeds in different games. 800 eDPI in CS2 is not the same feel as 800 eDPI in Valorant — in fact, they are far apart, because Valorant’s yaw is more than three times CS2’s.

Worked comparison: 800 eDPI in CS2 means 800 DPI × 1.0 sensitivity, giving cm/360 = 914.4 / (800 × 1.0 × 0.022) ≈ 51.95 cm. To get the same 51.95 cm/360 in Valorant, you need sensitivity = 914.4 / (51.95 × 800 × 0.07) ≈ 0.314 — an eDPI of about 251, not 800. Copying “800 eDPI” from CS2 to Valorant would give you cm/360 = 914.4 / (800 × 0.07) ≈ 16.33 cm — more than three times faster turning. That is why cross-game comparisons must use cm/360, not eDPI.

For cross-game comparison, use cm/360 — a physical distance that transfers between games — and the Sensitivity Converter to convert settings properly.

eDPI vs DPI vs sensitivity: a summary

Common mistakes

• Comparing eDPI across games. The single most common error. “I use 800 eDPI in CS2, so I’ll use 800 eDPI in Valorant” gives you a completely different feel. Convert via cm/360 instead.
• Treating eDPI as a complete description of aim feel. eDPI describes turn speed, not step size. 400 DPI × 2.0 and 1600 DPI × 0.5 share an eDPI but feel different in fine adjustments, because the step size differs. DPI still matters for smoothness.
• Chasing a pro’s eDPI exactly. Pros differ in grip, arm length, mousepad size and role. Their eDPI is a data point, not a prescription. Use the typical ranges above as a starting zone, then tune by feel and give changes time.
• Forgetting ADS and zoom multipliers. Many games apply separate multipliers for aiming down sights or scoped weapons. eDPI as calculated here describes hip-fire turning; scoped feel is a separate setting in most games and is not included in this calculation.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my eDPI?

Multiply your mouse DPI by your in-game sensitivity. Or enter both in the eDPI Calculator. If you use different DPI stages on your mouse, use the one you actually play with.

My eDPI is outside the typical range. Is something wrong?

No. Ranges describe what is common, not what is correct. Some excellent players use very low or very high sensitivities. What matters is whether you can track targets smoothly, flick accurately, and do a 180-degree turn without running out of mousepad.

Can I convert eDPI between games by scaling?

Only if you know both games’ yaw values and do the conversion through cm/360. The Sensitivity Converter does exactly this: it converts your source setting to cm/360, then to the target game’s sensitivity. Direct eDPI-to-eDPI conversion without yaw is wrong.

Does eDPI include Windows sensitivity?

It depends on whether the game uses raw input. Games with raw input bypass OS scaling, so eDPI is purely DPI × in-game sensitivity. Games without raw input are also affected by the OS setting, so the simple formula may not describe their true feel. Check your game’s input mode if numbers do not match your experience.

Try it: eDPI Calculator · Mouse DPI Calculator · Sensitivity Converter