Before, mouse pads were a mere surface with an impressive gaming look. Now, a mouse pad is more than a reliable flat surface to move your mouse on. Modern mouse pads now have extra features, which make them a valuable addition to help you win that game, or work efficiently.

The right mouse pad offers the right features, texture, and surface space for optimal functionality. It also dictates how well your mouse tracks and determines whether your mouse offers you the best performance. With the best mouse pad, you get better comfort (especially for ergonomic pads) as you protect both your mouse and desk.

You have probably invested a lot to get the best gaming computer and mouse. How about taking the next step by getting the best mouse pad to add a final touch to your gaming experience?

This guide lists the ten best mouse pads in the market. Also, it has a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed purchase. The picks vary from highly-functional mouse pads to the most budget-friendly option, which will offer you the best value for your money. Feel free to choose any of the best mouse pads below for optimal longevity and functionality. Here are four factors to consider when choosing the best mouse pad.

Its thin profile doesn’t alter the durability of the mouse pad. Instead, its polycarbonate material makes the surface durable and optimizes it for laser as well as optical gaming. The polycarbonate material is well built to withstand constant usage and repeated gestures. The Sphex V2 features colorful lines on its surface, giving it a futuristic and gusty look. Its looks matter in making the mouse mat visible, especially when gaming during the night.

Its thin nature makes it extremely portable, making it easy to carry it along when traveling. Razer designed their Sphex V2 to be more sensitive to lasers on their mice. Hence allowing for accurate gestures and swift movement. There is a unique synergy that comes with using it with a Razer mouse.

For stable operations, the bottom side of the mouse pad features a rubber that holds it firmly in place. Therefore you wouldn't have to get distracted by operating a sliding mouse. To enhance the durability of the high-quality construction material, the mouse mat has stitched edges. Therefore, you won't have to deal with fraying issues. Besides, it has a waterproof finish, which enhances durability.

To help take care of the environment, the mouse pad is made of eco-friendly material. Thus, saving the environment and ensuring better health of the user. Being non-toxic, it is 100% safe to use. Unlike other pads, it doesn't easily attract dirt. Though it will eventually get dirty, cleaning it is a breeze. The characteristics it offers qualifies it to be among our top ten list.

Unlike other budget mouse pads, it has an appealing premium look. The pad is made of tightly-woven fabric and has a gel wrist rest, which ensures maximum comfort when using the pad. This mouse mat offers a smooth gliding surface for the best performance. It offers better tracking for gamers. Its base is made of rubber, which grips every surface, be it hard, flat, or table-top surface. So you don't have to worry about the mouse pad slipping during use.

Despite being made of cloth, the mouse pad offers the best durability when used gently. It is best for office or home use, especially when you abruptly need a mouse pad without previous budgeting. Its ergonomic design makes it the best choice for people who have to use their computers for long hours.

Third, at the base, it has non-slip rubber which holds it in place, preventing unwanted mouse movements. It has a smooth cloth top that doesn't fray and is ultra-light, making it ideal for soft gamers. Also, the soft surface makes it easy for the mouse to glide over, and the best choice for twitchy games. Lastly, QcK boasts a suitable size, which is ideal for low DPI and fast-paced gamers who need more space for mouse movements. The small logo at the corner of the mat is also a plus.

In conclusion, the SteelSeries QcK is an appealing choice as it is highly functional yet quite affordable option. Enjoy the flexibility that comes with the QcK. It comes in different sizes and shapes; you get to choose the one you are comfortable with.

The Corsair MM800 offers a top hard surface mouse pad, making it ideal for hard-gamers who have a liking for RGB. Using Corsair’s Icue software, you can customize lighting profiles or choose the best profile from already preset modes. The MM800 has the upper hand compared to other RGB mouse pads because it has a USB port ( a pass-through port) where you can plug in your flash drive or mouse.

It is fairly large, measuring 13.8” by 10.2” by 0.20”. This wide mousing area is a catch for gamers due to the unrestricted movement of freedom. Its distinguishable feature is the USB through-port located to the right of the USB cord. So you won't have to worry about cables intertwining and causing a mess. Corsair focuses on performance instead of aesthetics, which is why you should expect nothing less but the best performance from their MM800.

Unlike mouse pads made of cloth, hard mousepads are made of blends from different components such as plastic, aluminium, and rubber. For instance, the G440 is simple and features an ultra-smooth surface, which helps match the gamer's speed. While its surface appears smooth, it is made of polyethylene. Thus, it has micro-textures that offer the right amount of resistance. The Logitech G440 also offers the needed amount of feedback. Ensuring the mouse movements don't generate excess noise.

Logitech G440 if the perfect balance between smooth and abrasive. Using it enables you to move the mouse as you game seamlessly and stop quickly- which is essential when playing intense battle games. While it works best with Logitech mice, it will also work well with mice from other brands.

It is thin (3mm) and offers a wide surface area. The company places a small logo that doesn't interfere with the use of the pad. Its construction features high-quality materials that promote durability. To further promote durability, the G-SR has stitched edges to ensure durability. So you won’t have to worry about warping. On the bottom side, the mouse pad features a rubber base, which ensures it remains in place even after making aggressive swipes.

Because of the smooth and specific gliding experience it offers, it is the best choice for a person looking to enjoy more control of their mouse pad. You will also find its tracking performance to be beyond average. The Zowie G-SR offers impeccable stopping power. However, to maintain its fresh gliding experience, you need to wash it often as routine maintenance.

Thus, your workflow won’t be interrupted by skipping errors or a sudden loss of signal. Its adhesive backing ensures the pad grips firmly on your desk. The 3M Precise is specially designed to be used with optical mice. Therefore the patterns on the mouse pad aren't for show and are there to help an optical mouse function more precisely. Optical mice perform better on patterned and bright surfaces, hence the design.

Plastic is the main construction material and has an adhesive backing. Thus giving the mouse mat stability and making it effortless to move around with the mouse pad. For ease of mobility, you will need to stick the adhesive backing to your laptop. 3M Precise is a comfortable mouse pad, which offers better functionality for optical mice. However, it still performs beyond average with other types of mice. It is ideal for work, gaming, and casual internet surfing.

Its hard plastic surface offers the right amount of friction to give you the perfect gaming experience. The hard surface is well optimized to provide you with the required pixel-perfect tracking. The MM1000 is ideal for both professional and hobbyist gamers. It has a USB pass-through port ensures your accessories are hooked up around the same place.

Its charging area features a LED indicator that alerts you whenever it is in use. The mouse pad uses USB 3.0 to connect the mouse pad to the computer. The entire back of the mouse pad is covered in rubber with hexagonal pads raised for a firm grip. Thus, it ensures the MM1000 retains its original position when in use.

Corsair took the time to add design style and functionality to this mouse pad. Although the mouse mat features a simple design and functionality, it has a comprehensive safety and compliance information on its manual.

When you take on gaming for a living, you want to deal with a limiting house mat. Hence, extended mats like Glorious PC are common for professional gamers. Having been designed by games, the extended Glorious PC mat features a super smooth surface. Thus, enabling the gamer to be both fast and accurate, a combination that is quite hard to achieve without the right mouse pad.

The bottom side features non-slip rubber, which eliminates unnecessary mouse pad movements that could throw you off-track, or cost you your game. For durability, the mouse mat has a stitched frame. Thus, it prevents fraying and ensures the mouse pad serves you for longer. Though its soft surface absorbs dirt, its fabric is easily washable. It is available in different options XXL and XXXL.

The Edge, Surface, And Base

Most mouse pads fray over time. Therefore, making it necessary to consider the edges of a mouse pad before buying. Always opt for mouse pads with a stitched edge. They prevent fraying and ascertain the longevity of the mouse pad. Also, stitching increases the aesthetics of the mouse pad and makes it easy to wash.

There are different mouse pad surfaces available. For instance, for cloth pads, they vary in the fabric, weaving, and construction. Therefore, when shopping for the best mouse mat, focus on these aspects. The aim is to have construction material that gives you ultimate control and your desired speed.The surface also determines the friction of the mouse pad. If you enjoy a low-DPI, then it is essential to go for a pad with a sleek surface.

The most important yet most overlooked aspect is the base of the mouse pad. The bottom determines the reliability of the mouse pad. Always check the material making the base of the pad. For instance, a rubber base ensures the mouse has a firm grip, holding it in place.

The base thickness also matters. For instance, a slim base of around 2 mm is ideal for anyone who prefers a solid feel. A standard base of approximately 3 mm provides a happy medium and is a common dimension for most mouse pads. A heavy base of about 5 mm is ideal for anyone looking to get a comfortable feel since the surface is more comfortable.

DPI

The measure of how far the mouse moves for every move you make is the DPI- dots per inch. A higher number doesn’t always indicate the best speed or performance. Therefore, it is important to consider DPI when settling for a mouse.

For example, a high DPI is ideal for high-resolution displays or multi-monitor setups. On the other hand, a lower DPI is preferred when looking for more precision and better control. Thus, it is a major consideration for gamers. As for Photoshop and other apps that require high precision, a lower DPI is preferred.

It is also wise to consider other features such as wireless mouse pads and those with Bluetooth connectivity. As technology changes, the mousepad's designs also change. For instance, wireless pads are a suitable option to prevent clutter that comes from organising cables.