DPI Calculator
Find your true mouse DPI with a 5-second ruler test, or work backwards from a target cm/360 to the DPI you need.
DPI (dots per inch) is how many counts your mouse sensor reports per inch of physical movement. Software wrappers and on-board buttons don't always match your settings, so measuring directly is the only reliable way to know your true value.
Measure mode: draw a line exactly one inch (or 2.54 cm) on a pad, drag your mouse across it and note the pixel/count span your OS reported — that's your DPI.
Reverse mode: pick a game, your sensitivity and a target cm/360, and get the DPI required to hit it.
How it works
Measure:DPI = counts ÷ inches moved. If you moved 1 inch and the cursor traversed 800 counts, DPI = 800.
Reverse: solve the 360 formula for DPI: DPI = 914.4 ÷ (cm/360 × yaw × sens).
Example
Your pad is small, so you want 40 cm/360 in CS2 at 1.2 sens: 914.4 ÷ (40 × 0.022 × 1.2) ≈ 866 DPI. Set your mouse to the nearest 50-step (850).
The math behind it
DPI = counts ÷ inches · DPI = 914.4 ÷ (target cm/360 × yaw × sens)
Frequently Asked Questions
What DPI do pros use?
Very common hardware settings are 400, 800 and 1600 DPI. High-DPI mice (1600+) give smoother sensor response; the feel is preserved by reducing sensitivity so eDPI stays equal.
Should I use my mouse driver DPI instead?
Driver values are usually right, but mouse acceleration in the OS or in-game can skew things. A physical measurement is always the ground truth.
Does changing DPI affect Windows cursor speed?
Yes — DPI also drives desktop cursor speed. If you raise DPI for gaming, you may compensate with Windows pointer speed for the desktop, though that setting doesn't affect most raw-input games.