The Best Gaming Mouse Pads
We all know how important a great monitor, keyboard, and mouse can be for climbing the leaderboards in your favorite games. But did you know that good gaming mouse pads can make a huge difference as well? Smooth traction for the bottom of your best mouse pad and comfort for your wrist can be the dividing line between missing your target and getting the perfect shot. That's why we've decided to make this list of the best gaming mouse pads you can find on the market today. Read on and get ready to level up your PC gaming skills.
What to Look For
There were three main criteria we used to find the gaming mouse pads with the highest scores: Do they let the mouse glide easily on their surfaces? Do the best gaming mouse pads lay flat on your desk and stay in place? And are they ergonomic enough to give your wrist the support it needs for hours of gaming?
Some of these gaming mouse pads went above and beyond our expectations. The Amazon Basics pad impressed us enough to get our top spot, thanks to having all the functionality of other great mouse pads in a boutique gaming pad at the cost of a budget choice. But we’d be remiss not to mention just the right amount of pure comfort and usability that Tecknet’s mouse pad gave us as well. Keep reading to see why we think these gaming mouse pads deserve our highest ranks.
Amazon Basics XXL Gaming Mouse Pad
Smooth and simple
Don’t let the word “basic” fool you: this is among the best gaming mouse pads you can buy. Soft, durable cloth covers a rubber surface that makes sure your mouse stays in place even during heated moments.
And the XXL size not only accommodates gamers of all sizes but also gives your mouse plenty of space to move around as well. You don’t always need big tech brands to get high-quality gaming mouse pads, as this one so aptly proves.
Pros
- The plain, minimal black color scheme allows this pad to fit in with almost any gaming setup.
- These mouse pads are appealingly thin even though they grip firmly to your table’s surface.
- The cloth is resilient enough to last years without fading or wearing down.
Cons
- You may need to press it under a heavy object for the first 24 hours after unboxing to make sure it stays flat.
Ktrio Large Gaming Mouse Pad
When bigger is better
This huge mouse mat is more than just one of the better gaming mouse pads we’ve tried; it’s also a full covering for your desk to boot. It’s large enough to reach under your keyboard and monitor, which saves most of your computer tech from gathering detritus.
Plus, soft-yet-sturdy cloth and a sturdy rubber base ensure that despite its size, it won’t slide out of your control. This is one of the best gaming mouse pads for gamers who need full coverage, both figuratively and literally.
Pros
- Even when the pad wrinkles, the performance of your mouse won’t be affected.
- It requires no smoothing or weighing down when taken out of the box, so you can place it on your desk and it’ll lay flat immediately.
Cons
- There can be a degassing odor upon removing it from its packaging.
Tecknet Ergonomic Gaming Mouse Pad
Supportive and sporty
Safety is an underrated factor when shopping for gaming mouse pads, which is why we love this one’s wrist support. Silk fabric covers durable memory foam to create a comfortable buffer between your wrist and the hard mouse pad itself.
Its non-slip base allows it to stay in place even during heated gaming sessions, and its compact size makes it great for travel. It’s one of the few gaming mouse pads that has both health and convenience firmly in mind.
Pros
- It comes in a few different colors, so you can match your mousepad to your gaming rig.
- It’s very affordable, costing a fraction of the amount that brand-name gaming mouse pads can.
- This pad can help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and it may even prevent them, as well.
Cons
- Since the tracking surface isn’t very large, careful control is required during heated gameplay.
Aothia Leather Desk and Gaming Mouse Pad
Large and in charge
Although this pick is on the larger end of gaming mouse pads, that doesn’t mean it suffers in terms of elegance or charm. It’s made from faux leather, which both gives it a unique texture and makes it easy to clean.
And since it’s wide enough to cover an entire whole desk, you can just lay it down and forget about it. This is superior to other gaming mouse pads not just for gameplay but as an aesthetic statement, too.
Pros
- It comes in a beautiful array of color options, making it a simple matter to coordinate with your gaming den or home office.
- This pad is made from more environmentally-friendly materials than those used in traditional mouse pads, so you can feel good about your purchase.
Cons
- It can wrinkle if it gets folded or handled roughly, though you can smooth it out with a flat heavy weight.
3M Precise Optical Gaming Mouse Pad
All quality and no wires
If you like to game without wires, this is one of the few gaming mousepads made specifically for you. With a light design that draws less current and a tactile foam surface, this wireless charging pad can extend your mouse’s battery life by up to 50%.
It’s also easy to clean and sticks itself firmly to any desk surface. If you’ve been looking for the best gaming mouse pad or pads with a focus on wireless play, look no further.
Pros
- It’s remarkably inexpensive considering its high quality and forward-thinking design.
- This is an appealingly thin mouse pad that lays unobtrusively on your desk.
Cons
- It requires a separate wrist pad to reach its full ergonomic potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a mouse pad good for gaming?
For a mouse pad to excel at gaming requirements, it should provide a smooth glide, remain stable, and be large enough to not risk your mouse skidding onto your desk in a heated moment.
It should also be easy to clean, so that debris doesn’t get in the way of your gaming efforts. An easy-to-clean mouse pad will also help the longevity of the accessory.Good gaming mouse pads boil down to how well they use your desk space.
Should I look for larger or smaller gaming mouse pads?
With large pads, you’ll be less at risk of having your mouse slide onto the uneven surfaces of the desk, whereas smaller gaming mouse pads are more portable and easier to clean. If the surface is smooth and the base is sturdy, the size of desk pad will ultimately matter much less than the material.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.