You have probably seen players list their settings as a single figure, such as "my eDPI is 280". That figure is eDPI, short for effective DPI, and it is the easiest way to describe a mouse setup in one number. It is also one of the most misused numbers in aiming discussions, because it only means something under certain conditions.
This guide explains the formula, walks through examples with exact numbers, shows why different DPI and sensitivity pairs can give identical results, and explains when to stop trusting eDPI and switch to cm/360, the distance your mouse travels for a full turn.
The short answer: eDPI = DPI x sensitivity
eDPI is your mouse DPI multiplied by your in-game sensitivity. A mouse set to 800 DPI with a Valorant sensitivity of 0.35 has an eDPI of 800 x 0.35 = 280. That is the whole formula.
The idea behind it is simple. Your mouse reports a number of counts per inch (DPI), and the game multiplies each count by a sensitivity value to decide how far the camera turns. Multiplying the two gives one combined figure that describes how "fast" the setup is, without having to quote both numbers every time.
If you want to see your own numbers, the DPI and eDPI calculator does the multiplication for you, and the sensitivity converter shows eDPI next to cm/360 for the settings you enter.
Worked examples you can check by hand
Here are a few settings and what they give. Every cm/360 value comes from the formula 360 x 2.54 / (yaw x sensitivity x DPI), using the Valorant yaw of 0.07 and the CS2 yaw of 0.022.
| Game | DPI | Sensitivity | eDPI | cm/360 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valorant | 800 | 0.35 | 280 | about 46.7 |
| Valorant | 400 | 0.5 | 200 | 65.3 |
| Valorant | 800 | 0.5 | 400 | 32.7 |
| CS2 | 800 | 1.0 | 800 | 52 |
| CS2 | 800 | 1.5 | 1,200 | 34.6 |
Notice that a Valorant eDPI of 400 and a CS2 eDPI of 800 are very different numbers, yet both land inside the common 30 to 55 cm/360 band. That is the first hint that eDPI values from different games cannot be compared directly. We come back to this below.
Why 400 DPI x 2 equals 800 DPI x 1
Because eDPI is a product, any pair of numbers with the same product gives the same eDPI. 400 x 2 = 800 and 800 x 1 = 800, so a setup at 400 DPI with sensitivity 2 and a setup at 800 DPI with sensitivity 1 have the same eDPI. In the same game they also have the same cm/360, because the game only ever sees the product of the two.
The Valorant table below keeps the eDPI fixed at 320 and changes only the DPI. The cm/360 does not move.
| DPI | Valorant sensitivity | eDPI | cm/360 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | 0.8 | 320 | 40.8 |
| 800 | 0.4 | 320 | 40.8 |
| 1600 | 0.2 | 320 | 40.8 |
So the choice of DPI does not change how fast you turn as long as you adjust sensitivity to keep the product constant. Higher DPI mainly changes how fine the sensitivity steps are. Many players stay at 400, 800 or 1600, and going well beyond about 1600 does not give a real aiming advantage.
From eDPI to cm/360, the number that really compares
eDPI tells you about the product, but cm/360 tells you something physical: how many centimetres you drag the mouse to rotate once. You can get it straight from eDPI inside a single game:
cm/360 = 914.4 / (yaw x eDPI)
The constant 914.4 is 360 x 2.54. With Valorant's yaw of 0.07 and an eDPI of 280, you get 914.4 / (0.07 x 280) = about 46.7 cm. With CS2's yaw of 0.022 and an eDPI of 800, you get 914.4 / (0.022 x 800) = about 52 cm.
This is the number to use when you want to describe, share or move your sensitivity, because it does not depend on how a particular game scales its sensitivity slider.
Where eDPI breaks: comparing different games
Each game turns the camera by a different amount per mouse count. That amount is the yaw: Valorant uses 0.07 degrees, CS2 and Apex Legends use 0.022, Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty use 0.0066. Because of that, the same eDPI means a different turning speed in each game.
A concrete case: CS2 at sensitivity 1.0 and 800 DPI has an eDPI of 800 and a cm/360 of about 52. The matching Valorant sensitivity is about 0.314, which at 800 DPI is an eDPI of roughly 251. Same physical movement, very different eDPI.
| Setup | eDPI | cm/360 |
|---|---|---|
| CS2, 800 DPI, sens 1.0 | 800 | about 52 |
| Valorant, 800 DPI, sens 0.314 | about 251 | about 52 |
The ratio between the two games is 0.07 / 0.022, or roughly 3.18. For exact conversions use the converter, and for the longer explanation read how to convert sensitivity between games.
Typical eDPI ranges (approximate)
Treat these as rough ranges seen among many competitive players, not as targets:
- Valorant: an eDPI of roughly 200 to 400, which is about 30 to 60 cm/360.
- CS2: an eDPI of roughly 700 to 1,200, about 30 to 55 cm/360.
- Apex Legends: many players sit around 25 to 45 cm/360.
- Overwatch 2: depends on the hero, often 20 to 45 cm/360.
Beginners often play too fast, below roughly 25 cm/360, which makes small corrections shaky. Because comfort depends on desk space, grip and playstyle, these ranges are a starting point only. If you want a deeper look at the trade-off between the two settings, see DPI vs in-game sensitivity.
How to use eDPI in practice
- Write down your DPI and in-game sensitivity, and multiply them to get your eDPI.
- Calculate your cm/360 for the game you play, or let a tool do it.
- If you change DPI, change sensitivity in the opposite direction so the product stays the same. Doubling DPI means halving sensitivity.
- If you move to another game, convert using yaw, not by copying the eDPI number.
- Keep mouse acceleration off and use raw input, otherwise none of these numbers are reliable.
If you play Valorant, the Valorant sensitivity and DPI guide goes through settings step by step.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Copying someone's eDPI from a different game. A Valorant eDPI of 280 is not a CS2 eDPI of 280.
- Forgetting the DPI. Quoting only a sensitivity without a DPI tells nobody anything.
- Thinking higher eDPI is better. It simply means faster turning, which may or may not suit you.
- Changing DPI without adjusting sensitivity. Doing so changes your speed.
- Ignoring scoped and ADS settings. These have separate multipliers in many games and are not part of the basic eDPI.
Frequently asked questions
Is a higher eDPI better?
No. A higher eDPI only means the crosshair turns faster for the same hand movement: Valorant 0.5 at 800 DPI (eDPI 400) is 32.7 cm/360°, while 0.35 (eDPI 280) is 46.7 cm/360°. Compare cm/360 and pick the one you can control, starting inside the roughly 30 to 60 cm range.
Does DPI matter if eDPI is the same?
Inside one game, a setup with the same eDPI has the same cm/360, so the turning speed is the same. Higher DPI only makes the sensitivity steps finer, and most players stay at 400, 800 or 1600.
Can I compare my Valorant eDPI with a CS2 eDPI?
Not directly, because the games use different yaw values (0.07 for Valorant, 0.022 for CS2). For example, Valorant 0.314 at 800 DPI (eDPI about 251) and CS2 1.0 at 800 DPI (eDPI 800) both turn about 52 cm/360°. Compare cm/360 instead, or convert with a tool.
How do I get cm/360 from eDPI?
Inside one game, divide 914.4 by the yaw multiplied by your eDPI. For Valorant with an eDPI of 280 that gives about 46.7 cm.
Does mouse acceleration affect eDPI?
Acceleration changes the real speed depending on how fast you move, so the same hand distance no longer gives the same turn and the calculation stops describing your setup. Step 1: turn off Enhance pointer precision in Windows. Step 2: enable raw input in the game, then recheck your numbers, for example 800 DPI at 0.35 is 280 eDPI and 46.7 cm/360° in Valorant.
eDPI is a handy shorthand for sharing a setup inside one game: multiply DPI by sensitivity and you have it. Just remember its limit, since it cannot compare different games. For that, rely on cm/360. You can run your own numbers in the DPI and eDPI calculator and see both values side by side.