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.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At PCGamesN, our experts spend hours testing hardware and reviewing games and VPNs. We share honest, unbiased opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
SteelSeries QcK Prism
Best mouse pad for gaming overall
Today’s best deals
| Surface material | Micro-woven cloth |
| Base material | Non-slip rubber |
| Sizes | M. XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL |
- Smooth woven surface
- Grips to desktop
- RGB implementation is more than a gimmick
- 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
Today’s best deals
| Surface material | Cloth |
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | Standard, Extended, 3XL |
- RGB lighting
- Synapse software is easy to use
- 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
Today’s best deals
| Surface material | Cloth |
| Base material | Silicone rubber |
| Sizes | Mini, Standard, Extended, XXL |
- Affordable, even at larger sizes
- Good for general use
- Machine washable
- 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
Today’s best deals
| Surface material | Polymer |
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | Medium |
- Great for FPS games
- 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
Today’s best deals
| Surface material | Rubber (with mouse pad) |
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | Medium |
- You’ll never run out of battery
- Comes with a Logitech G440 pad
- 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
Today’s best deals
| 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. |
- Comfortable to use
- Good for your wrist
- Inexpensive
- 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
If you’re on a real budget, you can pick up a compact mouse pad for around $15. Unlike the other parts of your setup, there’s no risk when you get a cheap gaming mouse pad, but you will miss out on features like RGB lighting and wireless charging. The design and build quality is also likely to be less premium.
RGB lights aren’t 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 too. Then there’s the surface pressure. A hard gaming mouse pad will likely cost a little more, but will generally last longer and create less friction for your mouse. Unfortunately, these are prone to peeling and won’t work well with certain mice, but they do have their benefits.
It’s also worth considering the mouse pad’s size in relation to your desk. Some mouse pads are designed to span the whole desk length while others may sit off to one side.
Is a hard mousepad good for gaming?
There are two main kinds of mouse pads; hard vs soft mouse pads. Hard surface mouse pads are better for 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 it doesn’t move around.
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. There’s also no mouse-based game that won’t benefit from using 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 friction on its underside. The greater friction means that you also have a lower level of control.
Should you use a mouse pad with wrist support?
Many gamers find mouse pads with wrist support more comfortable to use for long periods. They help your posture, keeping your wrist in a stable position so that you don’t have to use muscles in your arm for added stability.
Do different mouse pads make a difference?
Absolutely. This is 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, and some use anti-slip features to keep them in place even during games with lots of movements. Think carefully about your setups and 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 best standing desks. We’ll help you get the most comfortable and ergonomic setup possible.