What Is eDPI? The Only Sensitivity Number That Matters
"What's your sens?" is the wrong question. A Valorant sens of 0.5 means completely different things at 400 DPI and 1600 DPI. eDPI — effective DPI — is the number that actually describes your aim speed, and every serious player should know theirs. Here's the full breakdown.
The eDPI definition
eDPI = mouse DPI × in-game sensitivity
That's the whole formula. 400 DPI × 2.0 sens = 800 eDPI. And 800 DPI × 1.0 sens = 800 eDPI — literally identical aim speed. eDPI collapses two settings into the one number that matters.
Why in-game sens alone lies to you
When someone says "I play 0.4 sens," you know nothing until you hear their DPI. Player A at 400 DPI × 0.4 has 160 eDPI (very slow, precise). Player B at 1600 DPI × 0.4 has 640 eDPI (four times faster!). Same "sens," totally different aim. This is why every pro settings list includes DPI — and why you should think in eDPI.
cm/360: the honest metric
eDPI is great, but cm/360 is even better: it's the physical centimeters of mousepad needed for a full 360° turn. It's hardware-independent — 50 cm/360 feels the same on any mouse, any DPI. Lower cm/360 = faster, twitchier aim. Higher = slower, more controlled.
| eDPI (Valorant) | cm/360 | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| ~200 | ~100 cm | Very slow, ultra precise |
| ~300 | ~65 cm | Low sens, controlled |
| ~400 | ~50 cm | Balanced |
| ~600 | ~33 cm | Fast, twitchy |
Pro eDPI ranges
Across Valorant and CS2, the vast majority of professionals cluster between 200 and 600 eDPI, with the densest cluster around 250–400. Almost nobody successful plays above 800 or below 150. If you're far outside the pro range, it's worth experimenting inward — the collective wisdom of thousands of pro careers is hard to argue with.
Finding your perfect eDPI
- Start at 320 eDPI (e.g., 800 DPI × 0.4 in Valorant) — dead center of the pro range.
- Play for a week. Deathmatch, aim trainers, ranked — everything.
- Diagnose: consistently overshooting flicks? Drop 10%. Running out of mousepad on 180° turns? Raise 10%.
- Lock it in. Once it feels invisible — you're not thinking about your sens at all — stop touching it. That's your eDPI.
Which DPI should you use?
Since only the product matters, pick a DPI for practical reasons: 400 or 800 are the pro standards. Below 400 DPI you can get pixel-skipping (your crosshair jumps over pixels); above 1600 there's no benefit and Windows desktop becomes twitchy. Most players land on 800 DPI and tune in-game sens from there. Never change DPI to "fix" your aim — change sens instead, and keep DPI constant forever.
Know your number. Calculate your eDPI and cm/360 in seconds.
Open eDPI Calculator →FAQ
What is eDPI in gaming?
eDPI (effective DPI) is your mouse DPI multiplied by your in-game sensitivity. It tells you your true aim speed — 400 DPI at 2.0 sens is exactly the same as 800 DPI at 1.0 sens (both 800 eDPI).
What is a good eDPI for Valorant and CS2?
Most pros play between 200 and 600 eDPI, with the sweet spot around 250–400. That equals roughly 35–100 cm of mousepad per 360° turn.
Does DPI or in-game sensitivity matter more?
Neither matters alone — only their product (eDPI) determines your aim speed. However, very low DPI (below 400) can cause pixel-skipping, so most pros use 400 or 800 DPI and adjust in-game sens.
What is cm/360 and why does it matter?
cm/360 is the physical distance you move your mouse to turn 360° in-game. It's the most honest measure of sensitivity because it's hardware-independent — the same cm/360 feels identical on any mouse.