The 10 Best Vertical Mice
Updated by · How we research
Ten vertical mice compared by hand size, tilt, battery and buttons. The Logitech Lift leads for small and medium hands; big hands get the MX Vertical. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Hand length matters more than any spec on a vertical mouse. Most makers size their models around seven and a half inches from wrist to fingertip, and a shape too small or too large undoes the comfort. These mice turn the hand onto its side to cut forearm twist, for anyone who spends long days at a desk.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Logitech Lift now leads, because it fits the widest spread of small and medium hands and costs less than the Logitech MX Vertical, which stays on as the pick for big hands. This page covers right- and left-handed vertical mice, from cheap battery models to a gaming option.
Only the MX Vertical survived from the 2021 lineup. The Logitech MX Ergo and Kensington Pro Fit Ergo trackballs and the Evoluent VMCR can't be bought now, while the Eirix, Zlot, Jelly Comb, Delux and VicTsing models were 2020-era generics that newer budget picks have replaced. New here: the Evoluent VerticalMouse 4, the Razer Pro Click V2 Vertical for gamers, the Logitech Lift Left, and budget picks from Anker, ProtoArc, TECKNET and UGREEN.
Hand size drove the order. We matched each mouse to its maker's size guide and leaned on Tom's Hardware's Lift review, Dygma's side-by-side look at seven vertical mice and PC Gamer's long-term notes on the Razer.
Earlier notes
January 11, 2021, by Brett Dvoretz:
As much as possible we wanted to include models that provide several connectivity options during this update, and no option more illustrates that than the Logitech MX 910, which offers Bluetooth, USB wireless via dongle, and a wired connection. We also think hand position versatility is important to preventing wrist pain over time, which is we highly recommend the Logitech MX Ergo. This has an adjustable tilt, so you can use it like a traditional mouse, or set it to a more vertical orientation as needed. When it comes to gaming, it is generally best to buy a dedicated model as these will have the highest sensitivity settings, the least lag, and often the most customizability, and the Zlot G19C18 proves this by having a 10,000 DPI and 1,000-hertz polling rate, which is rare in vertical models.
December 24, 2019, by Daniel Imperiale:
Looking over the options on our previous list, it struck me how many offerings were wired, when so many other things in our daily lives and smart homes are wireless. It was important to see an overhaul here in the direction of a mostly wireless list.
Of course, there are still some good reasons to go wired, like avoiding the headache of battery charging or replacement, as well as the occasional hassle of connecting and reconnecting wirelessly to your computer. And we found some excellent wired options like the Posturite Wired Penguin, which places its buttons on the forward edge of the grip, taking a lot of tension out of your index and middle fingers while also making it symmetrical to accommodate both left- and right-handed users.
Beyond that, DPI and ergonomics were the most important features, with the 57-degree angle and 4000 DPI sensitivity of the Logitech Wireless MX Advanced placing it high up in the ranking. Its price was the only thing that held it back slightly. A few other things we scrutinized were click ratings, battery performance (for wireless models), and warranty service, the best balance of which could be found in the Jelly Comb Bluetooth Ergonomic.
Special Honors
Evoluent VerticalMouse Sizes Evoluent sells its VerticalMouse 4 in small, left-hand, Mac and Bluetooth versions, and its newer VerticalMouse D in small, medium and large sizes, through its own store. It is the place to look if the standard right-hand model doesn't fit. evoluent.com
Measure Your Hand Before You Pick A Shape
ProtoArc draws the line at about 7.5 inches between its EM11 NL and the larger EM11 Pro.
Measure from the crease of the wrist to the tip of the middle finger. That one number sorts most vertical mice. Logitech sells the Lift for small to medium hands and the MX Vertical for medium to large ones. Evoluent says its VerticalMouse 4 suits hands 7 inches or longer and sells a small version for anyone under that. ProtoArc draws the line at about 7.5 inches between its EM11 NL and the larger EM11 Pro.
Reviewers who compare these side by side land in the same place. Dygma calls the MX Vertical its standard for large hands and the Lift the safe choice for small to medium ones, and Tom's Hardware warns that the Lift is not a stand-in for the MX Vertical if your hands are large. If your fingertips hang past the buttons, or your thumb can't find its rest, the shape is wrong for you, no matter what it cost.
Tilt, Weight And The First Two Weeks
A vertical mouse turns the forearm so the palm faces sideways instead of down. Most handshake designs, including both Logitech models, tilt about 57 degrees. TECKNET's model tilts about 52 degrees, which is a gentler change from a flat mouse, and Evoluent's stands closer to upright. Steeper is not automatically better; what counts is whether the thumb and pinky both have somewhere to rest.
Expect a week or two of clumsy pointing. The arm needs time to get used to steering from a new angle. Weight matters more for fast games than for office work: PC Gamer found the 150-gram Razer stable for long sessions but slow to flick. A vertical mouse can reduce forearm twist, but it is not a treatment for wrist pain. If pain persists, see a doctor or an occupational therapist, and set up the desk so the forearm rests level with the keyboard.
Batteries, Connections And Software
Battery mice like the Lift and the UGREEN run for months on one AA and keep working with a fresh cell from any store. Rechargeable ones, such as the MX Vertical and the ProtoArc and TECKNET models, save on batteries but slow you down when they run flat; the MX Vertical can keep working on its cable while it charges, and ProtoArc's EM11 NL cannot.
Check the connection too. A model with both Bluetooth and a USB receiver can switch between a work laptop and a home computer. Receiver-only mice, like the Anker and the Evoluent, need a USB-A port or an adapter on newer laptops. Software can be a deal-breaker on a Mac: Evoluent's button app runs only on Windows, and its Bluetooth models have fixed button functions in every system, per Evoluent.
Two things to skip: a glass desk without a mouse pad, since most optical sensors track poorly on glass, and the hunt for a vertical trackball. The Logitech MX Ergo and Kensington Pro Fit Ergo are currently unavailable, and no comparable model has replaced them.
How we researched this
We compared 17 vertical mice and vertical trackballs, including every item from the earlier version of this page. We read the makers' size guides and spec pages from Logitech, Evoluent and ProtoArc, used published reviews from Tom's Hardware, PC Gamer and Dygma, looked for patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database. None of the picks has a recall.
Sources (8)
- Logitech: Lift vertical ergonomic mouse
- Logitech: MX Vertical ergonomic mouse
- Evoluent: VerticalMouse 4 Right Hand
- ProtoArc
- Tom's Hardware: Logitech Lift review
- Dygma: alternatives to the MX Vertical and Logitech Lift
- PC Gamer: Razer Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition review
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: SaferProducts.gov
Frequently asked questions
Do vertical mice help with carpal tunnel syndrome?
They are not a cure. A vertical mouse turns the forearm so it isn't twisted palm-down, which many people find more comfortable over a long day. Anyone with numbness, tingling or lasting pain should see a doctor.
What is the best vertical mouse for large hands?
The Logitech MX Vertical is the long-standing pick for large hands. The ProtoArc EM11 Pro, sized for hands of about 7.5 to 8.5 inches, and the UGREEN 65042 are cheaper options.
Is there a vertical mouse for left-handed people?
Yes, but few. The Logitech Lift Left is the easiest to find, and Evoluent sells a left-hand VerticalMouse 4 through its own store.
Can you game with a vertical mouse?
For casual games, yes. The Razer Pro Click V2 Vertical has a gaming sensor and a 1,000 Hz polling rate, but its weight makes fast aiming harder than on a light, flat gaming mouse.
Do vertical mice work with a Mac?
The Logitech Lift and MX Vertical support macOS with Logitech's software. Evoluent's mice work on a Mac for basic pointing, but the button app runs only on Windows.
Is there a good vertical trackball?
The two best-known ones, the Logitech MX Ergo and Kensington Pro Fit Ergo, are currently unavailable. Until they return, a vertical mouse is the practical choice.
