Having one of the best gaming mouse pads is essential if you want pixel-precise mouse movements and a comfortable gaming setup. Mouse mats have come a long way from the boring, floppy foam things they once were. Nowadays, they’re customizable and come in a range of designs and colors.
Drawing on years of gaming experience and hours of testing, we’ve picked out the best mouse pads for gaming from Razer, Logitech, and even Amazon basics – so you’ll find one to suit your needs and budget. All the products we’ve chosen look great too, so they’ll be a welcome addition to the best gaming desk.
Generally speaking, mouse pads aren’t expensive. Basic, budget options start at around $15 (£15), but if you can stretch to $50 (£50) you’ll get a larger pad that can house your gaming keyboard too – plus stunning RGB lighting. Start by working out which mouse pad size will best fit on your desk, then look at whether you want a hard vs soft mouse pad to play the best PC games.
A decent mouse mat offers a smooth surface for your gaming mouse to glide around on, and gives you more control when it counts, especially if you regularly delve into the best FPS games.
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Best gaming mouse pad in 2024:
Best mouse pad for gaming overall
SteelSeries QcK Prism specifications:
| Surface material |
Micro-woven cloth |
| Base material |
Non-slip rubber |
| Sizes |
M. XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL |
Reasons to buy
- Smooth woven surface
- Grips to desktop
- RGB implementation is more than a gimmick
Reasons to avoid
- Power connection can be disruptive
We previously had the standard SteelSeries QcK in our top spot, but the Prism takes the good things about that all-rounder and adds 2-zone RGB lighting. It looks super smart and offers excellent DPI tracking. If you go for the XL size, it’s long enough to keep your mouse and keyboard on, but there are five sizes to choose between.
SteelSeries uses a special micro-woven cloth for smoothness and accuracy with both optical and laser mice. The rubber anti-slip base means it’ll keep its position on the best gaming desk, no matter how heavy-handed you are. It rounds out an RGB gaming setup perfectly, and the GameSense lighting responds to in-game events like low ammo and money. While you could go for a cheaper option, the SteelSeries Prism QcK pad is a stunning RGB mouse pad that should last you years.
Read our SteelSeries Prism QcK review.
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma
Best RGB mouse pad
Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma specifications:
| Surface material |
Cloth |
| Base material |
Silicon rubber |
| Sizes |
Standard, Extended, 3XL |
Reasons to buy
- RGB lighting
- Synapse software is easy to use
Reasons to avoid
- Larger mats get expensive
- RGB means an extra wire on your desk
If you want to add a bit of flair to your gaming setup, the Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma puts 16.8 million colors on the table with RGB lighting around the edges. Better yet, the lighting syncs seamlessly if you’re already rocking Razer’s best gaming keyboard.
The Goliathus also uses an anti-slip rubber base to prevent any movement during hard and fast swipes, as well as a built-in cable stay to stop any snag with wired mice.
Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad
Best budget mouse pad
Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad specifications:
| Surface material |
Cloth |
| Base material |
Silicone rubber |
| Sizes |
Mini, Standard, Extended, XXL |
Reasons to buy
- Affordable, even at larger sizes
- Good for general use
- Machine washable
Reasons to avoid
- Not built for gaming
- Very thin
- Logo is prominently visible
This Amazon-branded surface is a no-frills option, perfect if you’re going for a budget mouse such as the Nacon GM-180 and you don’t want to spend more on a mat than the clicker itself. It’s available in small, mini, XXL, and extended sizes, depending on your preference.
As a bonus, it’s machine washable, making it the ideal model if you’re a clumsy eater or spill your drink. Naturally, we’d still suggest checking out how to clean a mouse pad, but we won’t judge you for taking the easy route with this cheap and cheerful pad.
Logitech G440
Best hard mouse pad
Logitech G440 specifications:
| Surface material |
Polymer |
| Base material |
Silicon rubber |
| Sizes |
Medium |
Reasons to avoid
- Only comes in one size
- The surface can peel after a year
Instead of cloth, Logitech’s G440 uses a hard polymer surface, resulting in less friction for your clicker to deal with. Since there’s no fabric to fray over time, it should last longer, and less resistance means you’ll be able to land shots quicker in the likes of CS: GO.
Logitech says its pads are engineered to work best with its gaming mouse sensors, like the one within the Logitech G Pro Wireless. However, there’s nothing to stop you from pairing this mat with your clicker of choice, providing it works on hard surfaces.
Logitech G Powerplay
A premium mouse pad and a charger
Logitech G Powerplay specifications:
| Surface material |
Rubber (with mouse pad) |
| Base material |
Silicon rubber |
| Sizes |
Medium |
Reasons to buy
- You’ll never run out of battery
- Comes with a Logitech G440 pad
Reasons to avoid
- Only works with Logitech Lightspeed mice
- Only comes in one size
Charging the best wireless gaming mouse doesn’t have to be a chore when there are mouse pads to do it for you. Just plug one in and you’ll never have to manage cables again – at least with your rodent, anyway.
Logitech’s Powerplay mat is still the gold standard, as it charges no matter where your mouse is placed and ships with both cloth and hard G440 pads in the box. The only caveat is that you need to own one of Logitech’s Lightspeed-compatible wireless devices for it to work.
The Corsair MM1000 is a close second because of its sheer compatibility, charging any Qi-enabled wireless device – including the best Android phone – but since only one corner of the mat wirelessly charges and you have to remember to pop your mouse there at the end of your gaming session, it doesn’t exactly solve the main issue of forgetting to charge your device.
HyperX Wrist Rest
Best wrist support for mouse pads
HyperX Wrist Rest specifications:
| Surface material |
Anti-fray stitching over cooling gel and memory foam |
| Base material |
Rubber |
| Sizes |
Different sizes made for different products e.g. mouse, keyboard, etc. |
Reasons to buy
- Comfortable to use
- Good for your wrist
- Inexpensive
Reasons to avoid
- Not bundled with a mouse pad
- Not a very striking design
Though this isn’t a mouse pad, we wanted to ensure that we had at least one wrist rest included as an option. While you can buy mouse pads that include a built-in wrist rest, annoyingly, it often isn’t the ones designed for gaming, so we recommend buying one in addition to your mouse pad.
The HyperX Wrist Rest would be our top pick, because its anti-slip design helps to prevent it moving out of place mid-session, and the cooling gel used inside it feels genuinely very soothing. It’s a shame that its appearance is slightly bland, but, hey, it’s a case of function over form.
We can’t really overstate the value of a wrist rest, especially for anyone who might find themselves using their mouse for countless hours on end. Not using one, or worse, resting your wrist on the edge of a hard wooden desk, can genuinely have a negative impact on your health, so make sure to look after yourself.
How to choose the best gaming mouse pad
When finding the right gaming mouse pad for your setup, consider the following points:
- Pricing: If you’re really not too worried about having a mouse pad with any fancy extra features, you can get one for around $15. Unlike the other parts of your setup, there’s really no risk when you get a cheap gaming mouse pad – though you will miss out on some of the impressive things that the premium options can do, and it may wear out more quickly.
- RGB lights: This isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you’ve got a beautifully coordinated RGB lighting setup in your gaming space, you’ll likely want your mouse pad to fit in with all of it. These days, quite a lot of gaming mouse pads come with RGB lighting.
- Material: You might opt for a hard gaming mouse pad, which will cost a little more, but will generally last longer and create less friction for your mouse. Unfortunately, these ones are prone to peeling and won’t work well with certain mice, but they do have their benefits.
- Charging: If you want to go for a really impressive premium option, you could even get a mouse pad that has the ability to keep wireless gaming mice charged up. Admittedly, since these are wired, you’re kind of trading one wire for another, but you’ll have the freedom of a wireless mouse without having to worry about battery life.
- Size: You’ll have to think carefully about the size of the mouse pad in relation to the size of your desk. Always take a moment to measure and compare so that you don’t end up in the frustrating situation of having to send something back when it doesn’t fit.
If you’ve still got more unanswered questions, check out the FAQs below:
Is a hard mousepad good for gaming?
There are still pretty much two main kinds of mouse pads: hard vs soft. Hard surface mouse pads are good when it comes to speed, but soft mouse pads can improve handling. Ultra-low friction mouse pads will offer you the maximum speed and glide while you’re playing, while textured surfaces also give you greater accuracy and easy maintenance.
A non-slip rubber base is also good for keeping the pad in place so that it doesn’t move around. If you’re not sure which gaming mouse pad is right for you, read our guide on hard vs soft mouse pads to find out more.
Do you need a mouse pad for FPS games?
Technically, no. There’s no type of game that you explicitly need a mouse pad for (well, no PC games – I suppose you and your family might enjoy playing ‘Hide the Mouse Pad’ together). Having said that, there’s also no mouse-based game that won’t benefit from the use of a mouse pad, and as FPS games are very intense and require precise movements, they are one of the genres that will benefit most.
What happens if you don’t use a mouse pad?
When you use a mouse without a mouse pad, it is exposed to greater levels of friction on its underside. Over long periods of time, this means that your mouse will wear down on the underside, which can cause significant damage. Keep in mind that this will take years to happen. The greater level of friction also means that you have a lower level of control.
Should you use a mouse pad with wrist support?
Yes, we would recommend using a mouse pad with wrist support. Not only is it more comfortable, but in the long-run, it will be better for your health. This is especially true for anyone who uses the same desk for gaming as they do for working from home.
Do different mouse pads make a difference?
Absolutely. This is definitely not a one-size-fits-all situation. Aside from the soft vs hard debate we mentioned above, some include RGB lights, some charge wireless mice, some are designed with ergonomics in mind, some use anti-slip features to keep them in place even during games with lots of hard movements, and there are many other differences too. Think carefully about your setups and your needs before deciding on a mouse pad.
For more help making your setup as great as possible, read our guides on the best gaming chairs and the best standing desks. We’ll help you get the most comfortable, and most ergonomic setup possible.
