The pointer travels farther after a DPI change
The sensor setting or system pointer path produces more on-screen movement for the same hand movement.
MOUSE TESTS / PRACTICAL TOOLS
Mouse DPI Checker & Test — Estimate Pointer Sensitivity
Compare effective mouse pointer sensitivity using a measured physical distance and browser-visible movement. Not a hardware DPI reading.
Effective pointer sensitivity
No hardware DPI accessPlace a ruler beside your mouse. Choose a physical distance, then move the mouse horizontally in one straight direction inside the measurement area. Stop when the mouse has traveled that distance.
Ready to measureKeep the pointer inside the area; no pointer lock is used.
Observed horizontal travel0 CSS px
Movement samples0
Effective CSS px/cm—
This reports total browser-visible horizontal CSS-pixel travel divided by the physical distance you entered. It is NOT hardware counts per inch or sensor DPI. OS acceleration, screen scaling, browser delivery, lifting the mouse, reversals and clipping at the edge of the area can change the ratio. For a fair comparison, use a straight one-way motion at similar speed and repeat.
How to interpret this result
A web page cannot read your mouse's configured sensor DPI. This estimate describes CSS pointer pixels per centimeter of measured hand movement. Compare repeat runs under similar conditions.
Check your mouse DPI, and what a browser can really measure
DPI, also written CPI, describes how far the pointer travels for each inch you move the mouse: a higher figure means a faster, more sensitive pointer. Many people look for a DPI checker, but a web page cannot read the sensor setting. This page helps you estimate your effective pointer sensitivity from a distance you measure yourself.
That estimate includes your operating-system pointer speed and any software scaling, so it can differ from the number printed on the box. Use it to compare setups and track changes, not to certify a sensor.
✓Free to use↗Live browser feedback◇No download needed
01
Estimate effective sensitivity carefully
Follow the same routine each time for a fair comparison.
- 01
Measure a physical distance
Use a ruler or marked mousepad and move in a straight line over a known distance.
- 02
Keep system settings unchanged
Pointer speed, acceleration, display scaling and browser zoom affect the movement reported to a page.
- 03
Repeat at each DPI setting
Compare several runs at the same distance. Relative change is more useful than treating this as factory calibration.
02
How to find your real DPI
- 01Check the specifications
- The product page, box or manual usually lists the default or maximum DPI.
- 02Open the mouse software
- Gaming mice show the active DPI stage in their companion app, and many have a button that cycles through presets, often with an indicator light.
- 03Measure it
- Move the mouse a known distance with pointer acceleration off and note the movement the browser sees, as the estimator on this page guides you to do.
- 04Repeat the run
- A stable figure across several runs under the same conditions is more meaningful than a single reading.
03
Why effective sensitivity may differ
Use these patterns as clues, not automatic hardware verdicts.
The estimate varies between attempts
Distance, acceleration, angle and movement consistency can add error.
The software reports a different DPI
The browser estimates effective pointer movement, not the sensor register or exact factory setting.
04
Why the estimate can differ from your mouse’s DPI
- Windows or macOS pointer speed is not at its default.
- Pointer acceleration, or “enhance pointer precision”, is switched on.
- Display scaling and browser zoom change the pixel values the page sees.
- The physical distance you measured was approximate.
- The mouse software changed DPI stages during the test.
05
DPI questions
01How do I check my mouse DPI?
Look at the specifications, then open the mouse software or watch the DPI indicator. If neither is available, use the estimate here to compare effective sensitivity. A website cannot read the sensor setting directly.
02What does DPI mean on a mouse?
Dots per inch, or counts per inch: how many movement counts the sensor reports for each inch of travel. Higher DPI moves the pointer farther for the same hand movement.
03How do I change my mouse DPI?
Use the DPI button on the mouse if it has one, or the manufacturer’s software. Many office mice have a fixed rate. After changing it, run the estimate again.
04What DPI is best?
There is no single best value. Many people are comfortable somewhere between 400 and 1600, and the right setting depends on your screen, your hand movement and the game. Adjust it together with in-game sensitivity.
05Is DPI the same as CPI?
In practice, yes. Some manufacturers prefer CPI because the sensor counts movement rather than printing dots.