Though optical mice don't require mousepads to work properly, mousepads nevertheless offer a ton of benefits to PC users. Using one simply feels better for most people, and they can help protect both your mouse and your desk from dirt, oils, scratches, and more. Because of how valuable they can be, it's a good idea to invest in a quality mouse pad that will serve you well for a long time. The market for mousepads is wide and fierce since they're a simple accessory, but in the end, we think that the VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is the best option for most people thanks to its large size, durable and convenient construction, and good price.
Best Overall: VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad
If you're looking for the best overall balance between quality and price, it doesn't get any better than the VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad. Its massive size means that it can comfortably cover most of your desk, which allows you to bring the protective benefits that a mouse pad offers to your keyboard as well as your mouse.
Its rubber-like cloth material is incredibly smooth, and the stitched edges help combat the risk of tearing. It's also waterproof, making it great for resisting liquid spills, and the bottom of the mat has slip-resistant shading to ensure that it stays in place no matter what. Thanks to its size, it's not as portable as other options on this list, but if you spend a lot of time at your desk, this is a great choice.
Pros:
- Large size
- Smooth material
- Durable to damage
- Anti-slip shading
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not ideal for small desks or travel
Best Overall
VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad
Desk-wide coverage
The VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad combines high-quality materials with a large size and a good price, making it our favorite.
Best Small: SteelSeries QcK Mouse Pad
If a big pad isn't your style, we recommend going with the SteelSeries QcK Mouse Pad. Its compact size makes it ideal for small desks and for taking with you on-the-go, and its got the same non-slip base and smooth and well-made cloth material that the VicTsing mat does. It's also more affordable, too, which is always a plus. It does lack durable stitched edges, but that's not really a problem in the grand scheme of things.
Pros:
- Great for small desks or travel
- Smooth material
- Anti-slip base
- More affordable
Cons:
- A bit less durable
Best Small
SteelSeries QcK Mouse Pad
Brighten up your living room
This mouse pad offers great quality in a small size and at an affordable price.
Best Large RGB: Blade Hawks RGB Gaming Mouse Pad
This large mouse pad from Blade Hawks brings snazzy RGB lighting to your desk with ten different light modes, and all you need to do to get it working is to plug it into an open USB port and press the button on the pad until you find the setting you like. Its large size is also ideal for most desks, and its smooth, waterproof material and anti-slip base make it excellent for performance.
Pros:
- Snazzy RGB
- Smooth material
- Good liquid resistance
- Anti-slip shading
Cons:
- A little pricier
- Not ideal for small desks or travel
Best Large RGB
Blade Hawks RGB Gaming Mouse Pad
For the gamers
Blade Hawks' large RGB mouse pad is an excellent choice for gamers who want something snazzy top match their setup.
Best Small RGB: VPPOWER Gaming Mouse Pad
Out of the smaller RGB mouse pads that are available, we recommend the VPPOWER Gaming Mouse Pad. Like with the Blade Hawks mouse pad, all you need is a USB port and a press of the button on the pad to use the lights, though unlike the Blade Hawks pad, there are only seven color settings instead of ten. If you want to conserve space and also bring a gamer-style aesthetic to your desk, this is the pad for you. Be aware, though, that it lacks stitched edges.
Pros:
- Snazzy RGB
- Smooth material
- Good liquid resistance
- Anti-slip shading
- Adequate for small desks and travel
Cons:
- A bit less durable
Best Small RGB
VPPOWER Gaming Mouse Pad
Shrunken style
VPPOWER's RGB mat cuts down on the size while keeping a lot of quality of the larger Blade Hawks option.
Best Hard: Blade Hawks Hard Gaming Mouse Pad
If you prefer something hard over a soft cloth pad, then Blade Hawks has you covered with this excellent dual-sided mouse pad. Featuring an aluminum core with two cloth sides, rubberized anti-slip corner feet, and waterproofing throughout, this mouse pad is the best of the best of the hard variety.
Pros:
- Dual-sided design
- Smooth surface
- Very durable
- Anti-slip feet
Cons:
- More expensive
- Can't be rolled up
Best Hard
Blade Hawks Hard Gaming Mouse Pad
Sturdy as steel
This hard mouse pad is designed well and super durable, making it perfect for people who prefer hard mousepads.
Best Leather: Londo Leather Mouse Pad
If something classy and stylish is what you have in mind, look no further than Londo's leather mouse pad offering. Stitched together with genuine leather, this mouse pad both looks and performs great. Also, it also has a non-slip backing and a convenient wrist rest, too. While it's not as hard as the previous choice from Blade Hawks, it still can't be rolled up to take on the go.
Pros:
- Beautiful leather material
- Smooth surface
- Anti-slip backing
- Wrist rest
- Slightly more affordable
Cons:
- Can't be rolled up
Best Leather
Londo Leather Mouse Pad
Stylish and sophisticated
Londo's leather pad is sleek and attractive, and it also performs well, making it an awesome option.
Best Budget: Wknoon Circular Mouse Pad
This small mouse pad from Wknoon isn't as well-made as the other pads on this list, but for how little it costs, it's a great deal, and it even comes with an anti-slip base like the others. If you want something solid and don't want to pay much, this mouse pad is perfect for you.
Pros:
- Most affordable
- Anti-slip base
- Perfect for small desks and travel
Cons:
- Not as smooth
- Not as durable
Best Budget
Wknoon Circular Mouse Pad
Cheap doesn't mean bad
This mouse pad is cheap, but for the price, it's an excellent deal. This is the pad for you if you're looking to save.
Bottom line
Mousepads can make or break your experience with your mouse, especially if you're a gamer. The main one is that they will protect both your mouse and your desk from any potential scratches or dings that the two may give each other over time upon contact; another is that it will help keep your desk and your mouse clean of dirt and oils, too. Most people tend to prefer the texture of a mouse pad over that of a naked desk during use as well. Though they're not very pricey, they are very useful.
The market for mousepads is pretty vast and varied, and at least one of the pads we put on this list is sure to appeal to you. Ultimately, though, we think that the VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is the best mouse pad on the market for most people, as its perfect balance of quality and price, as well as its large size, makes it ideal for the average PC user.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's relatively new to the writing scene, but he counters that lack of experience with a rock-solid work ethic and a desire to improve at every opportunity. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.
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