The Best Ergonomic Mice for 2024

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Vertical mice, trackballs, unusual sculpts: You can find quite a few ergonomic approaches to mousing comfort. The common aim: minimizing the threat of repetitive strain injuries you may incur from using a mouse and keyboard for many hours each day. With so many shapes, sizes, and features out there, though, picking an ergonomic mouse can be tricky. That's where our expertise comes in. PCMag has been testing and reviewing peripherals since the early days of the PC, and we assess PC mice based on design, features, connectivity, comfort, and (of course!) value. Our analysts have experience with a broad range of models. The five-star-rated Logitech MX Master 3S is our top ergonomic mouse pick for most people, but we stand behind our other selections here, too. Let's break down the pros and cons of each one; we'll also explain what to know to choose the best ergonomic mouse for you.

Choosing a Vertical Mouse: How to Flip Your Grip

The design that comes to mind when most of us hear the words "ergonomic mouse" is vertical. The shape is basically a conventional mouse turned 90 degrees, or the base of a mouse with a second sideways one on top of it, letting you grip the device without twisting your wrist. Think of a handshake clasp instead of holding the mouse with your palm down.

Naturally, a vertical mouse's click panels and face buttons are rotated or placed on the side, where they're accessible with the same finger motions you'd make using a standard mouse. Turning the mouse to meet your hand, rather than turning your hand to grip the mouse, removes strain on your arm and lets you use a more natural wrist motion to move laterally.

The downside to a vertical mouse can be its degree of accuracy. The shape moves your hand higher up the body and further away from the mouse sensor, changing the correlation between how you move your hand and the path of the cursor. Even after a few days' adjustment to a vertical mouse, it can take a bit more time to line up the pointer with a small icon. That may go away over time, but it's a significant change for which you should be ready.

Nevertheless, a vertical mouse will be the best ergonomic option for most users. It mitigates the musculoskeletal issues caused by overuse of a standard mouse while retaining most of the experience of using one. For gamers and creative pros who may not be able to use one all the time, the answer may be having two mice—a vertical model for everyday use and a curved, palm-supporting conventional mouse for gaming or occasional precision work.

Trackballs: Minimizing Certain Movements

Perhaps the oldest alternatives to a traditional mouse, trackballs have had a cult following for decades. Instead of moving the mouse around to maneuver the cursor, a trackball detects the movement of a sphere mounted in a housing with buttons—mice used to use rolling balls instead of optical sensors—to mirror a standard mouse's inputs.

You operate a trackball with very little arm movement and no real "grip," instead simply resting your hand on the device. This can reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), musculoskeletal disorders caused by holding an unnatural position too long or repeating a motion over and over again. Typing on a keyboard and using a mouse have both been known to cause RSIs after years of daily computer use; these ailments tend to manifest initially as pain, weakness, or numbness in your fingers and wrists.

Trackballs are designed to reduce or eliminate movements that have been known to cause these injuries or aggravate them in people who already suffer from RSIs. There is no ironclad proof that they can actually prevent RSIs, but they've proven more comfortable for people who already experience pain when using a standard mouse.

You'll find two main types of trackballs, thumb-operated and finger-operated. As with ergonomic keyboards, the two versions offer a sliding scale of familiarity (how easy it is for new users to convert) versus ergonomic benefit. Thumb-operated trackballs, like the ones on this list, are shaped like standard mice, which makes them more approachable. However, it's been noted that prolonged use of a thumb trackball has the potential to damage specific muscles in your thumb over time. Finger-operated trackballs may require a longer adjustment period but do not put any additional strain on your digits. [This comes down to individual physiology, too; the editor of this story has used a thumb-control Microsoft Trackball Optical daily for more than 15 years with no apparent ill effects.—Ed.]

Both styles are an acquired taste; you need to try a trackball to know whether or not it'll work for you. People tend to figure out pretty quickly whether they prefer twirling a trackball to pushing and pulling a standard mouse. We recommend finding a shop where you might be able to try before buying, or at least making sure you can return an online purchase if it isn't a good fit.

Standard Mice: Are They Good for Your Hands?

If you don't currently suffer from RSI symptoms, you may not want to deal with the tradeoffs of a specialized ergonomic mouse, such as an adjustment period or reduced fine accuracy. In this case, you can still do yourself a solid and buy a mouse with a comfortable, supportive shape. Conventional mice come in all shapes and sizes, and whether one feels good in your hand is perhaps the most important part of your buying decision.

If possible, buy a mouse fitted to your dominant hand. Unfortunately, left-handed mice aren't as common as those shaped for righties, but you should still be able to pick from a modest set of specialty options or, failing that, choose a well-shaped ambidextrous mouse.

Beyond that, ergo-positive traits vary from mouse to mouse. Certain features imply more support, such as a "thumb wing" or rest for your opposable digit, but having one doesn't guarantee comfort. Some companies definitely skew toward different hand shapes; gaming mouse maker Corsair, for instance, offers many well-shaped mice, including some for users with large hands. Read our reviews for specific information about different shapes, as our experts discuss how each mouse fits your hand.

Ready to Buy the Right Ergonomic Mouse for You?

Now that we've described the different kinds of ergonomic mice, we trust you have an idea of which you want to try. This roundup offers a rundown of the best we've tested; if you want to know more about the universal rules for picking a great pointing device, check out our overall guide to the best computer mice. Looking for a top keyboard? We have an explainer for that, too. And don't miss our guide to setting up a complete ergonomic home office.