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The best gaming mouse pad can help protect your desktop and mouse. While most mice will work just fine without a mouse pad, you must ask yourself if “good” is really enough for your immersive single player adventures and competitive multiplayer games. (You should also ask yourself how many grooves you’re willing to use on your presumably expensive and pretty computer desk.)
Fortunately, finding the best gaming mouse pad for your setup is a fairly simple process. You just need to ask yourself a few questions: “What size mouse pad do I want?” “How much do I want to spend?” “Would I like a hard or soft surface?” “Do I need extra bells and whistles?” Once you determine those things, choosing the best mouse pad will take care of itself. Compared to choosing the rest of your PC accessories, it’s downright simple.
Tom’s Guide has compiled a list of the best gaming mouse pads based on our own hands-on experience, as well as user reviews on popular sites. Choose one of these accessories and you can expect both your mouse and your desktop to stay pristine for a long time.
What is the best gaming mouse pad?
While the best gaming mouse pad varies depending on your preferences, my personal philosophy has always been to keep things as simple as possible. That is why the Logitech G240 is my favorite accessory. This soft fabric mouse pad is big enough for most gaming styles, small enough for most computer desks, and durable enough to last for years. Yes, you could buy a similar mouse pad from a cheaper manufacturer, but don’t be surprised when it starts to unravel after a month or two.
However, if price is a big problem, it’s hard to find a cheaper mouse pad than the Razer Sphex V2. This colorful, ultra-thin mat costs less than $ 10 and adheres to any surface without residue. It is small, so it works best with high DPI mice. But it won’t wear out quickly either, so you can play as hard as you need to.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Corsair MM1000 Qi Wireless Charging Mouse Pad. While I don’t think most people want a gaming mouse pad that costs as much as a premium gaming mouse, if you can save the money, it’s a pretty impressive piece of technology. This mouse pad charges certain Corsair mice while you play, as well as any other Qi technology you own. Even if you don’t have Qi wireless charging equipment, the mouse pad includes charging adapters so you can take advantage of almost any piece of technology.
Office employees should also keep in mind that the best gaming mouse pad also has the potential to be the best productivity mouse pad. The qualities you need are exactly the same: a durable surface, a proper size, and a solid grip. Any mouse pad on this list should also work well for productivity mice.
The best gaming mat you can buy today
1. Logitech G240
The best general gaming mat
Surface type: Fabric | Size: 11.0 x 13.4 inches | Thickness: 0.04 inch | Additional characteristics: None
Sensitive and durable surface
Rubber grips
Optimized for Logitech mice
Something expensive
If you are looking for a gaming mouse pad, chances are good that you’ve put a lot of effort and brainpower into selecting the best mouse, keyboard and headphones for your setup. Maybe you even chose all of its components and built your PC from scratch. That’s one reason why the Logitech G240 mouse pad is so attractive: it requires very little consideration and requires almost no setup time.
It is a cloth mat. You put it on a surface and, thanks to a rubber base, it won’t move much. That is literally all you have to do. If you have a Logitech mouse, you can optimize the surface calibration in the Logitech G Hub software, which is useful, but not strictly necessary. The Logitech G240 is simply a stylish, functional and durable accessory, and that’s probably all that most gamers need.
2. Razer Sphex V2
The best economical gaming mouse pad
Surface type: Polycarbonate | Size: 14.0 x 10.0 inches | Thickness: 0.02 inch | Additional characteristics: None
Incredibly cheap
The surface supports wear.
Fits easily on most desks
Adhesive base makes movement difficult
Gaming accessories are expensive. If you want a top-of-the-line mouse, keyboard, and headphone, you’re looking to spend at least $ 350, and that doesn’t even factor in wireless variants. If you want to spend as little humanly as possible on a mouse pad from a major manufacturer, the Razer Sphex V2 is the way to go. This mouse pad is priced at $ 8 and is often on sale for as little as $ 5. And especially considering the price, it’s a surprisingly solid accessory.
At 14 x 10 inches, the mouse pad is small enough for most desks, but large enough to facilitate a wide range of motion. Its polycarbonate surface is neither hard nor soft; “Soft” would be a better word, and it holds up well, even after months of use. It does have a sticker on the back though, so wherever you drop it is where it will stay.
3. Corsair MM600
The best mouse pad for hard gaming
Surface type: Plastic | Size: 13.9 x 10.7 inches | Thickness: 0.20 inch | Additional characteristics: Reversible surface
Reversible design
Sturdy core
Rubber grips hold it in place
More expensive than regular mouse pads
Most gaming mouse pads are made of soft fabric, but some gamers (and some mouse sensors) prefer a hard surface. The best gaming mouse pad with a hard surface, in my experience, also has a softer side. The Corsair MM600 is a reversible mouse pad that allows gamers to choose between a hard, hard surface and a soft, flexible surface. Just flip the mouse pad over to choose between the two.
Whichever option you choose, the MM600 will stay stable in place, thanks to an aluminum core and four rubber grips around the edges. Priced at $ 40, the Corsair reversible mouse pad is not the cheapest model on the market. But essentially you get two mouse pads in one, so I’d say it’s not too expensive. If you play a variety of different game genres, the MM600 is the way to go.
4. SteelSeries QcK Heavy XXL
The best extra large mat
Surface type: Fabric | Size: 35.4 x 15.7 inches | Thickness: 0.16 inch | Additional characteristics: None
Large enough for a full desk
Relatively cheap
Heavy enough to prevent slipping
Much wider than most mouse pads
Oversized mats appeal to a very specific type of player: the one who never wants to worry about their mouse leaving the limits of a mat. The SteelSeries QcK Heavy XXL is large enough that you can put your entire keyboard on top of it and still have more space than a traditional gaming mouse pad would give you.
The QcK Heavy XXL is almost three feet long and over a foot wide, so this isn’t the best gaming mouse pad if space on your desk is tight. But if you need something big, the QcK Heavy XXL is a great choice, thanks to its sturdy fabric surface, rubber grips, and thick, comfortable design. At $ 30, it’s also not as expensive as other similar-sized mouse pads.
5. Corsair MM1000
Best Qi Gaming Charging Mat
Surface type: Plastic | Size: 14.2 x 10.2 inches | Thickness: 0.24 inch | Additional characteristics: Qi wireless charging
Receptive hard surface
Can load mice while playing
Compatible with all Qi devices
Expensive
While a truly wireless desktop is still a few years away (at least), the Corsair MM1000 can help you get as close as humanly possible. This is because this innovative mouse pad charges anything with Qi functionality, and almost anything without Qi functionality, too, thanks to the three handy adapters included. Some Corsair gaming mice, like the Corsair Dark Core SE, work with the MM1000 out of the box, meaning you can charge your peripheral whenever it needs to be idle for a few minutes. You may never need to connect a USB cable to your mouse again.
Of course, you can also charge other Qi devices, such as phones and headphones. But the MM1000 is not just a good mouse pad due to its auxiliary features. The accessory’s hard plastic surface provides enough friction for a comfortable gaming experience, while a USB pass-through port lets you keep all your accessories connected in one place.
How to choose the best gaming mat for you
Choosing the best gaming mouse pad is a very simple process. Start by choosing between a hard or soft surface, then decide how much desk space you want it to take up. Consider if you want additional features and you’re ready to go.
Some players insist that soft or hard surfaces are better for certain genres, but in my experience, it’s mainly a matter of preference. I like hard surfaces because they are a little harder to wear, but the truth is, hard, soft mouse pads can last for years, especially the well-designed ones from leading manufacturers. (Like everything else in life, you can’t buy a cheap, nameless mat and wait for the test of time to pass.
Two common additional features are wireless charging and RGB lighting. The latter is purely an aesthetic preference. In my experience RGB adds a great cost on a mouse pad for zero additional functionality, but if you have a really nice desktop setup it might be worth the premium. Wireless charging, on the other hand, is very good, but each manufacturer takes a slightly different approach. The Corsair MM1000, for example, can charge any Qi device; the Logitech PowerPlay can load a variety of Logitech mice, while the Razer Mamba Hyperflux works only with your included mouse. Do some research before committing.
