With a lighter mouse, you can make movements more quickly, and in many competitive games, even an extra millisecond can make the difference between winning and losing. That said, lightweight mice aren't just for gamers. You may want a lighter mouse because it's easier to travel with or use on the go. Many lightweight gaming models have cutouts in their bodies to reduce the overall weight, but some solid body designs are now just as lightweight. When choosing recommendations, we consider any mouse under 85g to be lightweight. When looking for a mouse that's best for you, it's essential to consider not only the overall weight but also other factors. Click latency, build quality, and connection types are key concerns for competitive gaming, while for longer gaming sessions, you'll want good ergonomics. On the other hand, for a travel mouse, you'll want to focus on wireless connectivity, portability, and battery life.
We've tested over 250 mice, with over 90 we'd consider lightweight. Below are our top picks for the lightest mouse for several uses. See our recommendations for the best mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best ergonomic mouse.
Weighing only 45 grams, the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Small is the lightest mouse we've tested. Its body has honeycomb-shaped cutouts, an embossed filigree design, and two side buttons on the left. It feels exceptionally well-built and has a low-profile, symmetrical shape well-suited for smaller hands using any grip type. The top shell is magnesium alloy and is very lightweight and sturdy. However, the underside is made of a type of plastic to allow the wireless signal to escape.
You can connect it wired or wirelessly with its receiver. Performance-wise, its CPI range isn't as wide as most other high-end gaming mice, but it will likely be sufficient unless you prefer playing with very high sensitivity. It also has a standard polling rate of 1000Hz, a very low lift-off distance, and good click latency. Its mouse feet glide very smoothly on mousepads or directly on desks, and its paracord-like charging cable is lightweight and flexible if ever you need to use it while charging.
Unfortunately, this is a small mouse that isn't suitable for larger hand sizes. However, there's a larger-sized version of this mouse, the Finalmouse Starlight-12 Medium. Also, there isn't any software for customization, there are only four default CPI settings, and the charging cable uses an older Micro-USB connection rather than the newer USB-C. Furthermore, because Finalmouse only releases its mice in drops, at this moment, you can only purchase this mouse through third-party resellers, and it can be very expensive. Nevertheless, this is an exceptional gaming mouse and the lightest mouse we've tested.
If you prefer an old-school, wired option, the best lightweight gaming mouse we've tested is the ROCCAT Kone Pro. At 65g, it falls roughly in the middle of the pack among the lightweight mice we've tested, but it boasts several features typically found on heavier, more versatile mice. It has a full-bodied, right-handed shape, with two side buttons, a sturdy aluminum scroll wheel, and a shallow but well-placed and comfortable thumb rest. It also has a pair of RGB lighting zones visible under its translucent L and R-click buttons.
It's somewhat bulkier than many of the lightweight options we've looked at, but its shape is almost universally well-suited for all grip types and hand sizes. Performance-wise, this mouse has a very low minimum lift-off distance and excellent click latency. You can also precisely adjust your CPI within a very broad range. Additionally, the companion software offers a full range of customization features, which is rare for most lightweight models.
Unfortunately, its generous size verges on being bulky, so if you have small hands, you won't comfortably reach all buttons using a fingertip grip. Also, the plastic texture of the body can get clammy and slippery if you're someone who tends to sweat quite a bit during gameplay. This mouse is a well-balanced option with excellent gaming performance and lightweight construction that doesn't make sacrifices for comfort or utility.
If you've made the jump over to wireless mice, and there's no going back, the best lightweight wireless option we've tested is the Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT. It weighs in at only 59g, which is impressive because it has a solid plastic shell that feels extremely sturdy. There's also a compartment within the mouse to store the USB receiver when you're not using it.
The click latency is excellent, and you can precisely adjust the CPI in increments of 50 within a very wide range, which is great if you have very precise sensitivity preferences that work best for you. Using the companion software, you can also reprogram all of its buttons and even assign a G-Shift button enabling a secondary layer of custom button mappings. Since it connects wirelessly, you won't need to worry about a cable causing additional drag. Also, its high-quality feet offer a very smooth gliding experience across desks and mousepads.
Unfortunately, this mouse is expensive, even compared to other higher-end wireless options. Also, Its rubber charging cable has a micro-USB connector rather than a newer USB-C standard, which is disappointing, especially given its premium price tag. Overall, this is an excellent option if you're looking for a lightweight mouse for gaming, and it's one of the best wireless gaming mice that we've tested.
The best lightweight gaming mouse with a more ergonomic shape that we've tested is the Cooler Master MM720. Weighing only 54g without its cable, it's extremely light, with a honeycomb cutout pattern on the top and sides of the mouse. It has a right-handed shape with a groove on the right side for your ring finger.
It's well-suited for palm and claw grips, although if you have larger hands, you may feel this mouse is too short to grip comfortably. It has customizable RGB backlighting, and you can reprogram all of its buttons as well as set a Combo Mode that gives you a second layer of controls for as long as you hold the scroll wheel button. Performance-wise, it has a very low lift-off distance, an adjustable CPI within a wide range, and very low click latency.
Unfortunately, the sensor is quite inconsistent, and it undershoots the set CPI more during quick mouse movements than slow ones. Also, the plastic it's made of doesn't feel very sturdy, and it creaks if you press it hard enough; however, this shouldn't be an issue during regular use. Overall, this is a fantastic choice if you're looking for an ultra-light gaming mouse with a more ergonomic shape.
The best lightweight mouse for travel we've tested is the Microsoft Arc Mouse. At 82g, it's slightly heavier than some other mice on this list, but it's still light. It has a unique, collapsible design, so you snap the mouse into an arced position to turn it on and flatten it to turn it off. While flattened, it's extremely thin, making it easy to slip into a laptop bag while on the go.
It connects wirelessly with a Bluetooth connection, so you don't have to worry about carrying around a USB receiver. It also uses two AAA batteries for power, so a charging cable isn't necessary. Using Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center, you can swap the L/R clicks, which is great, especially if you're a left-handed user. You can also program a three-finger click gesture command. Though there's no physical scroll wheel, you can scroll vertically and horizontally by swiping your finger up and down or side to side on the button area.
Unfortunately, the three-button click doesn't work by default on macOS, and there's no compatible software for you to reprogram it. With that said, it's a good choice if you're looking for a lightweight mouse to bring with you on the go.
If you're looking for something more affordable, check out the Logitech Pebble M350. It doesn't feel quite as sturdy as the Microsoft Arc Mouse, and you can't program any of its buttons, but it's much less expensive, and you can use it wirelessly either with its USB receiver or via Bluetooth. There's also a compartment for the USB receiver when it's not in use, so you don't lose it while you're on the go. It weighs the same as the Microsoft mouse at 82g, and although it doesn't have software for customization, all of its default button functions work in Windows and macOS. It also has great portability due to its small size and very low, almost flat profile. Despite its compact size, it's also suitable for all hand sizes using a fingertip grip.
If you typically prefer using your mouse with a claw or palm grip and are interested in a sturdier-feeling option with programmable buttons, go with the Microsoft mouse. On the other hand, If you're comfortable using a fingertip grip and are looking for something more affordable with added wireless connectivity options, get the Logitech.
The best lightweight mouse in the budget range that we've tested is the Razer Viper Mini. At 61g, it's lighter than the original Razer Viper and shares the same symmetrical shape. Its smaller size is comfortable for any hand size to use with a fingertip grip, though it's too small for larger hands to comfortably use a palm or claw grip.
Its click latency is remarkably low, and its CPI range should be wide enough for most gamers. Using the companion software, you can adjust the set CPI in increments of 100. You can also reprogram the two side buttons and assign a Hypershift button to enable a second layer of commands. It also has high-quality feet and a flexible cable, so you won't have to worry about unwanted drag on desks or mousepads.
Unfortunately, its minimum lift-off distance is higher than some other gaming options, and its sensor is fairly inconsistent, overshooting the set CPI during slower movements. It also lacks the two buttons on the right side that the larger versions in the Viper lineup have, so it's less viable for left-handed users. With that said, it's an excellent choice if you're looking for a lightweight gaming mouse on a budget.
May 05, 2022: We've updated our list for accuracy and clarity but haven't made any changes to our current recommendations.
Mar 08, 2022: We've replaced the GLORIOUS Model O with the ROCCAT Kone Pro as our pick for the 'Best Wired Lightweight Gaming Mouse' as it feels sturdier, has somewhat better click latency, and is well-suited to a wider range of hand sizes.
Jan 07, 2022: Moved the Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT from Wireless Alternative to 'Best Lightweight Wireless Gaming Mouse'.
Nov 09, 2021: Verified picks for accuracy and availability; no changes to picks.
Sep 10, 2021: Updated text for clarity and accuracy; no change in product picks.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the lightest mice that are the best picks for the most people. We factor in the price (a cheaper mouse wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no mice that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of our lightest mice. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no mouse is perfect for every use, most mice are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.