Best DPI for CS2
There is no single magic number — but there is a strong community consensus. Here is what most CS2 pros use and how to choose for yourself.
The short answer: 400 or 800 DPI
The overwhelming majority of CS2 pros play at 400 DPI, with most of the rest at 800 DPI. Both are well within the native (non-interpolated) range of nearly every gaming mouse sensor, so neither adds smoothing or skipped pixels. If you want a safe default, 400 DPI is the most common pick on the pro circuit.
This is a community consensus drawn from public pro settings, not an official Valve recommendation — and individual players vary.
DPI is only half the picture
On its own, DPI tells you very little. What actually decides how fast your crosshair moves is your eDPI — your DPI multiplied by in-game sensitivity:
- 400 DPI × 2.0 sens = 800 eDPI
- 800 DPI × 1.0 sens = 800 eDPI
Those two setups feel identical in-game. That is why chasing a "best DPI" in isolation is the wrong question — pick a DPI, then set sens to land on an eDPI you can aim with.
Why pros favour lower DPI
- Lower DPI, higher in-game sens keeps numbers in a comfortable range and leans on the in-game sensitivity (which CS2 applies cleanly) rather than the mouse sensor.
- Sensor accuracy: 400–800 DPI sits comfortably inside the native resolution of modern sensors, avoiding any interpolation.
- Consistency: a value most players and resources assume makes it easier to copy pro settings or follow guides.
Higher DPI is not "wrong" — at the same eDPI the aim is the same. It is mostly a matter of where you prefer the precision to live (mouse vs. game).
How to pick your DPI
- Start at 400 or 800 DPI — both are safe, common choices.
- Decide on a target eDPI (most CS2 pros sit between roughly 640 and 900).
- Set your in-game sensitivity to hit that eDPI: sens = target eDPI ÷ DPI.
- Play with it for a week before changing anything — consistency beats the "perfect" number.
Work out your numbers
Use the eDPI calculator to turn any DPI and sens into eDPI, cm/360 and inches/360 — or copy a starting point from the CS2 pro sensitivity list.