Finding the best gaming mouse pad can make a huge difference in your gaming prowess, but choosing the right one can require some careful planning & consideration. Mouse pads are often overlooked by many, but getting a good mouse pad is crucial for any gamer and they’re pretty cheap. The difference between good and bad pads is made especially apparent if you play competitive games, such as first-person shooters.
As long as you have between $10 – $50 you can get yourself a fantastic gaming mouse pad, so there’s no excuse to still be using your desk’s surface. If you’re an avid gamer I’d recommend spending a little extra to get something that will hold up better.
What is the best gaming mouse pad?
The best gaming mouse pad is just a matter of what you enjoy using. I personally enjoy cloth/soft mouse pads because they offer me more control, and I can always put on fresh mouse skates if I feel there’s too much friction. But largely I just dont enjoy the feeling of running my mouse over hard surfaces (especially if there’s a scratch or some speck of dirt I missed). When searching for the best gaming mouse pad, you should consider the following:
- How big of a pad should you get? Well, this depends on your preferred mouse sensitivity (DPI, polling, etc) and how much available space you have for the pad. If you prefer slower mouse speeds, find yourself running off the pad, or can’t do a 180 in your preferred game without lifting the mouse up, then a larger pad is what you’ll want.
- How much do you want to spend? Luckily, even the best gaming mouse pads aren’t very expensive and with proper care, they should last a few years.
- What kind of games do you play? If you’re playing competitive games where speed and accuracy are important, then you may want to spend a little extra to get something a little more durable.
- Hard or soft surface pads? This boils down to personal preference. If you feel like your mouse doesn’t glide smoothly enough on soft, you may just need to get some new mouse skates.
Don’t let those questions intimidate you, finding the best gaming mouse pad is quite simple and we’ll try and make it as easy as possible.
SteelSeries QcK (XL - Soft)
The SteelSeries QcK cloth mouse pad comes in many sizes and is built to last. The micro-woven cloth surface provides you with the most accurate, pinpoint accuracy and precision while allowing your mouse to glide easily. The mouse pad’s “Never-Slip” rubber base combined with its weight will keep it from shifting even under the most intense gaming situations. This pad was engineered for competitive gamers of the highest caliber, and for the price, it’s well worth it. Definitely one of the best gaming mouse pads on the market.
Size (LxWxH): 11.8 x 35.4 x 0.08 inches (29.9 x 89.9 x 0.2 cm)
Key Features:
- Micro-Woven cloth surface helps ensure accurate, smooth movements.
- Non-slip rubber base.
- Very cheap considering its size & quality.
- Many sizes to pick from.
- Durable and washable.
- Good weight & rubber base to prevent slipping.
- Need a large amount of space to accommodate the size of this beast.
Corsair MM200 Soft Mouse Pad (M - Soft)
The Corsair MM200 is a sleek little mouse pad that checks all the right boxes. It has a nice and soft, low-friction surface allowing for proper tracking and control. On the bottom, you’ve got the rubber anti-skid material to keep your mousepad from running away on you. Comes in larger sizes as well.
Size (LxWxH): 11.8 x 14.1 x 0.1 inches (29.9 x 35.8 x 0.25 cm)
Key Features:
- Cloth-weaved surface for better fine control.
- Non-slip rubber base.
Pros & Cons:
- Inexpensive.
- Soft cloth surface for increased control and smoother tracking.
- Rubber base to counter slipping.
- Some smaller pads may be difficult to get to lay down flat.
- No anti-fray stitching around edges to reduce wear and tear.
Logitech G440 (L - Hard)
The Logitech G440 will have your mouse feeling like it’s flying due to its extremely smooth, low-friction surface. Hard mouse pads such as the G440 are great for gamers who value speed and nearly effortless tracking above all else. Another added benefit of using a hard mouse pad is cleaning them is extremely easy. Easily one of the best gaming mouse pads for those that prefer gaming on hard surfaces. Unfortunately, there aren’t any other size options to pick from.
Size (LxWxH): 11 x 13.3 x 0.12 inches (27.9 x 33.7 x 0.3 cm)
Key Features:
- Low-friction polyethylene surface.
- Multi-layer construction for added durability.
- Rubber base to prevent the pad from shifting.
- Affordable.
- Mouse will glide effortlessly.
- Anti-skid rubber base.
- Only comes in one size.
- Any scratch/dirt on the surface or your mouse’s skates/base will easily be felt.
- Edges may be sharper than expected.
Razer Gigantus V2 (L - Soft)
Razer is one of the most recognizable brands in the gaming world. They’re known for turning out some very solid hardware and their “Gigantus” mouse pad is no exception. The micro-weave cloth surface ensures accurate mouse sensor tracking as well as buttery-smooth gliding. While its high-density foam keeps your pad flat and acts as a cushion for your hands/wrist. There are multiple sizes to choose from and it’s easy to see why they named it Gigantus.
Size (LxWxH): 17.7 x 15.6 x 0.12 inches (44.9 x 39.6 x 0.3 cm)
Key Features:
- Textured micro-weave cloth surface.
- High-density foam.
- Non-slip rubber base.
Pros & Cons:
- Pretty cheap for its size.
- The foam keeps the pad flat + cushions your hands/wrist.
- Rubber base to counter slipping.
- No anti-fray stitching around edges to reduce wear and tear.
- The pad may still move around on you if you’re using its smaller sizes due to its lack of weight.
Razer Firefly V2 (L - Hard - RGB)
The Razer Firefly V2 offers a rich RGB glow and a textured surface perfectly balanced between speed and control. The RGB can easily be controlled with Razer software and customized to your heart’s content. There’s even a built-in cable catch that will hold your mouse’s cord to prevent tangles and reduce drag. Unlike some hard pads that use adhesive, the Firefly V2 uses a thin anti-slip rubber base to keep it in place.
Size (LxWxH): 10.8 x 13.9 x 0.14 inches (27.4 x 35.3 x 0.35 cm)
Key Features:
- Lab-tested, micro-textured surface to ensure precise tracking.
- Cable/cord catch.
- Rubber base to prevent the pad from shifting.
- Customizable RGB edge lighting.
- Affordable, well-designed pad.
- Cable catch holds mouse cord to relieve drag.
- Anti-skid rubber base.
- Brilliant RGB lighting that can be customized with Razer software.
- Only comes in one size.
- Any scratch/dirt on the surface or your mouse’s skates/base will easily be felt.
Corsair MM300 (XL - Soft)
The Corsair MM300’s low-friction textile surface allows for exceptionally smooth mouse gliding and tracking, despite what the grungy appearance may suggest. The MM300 has a good rubber non-slip base and anti-fray stitched edges to reduce wear and tear. The grungy, almost metallic surface is very eye-catching and whether you love it or hate it, you can’t deny it’s certainly unique. Oh and if your desk is already cramped, this bad boy does come in more sizes.
Size (LxWxH): 11.8 x 36.6 x 0.1 inches (29.9 x 92.9 x 0.25 cm)
Key Features:
- Textile-weave cloth surface.
- Anti-fray edge stitching.
- Non-slip rubber base.
Pros & Cons:
- Affordable.
- Beautiful grungy surface design makes for some very effortless mouse gliding.
- Anti-skid rubber base.
- Anti-fray stitching around edges to reduce wear and tear.
- Mouse glides very easily which may make precise movements more difficult.
- A very small amount of users have reported that the mouse pad had an unpleasant odor.
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma (XL - Soft - RGB)
Need a large mousepad that not only fills the desk space with its shear girth, but also fills your eyes/room with RGB goodness? Well if so then the Razer Goliathus Chroma is probably the right mouse pad for you! It has all the necessary components for a good gaming mouse pad, smooth textured cloth surface, anti-slip rubber base and fully customizable lighting. It comes in a few sizes as well, so don’t fret.
Size (LxWxH): 11.5 x 36.2 x 0.12 inches (29.2 x 91.9 x 0.3 cm)
Key Features:
- Micro-textured cloth surface.
- Customizable RGB lighting powered by Razer Chroma.
- Non-slip rubber base.
Pros & Cons:
- Very cheap considering its size and build quality.
- Eye-candy RGB lighting that can be customized easily.
- Anti-skid rubber base.
- Multiple size options are available.
- RGB lighting can be prone to breaking.
- A small number of users have reported difficulty getting the pad to lay flat.
HyperX Fury S (XL - Soft)
The HyperX Fury S mouse pad checks off all the requirements for a good gaming mat. It has a smooth, soft surface, an anti-skid rubber base, and anti-fraying stitched edges. A solid contender for the best gaming mouse pad currently out there. It comes in multiple sizes (although some weren’t available when writing this) and you get quite a lot of pad per penny spent. The pricing also seemed a bit random between retailers, so check a few stores to find the best deal!
Size (LxWxH): 16.5 x 35.4 x 0.16 inches (41.9 x 89.9 x 0.4 cm)
Key Features:
- Densely-woven cloth surface for improved tracking.
- Anti-fray stitched edges.
- Non-slip rubber base.
- Pretty cheap.
- Stitched edges increase durability.
- Anti-skid rubber base to keep the pad grounded.
- Multiple size options are available.
- Some sizes weren’t available at the time of writing.
