Measure your mouse’s true DPI in one swipe.
Free · No install · Any mouseOne swipe along a ruler, an honest number, and a transparent look at every digit behind the result — a mouse DPI checker that runs entirely in your browser.
- 01Mark two lines on your mousepad
- 02Enter the distance below
- 03Swipe once
Set the physical distance
Mark start and stop lines on your mousepad, then measure between them.
Choose a direction
Drag to the right, keeping the mouse on your ruler line.
Swipe once
No swipe recorded yet.
Pointer locks while captured — you can swipe past the screen edge.
Read your result
Measured DPI
—
Swipe once to get your result.
Runs
0
Spread —
Mean — · σ —
Deviation
—
Enter a known DPI to compare.
Diagnostics & method
Built like a measurement, not a guess.
Most online DPI testers take one swipe and hand you a number with no way to judge it. This one behaves like an instrument: one swipe is enough for a result, and every pass is recorded with counts, alignment and timing so you can see exactly what the number is built on.
One swipe is enough
A single straight pass gives you a result immediately. Swipe again and we report the median plus spread and σ, so a curved swipe can’t poison your number — and the spread tells you how much to trust it.
Raw pointer input
Where your browser supports it, capture runs with unadjusted movement — Windows pointer acceleration and speed sliders can’t inflate the counts. The active input mode is always shown, never hidden.
Path-quality scoring
Each run gets an alignment score based on how straight you stayed on the ruler line. Drift is flagged and coloured per run — you decide whether to keep it or swipe again.
Three steps, about a minute.
Mark your distance
Draw two lines on your mousepad, measure the gap with a ruler and enter it in inches, centimetres or millimetres. No ruler handy? The credit-card preset (8.56 cm) works in a pinch.
Lock and swipe
Hold the button on the capture pad — the pointer locks and the pad goes live. Drag from your first line to your second, then release. Because the pointer is locked, you never run off the screen edge.
Read your result
One swipe is enough for a result: measured DPI plus per-run alignment — and if you type your mouse software’s configured DPI, a deviation verdict on the sensor.
The whole formula, in the open.
The analyzer sums the length of every movement the sensor reports during your swipe — not just horizontal screen deltas — then divides by the physical distance you measured. That one pass is your result — every extra swipe refines it into a median.
- Path counting keeps the result honest when your hand drifts slightly off-axis — axis-only subtraction would under-read.
- Alignment scoring shows how straight each swipe was, so you can discount a bad pass instead of trusting it blindly.
- Raw mode requests unadjusted pointer movement, removing OS acceleration from the counts on Chromium browsers.
- Nothing leaves your device — no server, no account, no tracking of your measurements.
// what the tool actually computes
counts = Σ √(Δx² + Δy²) over every pointer event
dpi = counts ÷ inches
median = middle value of all runs
align = axis net ÷ path (want ≥ 90%)
deviation = (measured − expected) ÷ expected
What can still skew a reading
- · Your ruler marks — the single biggest source of error.
- · OS pointer acceleration when raw input isn’t available.
- · A swipe that wasn’t straight (watch the alignment column).
- · Very short distances — use at least 2–3 inches / 5 cm.
Swipe again and read the spread: consistency is the honest measure of trust.
DPI is the foundation of every sensitivity you set.
Your in-game sensitivity, your Windows pointer speed, your design-tool brush lag — they all multiply against the counts your sensor reports. Knowing the true DPI turns guesswork into arithmetic: the same physical flick lands the same way on every setup you calibrate.
It’s also the fastest way to sanity-check a new mouse. If your fresh 1600 DPI mouse measures 1580, your surface and setup are fine. If it measures 900, something in the chain — driver, OS scaling, a DPI step you never switched to — needs a look.
Recommended DPI by use case
Starting points — your mousepad size and monitor decide the rest.
| Use case | DPI |
|---|---|
| Competitive FPS (CS2, Valorant, Overwatch 2)Low sensitivity + arm aiming for pixel-precise flicks | 400 – 800 |
| MOBA / RTSFaster screen travel with minimal hand movement | 800 – 1600 |
| General productivityComfortable daily navigation | 1000 – 1600 |
| 4K / multi-monitorMore pixels to cross per inch of hand travel | 1600 – 3200 |
| Photo & video editingFine control for masks, paths and sliders | 600 – 1200 |
Plenty of esports professionals play at 400–800 DPI with low in-game sensitivity — measure yours first, then tune.
What to check before you trust the number.
A DPI figure only means something in context — the games you play, the pad you play on and the OS sitting between your hand and the sensor. Everything below is written for US and English-speaking setups: the same measurement works anywhere, but these are the settings, units and ranges you are most likely to meet.
- Windows: uncheck “Enhance pointer precision” Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mouse → Additional mouse settings → Pointer Options. That one checkbox re-applies acceleration on top of your counts; after clearing it, the input-mode badge on the analyzer confirms whether you are truly on raw input.
- Measure in inches — or grab a card Imperial rulers make this the easiest locale to test in: enter inches directly, no conversion needed. No ruler on the desk? A standard credit card is 3.37 in (85.6 mm) wide — long enough for a reading you can trust.
- Match the pad to the DPI 400–800 DPI needs arm room, and most US desk pads (around 35 × 15 in) are plenty for low-sensitivity FPS play. 1600–3200 suits compact desks and 4K/multi-monitor layouts where you cross more pixels per inch of hand travel.
Starting DPI for the games people play here
Starting points only — in-game sensitivity and pad size decide the rest.
| Game | DPI |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2The classic competitive setup: low sens, arm aiming, big pad | 400 – 800 |
| ValorantSame family — one-tap precision over tracking speed | 400 – 800 |
| Call of Duty: WarzoneFaster tracking fights and long traversals on a controller-like sens | 800 – 1600 |
| Apex Legends / Overwatch 2Constant target swapping rewards a mid-range sensitivity | 800 – 1600 |
Measure before you tune: if your mouse reads far from its configured step, fix the distance marks before touching any in-game sensitivity.
How to check mouse DPI — and what to do with the number.
Your mouse advertises a DPI figure on the box, in the driver and on the DPI button — but the count rate your sensor actually reports is what decides how far every flick, brush stroke and drag really travels. This TrueDPI analyzer exists so you can check mouse DPI yourself, in about a minute, without installing anything.
The sections below cover what a TrueDPI analyzer measures, how to run a clean mouse DPI test with a ruler, how to read the spread and alignment numbers a DPI tester hands back, and how to turn the result into a sensitivity that feels right in games, design tools and everyday desktop use.
What a TrueDPI analyzer actually measures
DPI — dots per inch, also written CPI or counts per inch — is the number of movement counts your sensor reports for every inch you physically push the mouse. The analyzer simply divides: it records the full path of your pointer during a swipe, sums every count the sensor sent along that path, and divides the total by the distance you measured on your mousepad. The answer is your effective mouse DPI. Because the formula uses physical inches rather than screen pixels, monitor resolution, display scaling and refresh rate play no part in it — two people on a 1080p laptop and a 4K desktop can run the same mouse DPI test and compare results directly.
Reading the result your DPI checker gives you
A single number on its own is not very useful, so every run is logged with its counts, alignment and timing. Alignment is the ratio between your net movement in a straight line and the total path length: above 90 % is a clean swipe, below 80 % usually means you curved or corrected mid-run. Spread is the distance between runs — under 5 % means your marks and technique are consistent, over 10 % means the ruler marks or the swipe path need another look. If your mouse software shows a configured DPI, enter it and the tool reports deviation: the percentage gap between what the vendor claims and what the sensor delivered.
How to check mouse DPI in three steps
- 01Mark and measure. Draw two lines on your mousepad, measure the gap with a ruler and enter it in inches, centimetres or millimetres. No ruler handy? The credit-card preset (8.56 cm) works in a pinch, though a longer distance always reads more accurately.
- 02Lock and swipe. Hold the button on the capture pad until the pointer locks, then drag from your first line to your second and release. Pointer lock keeps the swipe on the pad instead of running into the screen edge, and raw input stops OS acceleration from inflating the counts on the way through.
- 03Read, then repeat. One swipe gives you a DPI result immediately. Swipe a second time with the same distance, direction and surface to get a median, a spread and σ — the honest measure of how much you should trust the number in front of you.
Choosing a mouse DPI that fits your desk
With a measured value in hand, the next question is what to set. Competitive FPS players commonly sit at 400–800 DPI with low in-game sensitivity, because a low eDPI keeps aiming deliberate and repeatable. MOBA and RTS players often prefer 800–1600 for faster screen travel with small hand movements. General productivity feels comfortable around 1000–1600, while 4K and multi-monitor desks usually need 1600–3200 to cross the extra pixels without stretching your arm. Photo and video editing land in the middle — roughly 600–1200 — where masks and sliders need finer control than desktop navigation. Treat those as starting points: mousepad space and viewing distance decide as much as the DPI figure itself.
Why use an online mouse DPI checker
A mouse DPI checker online needs no download, no driver and no account, which makes it the fastest way to sanity-check a mouse you do not own yet — a friend’s, a loaner at a LAN, or a unit you are about to buy. Because this DPI tester online lives in the browser, it runs the same way on Windows, macOS and Linux, so results stay comparable across machines instead of being filtered through each vendor’s software. Just as important, everything here happens locally: no measurement is uploaded, no account is created, and the run table is written only to this browser's local storage until you clear it. That also makes this online mouse DPI checker a handy re-test whenever you change pad, skates or surface and want to confirm the sensor still behaves.
Tips for a mouse DPI test you can repeat
- Measure, don’t estimate. Ruler error is the single largest source of drift.
- Swipe at least 5 cm. Very short runs amplify a one-millimetre mistake.
- Stay on the line. The alignment column flags drift the moment it happens.
- Keep the surface constant. New skates or a dusty pad change friction and feel.
- Prefer raw input. If the badge shows a non-raw mode, pointer speed and “Enhance pointer precision” are back in the counts.
- Repeat three times. Read the median — consistency is the honest measure of trust.
Once you know your real mouse DPI, sensitivity stops being a matter of taste and becomes arithmetic: multiply it by your in-game sensitivity and the same physical flick lands the same way on every setup you calibrate. Keep this TrueDPI analyzer bookmarked, run the DPI tester mouse by mouse across every mouse you own, and re-run the check the moment the surface, the skates or the driver change.
Straight answers about mouse DPI.
How do I check the DPI?
Mark two lines on your mousepad, measure the gap with a ruler and enter that distance below. Hold the capture pad until the pointer locks, swipe once from the first line to the second, and the analyzer divides the sensor counts by your measured distance to show your mouse DPI. Swipe a second time if you want a median instead of a single reading.
Is there an online TrueDPI analyzer available?
Yes — this page is a free online TrueDPI analyzer that runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to install, no driver and no account: open the page, enter your distance, take one swipe and read the result. Nothing is uploaded, so you can repeat the test as often as you like on any mouse you own.
How to check DPI without mouse software?
You do not need vendor software or a driver to check mouse DPI. Replace the configured value with a physical one: mark a known gap on your pad, swipe exactly that distance, and let the analyzer convert the sensor counts into DPI. The reading comes from raw pointer movement, so the same method works on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does higher DPI mean better?
No. Higher DPI only means the sensor reports more counts per inch, so the cursor travels further for the same hand movement — it does not make the mouse more accurate. Very high DPI can add smoothing or spin-out on weaker sensors, while a lower DPI with a bigger mousepad gives more deliberate control. Choose a DPI you can swipe consistently.
How do I use a TrueDPI analyzer?
Enter the physical distance between your two marks, pick a direction, then press and hold on the capture pad to lock the pointer. Swipe in a straight line from the first mark to the second and release. Your DPI appears immediately, together with counts, alignment and spread so you can judge how much to trust it.
How to test for DPI?
A DPI test needs three things: a mouse, a flat surface and a measured distance. Swipe the same distance, direction and surface two or three times — one run gives a result, three give a median plus a spread. Under 5 % spread is a solid reading; over 10 % means your distance marks or swipe path need another look.
What is my DPI right now?
The only honest way to know is to measure it. Mouse software can display a configured DPI step, but the sensor’s effective DPI often differs from it. Run one swipe over a known distance with the analyzer above and you will have your current DPI in seconds; enter the configured value as well to see the deviation.
What is a good DPI for gaming?
Most competitive FPS players use 400–800 DPI with low in-game sensitivity, MOBA and RTS players often prefer 800–1600, and 4K or multi-monitor setups usually sit at 1600–3200. There is no single best value — a good DPI is one you can repeat: combine it with in-game sensitivity as eDPI so you can turn quickly and still fine-aim.
How do I turn off mouse acceleration in Windows?
Open Mouse Properties → Pointer Options and clear “Enhance pointer precision”; in Windows 11 the same checkbox lives under Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mouse → Additional mouse settings. Keep the speed slider on the middle (6th) mark, reload this page, and check the input-mode badge — if it still shows a non-raw mode, the analyzer has fallen back to pointer lock, which still removes OS acceleration on Chromium browsers.
What DPI do CS2 and Valorant players actually use?
The DPI alone tells you little: CS2 players commonly run 400–800 DPI with in-game sensitivity around 1–2, Valorant players similar DPI with sensitivity around 0.2–0.6. What ranks cross both games is eDPI — DPI multiplied by in-game sensitivity. Measure your real DPI above, combine it with your in-game sensitivity, and the tool converts it to cm per 360° so you can copy a pro’s effective turn radius instead of copying their raw DPI number.
Ready to see what your sensor really does?
Grab a ruler, mark two lines and swipe once.
Measure my DPI