For your workstation setup, the mouse seems to be a small consideration. But after you solve the critical ergonomics problem – raising the monitor to the eye level, using the right keyboard and taking a regular break throughout the workday – it's a good idea to make sure the mouse you're using is also comfortable. People who deal with diseases such as carpal tunnel and wrist pain may be interested in finding the best ergonomic mouse for them. Vertical and semi-vertical designs turn your palms toward the midline rather than downward, resulting in a handshake position that might be more natural. Others use trackballs to minimize the work your shoulder needs to do in a day. I tested over 20 highly respected ergonomic mice to make suggestions on vertical, semi-vertical, trackball, etc., as well as on the advantages of different ergonomic designs.
Table of contents
-
What to look for in Ergonomic Mouse
-
How we test ergonomic mice
-
Best Ergonomic Mouse in 2025
-
Other ergonomic mice we tested
Best Ergonomic Mouse in 2025
What to look for in Ergonomic Mouse
Just like everything related to ergonomics, the best mouse design for you will depend on your body and what you need to do on a typical day. So the shape, the added functionality and how the mouse communicates with the computer will determine what you should get.
Ergonomic mice types and shapes
When we talk about ergonomic mice for productivity purposes, it usually refers to mice that look significantly different from the standard, often with the shape that tilts your hand to a more “handshake” position rather than facing your palm downward. Vertical ergonomic mouse has the most serious up-down angles, semi-vertical mouse is differentiated while trackball models remain on the table, while thumb controls the movement of the cursor. Gaming mice also have an ergonomic category, but this simply refers to a mouse with curves designed to fit right or left hand. It distinguishes these mice from wild models that do not match specific hands.
Each of the three ergonomic mouse shapes can help solve different problems. If you want to avoid twisting your forearm, it may be the vertical mouse you need. Clicking a vertical mouse is more like pinching your fingers and thumbs together, which can also alleviate some other wrist problems.
The semi-vertical mouse feels most like a traditional computer mouse, angled at 50 or 60 degrees to your desk. A semi-vertical mouse click can also feel easier because you want to push down instead of pinching. Some vertical and semi-vertical mice have optional flanges that support the heels of your palm. Instead of rotating these bones in your palms and wrists to move your cursor, your palms and wrists remain aligned and the entire arm can control movement.
Tracking mouse also prevents wrist bending as it prevents planting of forearm. My personal struggle is neck and shoulder tension, so the trackballs and very lightweight vertical mice are best for me as their configuration allows me to prevent the forearm from moving.
DPI, weight and buttons
Since this guide focuses on productivity mice, game-specific statistics such as turnout and IPS values don’t really work. (My colleague Jeff Dunn explains these metrics well in his guide to gaming mouse reviews.) What matters here are numbers like DPI or dots per inch, which indicates the sensitivity of the mouse. The higher the setting, the faster the cursor will move on the screen. Low DPI settings allow you to do precise work, such as pixel editing in Photoshop. All rats here have at least two and up to five settings, ranging from 400 to 3200 dpi. If you are doing a lot of detailed work, it may make sense to make a rat with a switch from high dpi to low DPI.
The weight varies on vertical and semi-vertical mice (but because they maintain the posture, but without trackballs). Lighter models will move easier, which may reduce the pressure on your wrists and arms. That said, a little weight can make your movements more precise. For reference, a light gaming mouse may weigh 45 grams, and a large vertical mouse with a flange may weigh 140 grams. The latter may feel a little heavy, but if it has smooth feet and is used with a nice mouse pad, it will feel lighter.
Easy-to-click buttons are always nice, but this is even more important when you have a health problem. Like no one's business, press down the buttoned tight arms and shoulders hard. Since this is an action table worker performs hundreds or thousands of times a day, it has to be effortless – in my tests, nothing eliminates the mouse faster than a tough button.
Extra Features
All mice have a base: left and right buttons and scroll wheels. All the mice in this guide also have DPI selector buttons. Some have other features, such as the scroll wheel, which can be pressed by pressing the right or left tilting the wheel or the handle rolls horizontally. Many also have back and forward buttons for browser windows, which are sometimes programmable to perform different functions in other applications.
More complex mice have other buttons that can be customized, usually using the mouse's proprietary software. According to the software, you can set buttons to mute, copy and paste, undo and redo, switch tabs, and more. Performing multiple functions without external movement is a huge advantage of ergonomic design. Of course, there are many keyboards that allow you to program multiple functions into specific keys that can cut extra motion, which you can read in our Ergonomic Keyboard Guide.
Connectivity and compatibility
All the mice here will work with the Mac's operating system as well as Microsoft Windows, and some will work with Chrome, Linux and even iPados (although I haven't tested it either). They are connected in three ways: via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. More devices already include USB-C ports, but most mice still use USB-A. So if you have a laptop with only USB-C ports (the MacBook looks at you), you need an adapter to use a wired or dongle-enabled mouse. you able For this purpose, use a hub or dock, but when testing this guide I had a connection problem using a wireless USB receiver in the dock, especially when there is no direct and completely clear path between the mouse and receiver. Just use the USB-C directly from the adapter and everything works reliably.
The difference between wireless and Bluetooth is twofold: Wireless dongle connections tend to be set up faster. You just need to insert the attachment, turn on the mouse (maybe grant permissions to the device), and set it. For Bluetooth, you need to open the Settings menu, activate the pairing mode on your mouse, search for the mouse, and click Connect. There is more latency when using Bluetooth and wireless mouse. This is not something most people will notice doing work hours, but if you plan to play some Overwatch After a few hours, if you want to use the same mouse, you may need to use a faster 2.4GHz route.
How we test ergonomic mice
After hours of research and reading reviews, I collected over 20 mice and had great requirements for ergonomic design to be tested in my work settings. Compared to the game, I mainly tried mice targeting work or office environments (we have a guide specifically for the topic). I used each mouse for hours or days and noticed how they felt and behaved. I mainly use the MacBook Pro M1, but verified Windows compatibility with Asus Rog Strix laptops. For reference, my right hand is 7.25 inches from the crease of the wrist to the tip of my middle finger, and the average for men is not enough for women.
Other ergonomic mice we tried
Logitech MX Master 3s
Logitech mice have made many appearances in our guide over the years. In our guide to the best productivity mouse, we named Logitech MX Master 3 the best wireless mouse you can get. It really is an impressive choice when I think it's good as a mouse – it connects perfectly, has useful lateral wheels as well as traditional reel features, and thumb stillness is a nice touch. But ergonomics didn't do it for me, as it held the standard, palm-crumbed claw-like position.
Logitech Lift Vertical
Logi Lift Vertical is probably one of the most popular ergonomic mice out there. It is quite lightweight, has an attractive design and has a good feel to the exterior. These buttons are easy to click and remain almost silent. It also uses Bluetooth or dongle to connect quickly. Unfortunately, it doesn't slide smoothly over the mouse pad, and the clamps required for the clamp design are actually what I put together on my wrist. The movement of the cursor is quite precise, although I occasionally struggle to get the cursor to land where I want it. And, it's small; my hands are too big to get through the elevator. Logitech's Logitech MX Vertical is essentially a bigger version, but again, the softer shape in my hands is uncomfortable and it's hard to get the cursor to go where I want it.
HP 920 Ergonomics Vertical Industry
The HP 920 Ergonomic Vertical also has a flange for the still palm, but it makes the mouse too heavy. However, without it, it is a very comfortable mouse with an advanced feel, a rechargeable battery and two programmable thumb buttons. Unfortunately, the cursor movement is frustratingly inaccurate and does not walk exactly where I point, forcing many corrections – the ergonomic settings we want to avoid doing extra movements.
Turtle beach pure air
Apart from the loud clicks, I was impressed by the construction and performance of the pure air of Turtle Beach. It is lightweight, moves smoothly, and has impressively accurate cursor movement. However, although marked as ergonomic mice, it is particularly evident in ergonomics. Your right thumb has an ion, so it can't be called Ambidextrous, but other than that, it's a very standard gaming mouse.
Perixx Emice 719
Perixx's Perimice-719 is a solid mouse with an external one that feels great. It has a comfortable semi-vertical design, accurate cursor movement and satisfying curved rollers. Plus, it offers reliable connectivity for a wireless dongle for only $22. Unfortunately, this is too small for me. Only people with smaller glove sizes (or don't mind using more fingertip grips) can take advantage of this problem.
Anker 2.4g vertical
Anker 2.4G mouse makes a good budget option for anyone who doesn't mind clamping more grip on the periphery. It is lightweight with precise scroll wheels as well as rear and forward browser buttons. Its battery works, but doesn't have one, but is connected only via the included USB radio dongle. I also found these buttons hard to press and eventually eliminated them from the run.
This article originally appeared on Engadget
