Gaming mouse hardware is a thriving ecosystem that offers gamers an immense amount of options and customization. But how do you know which mouse is right for you? 

In this guide, we’ll help you find the best gaming mouse for your specific needs. We’ll discuss everything from DPI and sensitivity to ergonomics, polling rate, lift-off distance, weight, and more. 
 

What is a gaming mouse?

A gaming mouse is a computer accessory designed for people who play video games on their laptop or PC. Gaming mice are often more durable, accurate, and ergonomic. Many gaming mice have customizable features and buttons. They’re an ideal accessory for longer, more intense gaming sessions.
 

Gaming mouse vs. normal mouse: What are the major differences?

A gaming mouse tends to have many customizable features like adjustable DPI/CPI, scroll wheels, and weight. Many gaming mice also feature a number of customizable buttons or hot keys that give you quick access to commands. You can get an edge by pressing a button rather than reaching across your keyboard during game sessions. Many gaming mice also feature gaming-focused ergonomic designs like thumb rests or even cooling fans to ease sweaty palms. And they’re typically made of durable parts to withstand intense movements. 

A normal mouse is fine for general computing tasks, but you’ll lose the edge in games because, for example, their optical sensors aren’t typically as responsive as the ones you find on a gaming mouse. 
 

What to look for in a good gaming mouse

There are many excellent gaming mice available with varying features. Some high-end gaming mice are even made for specific types of game genres. Here are a number of things you should consider when looking for the right gaming mouse. 
 

DPI and sensitivity

DPI (dots per inch) measures a gaming mouse’s sensitivity to physical movement. Less frequently, you might see it referred to as CPI (counts per inch). 

The higher the number, the less you have to physically move your gaming mouse to look around the world in a first-person shooter or move your cursor from one end of the screen to the other in a strategy game. The opposite is also true: With a lower DPI, you must move your mouse a greater distance to move your cursor across the screen. 

We chose those examples because they illustrate that bigger isn’t always better. Different DPI settings tend to work better for different kinds of games. 

For shooters, MOBAs, and MMOs—games where looking and moving around quickly are important—consider moderate to high DPI settings, somewhere in the 800 – 3,600 range. For strategy and puzzle games, or any slower-paced games that require clicking on the interface around your screen, a lower DPI tends to be a better fit.

You don’t have to choose just one. Consider a gaming mouse with an adjustable DPI, which allows it to fit a broad range of situations. 
 

Ergonomics

The shape of your hand—and where you rest your thumb and fingers—is an important consideration when finding the right gaming mouse for you. A gaming mouse that’s the right size and shape, with the right contours, can dramatically cut down on fatigue and unnecessary movements. Options like rubber grips or padding on the scroll wheel can add to comfort and durability as well. 

Examine how you like to use your mouse and make sure that any extra command keys are placed somewhere that you’re less likely to accidentally click them.
 

Polling rate

Your gaming mouse’s polling rate (or report rate) tells you how often your gaming mouse sends data to your PC. Manufacturers typically report polling rate in Hertz (Hz), a measurement of frequency over an interval of one second. In other words, a 1,000 Hz polling rate means that your mouse talks to your PC 1,000 times every second—or, if you prefer, once every 1 millisecond (ms). 

Imagine squaring off with another player in a shooter where clicking a button on your gaming mouse fires your weapon. The more often your mouse communicates with your PC, the more opportunities your PC has to receive the input you send it. Other things being equal, if you have a higher polling rate than your opponent, your clicking could mean that your PC receives the command to shoot before the other guy, meaning you survive to fight another round. 

Beyond button-pressing, it’s an advantage for your mouse to report its position more frequently—or accurately, if you prefer—as you glide it across your desk or mousepad. 

Broadly speaking, a higher number is better for a gaming mouse. There’s no definitive rule, but 500 Hz is generally considered the low end of the spectrum, while 1,000 – 2,000 Hz is more common. Some mice can even achieve 8,000 Hz. 
 

Programmable buttons

Many MOBAs, real-time strategy (RTS) games, and MMOs require a lot of key commands. For instance, you may have a large number of squads to maneuver in an RTS or a large amount of spells to cast during a raid in an MMO. Having programmable buttons on your gaming mouse can cut down on your response times, allowing you to execute more actions more quickly. It’s often a lot easier to create a macro and then press a single button on your gaming mouse than it is to press multiple keys on your keyboard. 
 

Weight

The weight of a gaming mouse can dramatically affect its movement and your performance. 

For fast-paced games that require quick motions like pivots and turns, a lighter gaming mouse that’s trivial to move can give you an advantage. Conversely, if you’re playing games where every little movement or action requires a slow hand or meticulous aiming, a heavier mouse can be a great asset. 

A number of gaming mice even come with weights that allow you to customize your hardware, making it lighter or heavier depending on your needs. 
 

Build quality

A gaming mouse tends to get more frequent and aggressive use than a mouse you’d use for checking email and browsing the web. That makes durability important.

A large number of gaming mice are made from durable plastic, while some high-end gaming mice are constructed with durable and lightweight materials like aluminum, carbon fiber, and magnesium alloy. Higher quality materials tend to mean a higher price tag. 
 

Wired vs. wireless gaming mouse

Broadly speaking, data traveling through a wire is faster and less prone to error than data traveling wirelessly through the air, but modern wireless gaming mice can rival the responsiveness of wired mice. 

It’s a lot like the difference between connecting to the internet with Ethernet versus WiFi. Yes, Ethernet is generally faster at the margins and more reliable—but a good wireless network can also be fast and reliable, and more convenient too. 

If you want the absolute fastest, most accurate response, look for a wired gaming mouse. But even though that’s true, you’re unlikely to notice an obvious, moment-to-moment performance hit with a wireless mouse. Even some professional, competitive gamers use wireless mice. 

Still, there’s always a chance that your batteries could die in the middle of a gaming session, so if you purchase a wireless mouse, make sure that it has a long battery life, and keep it charged. And some wireless mice can also act as wired mice. Just plug them in, and you can take advantage of that connection while charging your battery, too. 
 

Lift-off distance (LOD)

Lift-off distance refers to the height above a surface at which your mouse stops sending its position to your PC. It’s measured in millimeters (mm). 

As you use your mouse, its physical position naturally drifts, and you need to periodically lift it off of your desk and reposition it back to where it’s most comfortable. With a high lift-off distance, your mouse keeps reporting back to your PC as you pick it up and move it. 

As with so many aspects, LOD depends on many factors, including the nuances of how you hold and use your gaming mice. Opinions vary, but a general guideline is that your gaming mouse should only track its position when it’s touching your mousepad. So a low lift-off distance—somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 mm—can help you avoid accidental inputs. On the other hand, you can combine a grip and LOD to make deliberate adjustments. Experiment and see what you like. 
 

Software

Gaming mouse manufacturers often develop software so that you can customize hardware features like DPI/CPI, macros, key bindings, macros, and lift-off distance. 

Some gamers prefer that their gaming mouse and keyboard are from the same manufacturer because they can customize both from a single app. 
 

Price

You can find gaming mice starting at around $20, though high-end products can cost hundreds of dollars. In general, the more features a gaming mouse has, the more it will cost. 

The features that we discussed above are a good starting point for your purchase. Start with some must-haves, and price your options. It’s always worth checking for sales (current and upcoming) and discounts and doing some price comparisons before purchasing a new gaming mouse.
 

Test out your new mouse with games from Epic

Now that you’ve found your perfect gaming mouse, it’s time to take it for a test drive. There’s a massive number of titles to play with your gaming mouse on the Epic Games Store. Be sure to browse through our catalog for a game that’s just right for you and your brand-new gaming mouse. Make sure you check out the Epic Games Store's news page to catch up on the latest from all of your favorite developers about all of your favorite games.