Best Mouse Pads 2024: Effortless Glide, Pretty Lights

A mouse pad might seem unnecessary these days, especially when the best gaming mice will work on just about any surface. But a level, consistent surface optimized for smooth, accurate movements might be just what you need to stay ahead of the competition. 

Gaming mouse pads come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are pretty standard, designed to fit under your mouse (and that's it), while others are enormous, and can easily pad the space under your mouse, gaming keyboard, and more. Many also feature RGB lighting, which might seem a little frivolous — but if you're adding a peripheral anyway, it doesn't hurt to have it coordinate with the rest of your rig, right? If pretty lights are a priority, look for a mouse pad with bright, consistent colors and enough RGB zones to create seamless effects.

These are the best gaming mouse pads we've found, whether you want something for just your mouse or your entire desk.

The quick list

The Best Mouse Pads You Can Buy Today

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best Mouse Pad for Most People

A more affordable alternative to the QCK Prism. (Image credit: Steelseries, Shutterstock)

1. Steelseries QCK Heavy

Best Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Micro-woven cloth
Measurements: 17.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inches (Large)
RGB Zones: None
Software: None
Base: Non-slip rubber

Reasons to buy

+
Thick and Durable
+
Stable
+
Affordable
+
Washable
+
Multiple Sizes

Reasons to avoid

-
Needs to be weighed down at first 

If you don't need RGB (does anyone need RGB?), the SteelSeries QCK Heavy is an extra-thick, non-RGB cloth mouse pad that comes in three sizes. SteelSeries also makes a standard QCK mouse pad that's one-third as thick as the QCK Heavy, but we feel the slight extra cost is worth the extra durability and more stable surface you get with the QCK Heavy.

Both the QCK Heavy and the regular QCK feature a micro-woven cloth surface that makes for easy but precise sliding, and are hand-washable. Decoration is light — a small SteelSeries logo in the bottom left corner is the only thing that might distract you from your game. The mouse pad has a non-slip rubber base that keeps it firmly rooted to your desk — it didn't budge no matter how hard our reviewer moved their mouse. 

The only minor gripe with the QCK Heavy is that it's so thick that it can take a bit of extra time to flatten out when you first take it out of the box. This isn't too much of an issue if you don't plan on moving it a lot, but be careful not to keep it rolled up too long when traveling. We suggest placing a heavy book or weight on top of it overnight before the first use. 

Both the QCK Heavy and the QCK should fit most desks, thanks to the various size options. Our reviewer tested the large size (17.7 x 15.7 x 0.24 inches / 450 x 400 x 6 mm), but the QCK Heavy also comes in medium and XXL, while the regular QCK comes in small, medium, large, 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL. 

Best RGB Mouse Pad

2. Razer Firefly V2

Best RGB Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Hard, micro-textured plastic
Measurements: 14 x 10 x .01 inches (355 x 255 x 3mm)
RGB Zones: 19
Software: Razer Synapse 3
Base: Rubber

Reasons to buy

+
Large number of RGB zones
+
Bright RGB lighting
+
Braided cable
+
Mouse cable catch 

Reasons to avoid

-
Attracts fingerprint smudges
-
Software can be complex

If you're looking for RGB, the Razer Firefly V2 has it in spades. This ultra-colorful mouse pad has a whopping 19 customizable zones and its bright LEDs visibly outshine the competitors (despite the relatively thin lighting strips).  

The mouse pad has what Razer calls a "micro-textured" plastic surface that's fit for competitive gaming. It feels slightly rough and enables speedy mouse movements, but it easily gathers fingerprints and smudges. The Firefly V2 is only 0.12 inches (3mm) thick, but its rubber base prevented any movement during our tests. It has a cable catch, which might seem like a small detail, but it successfully kept our mouse's wire in check. 

RGB tweakers have full reign over the 19 lighting zones through Razer Synapse 3. You get brightness controls, seven presets (including a reactive one that works with supporting Razer mice), and you can sync the lighting with other Razer peripherals and devices. We also appreciated the toggle to "switch off lighting when the display is turned off." The software's Chroma Studio is where the more advanced customization occurs, with numerous effects layers and the ability to control effects' cycling speeds, duration, and intensity — but its complexity means it takes longer to master than simple apps. 

Best Budget-Friendly RGB Mouse Pad

The Cooler Master MP750 (M) delivers pretty RGB for cheap.  (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

3. Cooler Master MP750 (M)

Best Budget RGB Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Soft cloth
Measurements: 14.57 x 10.63 x 0.12 inches (370.08 x 270 x 3.05mm)
RGB Zones: 1
Software: Cooler Master MasterPlus
Base: Rubber

Reasons to buy

+
Spill-resistant 
+
On-the-fly control button
+
Removable cable

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited lighting options
-
RGB colors on software can look different in real life 
-
Visible stitching

If you don't want to spend much on a mouse pad but you also don't want to give up flashy RGB, the Cooler Master MP750 (M) features RGB lighting and can usually be found for $20 - $35, though the price fluctuates. According to Cooler Master,  the finely textured cloth offers a "slick texture and smooth maneuverability," but while it was sufficient for the average game session during our testing, it didn't otherwise feel particularly special. It does, however, have a spill-resistant coating: we spilled water on it and the large droplet rolled off and was easy to clean up with a tissue. It also features a detachable cable for when you don't need RGB. 

The MP750 (M)’s RGB border shines pretty brightly. A handy button lets you cycle through static colors without opening software. Unfortunately, black stitching interrupts the RGB frame, and we're a little worried about getting things (such as jewelry) caught between the loops and causing damage. 

Since there’s only one RGB zone, there’s not that much to do in the Cooler Master Master Plus software. There are four lighting modes — Color Cycle, Static, Breathing or off — and five speed settings via a toggle. Static and Breathing modes offer a color picker, but it wasn’t always accurate. For example, we tried to make  a peach/white breathing effect, and ended up with a white-ish purple flickering. The MP750 also comes in large and extra large versions.

Best Hybrid Surface Mouse Pad

Razer's Strider Chroma is a great hybrid option for those who don't want something too hard or too soft. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

4. Razer Strider Chroma

Best Hybrid Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Polyester
Measurements: 900 x 370 x 4 mm
RGB Zones: 19 Razer Chroma RGB Lighting Zones
Software: -
Base: Rubber

Reasons to buy

+
Hybrid hard/soft surface
+
19 RGB lighting zones
+
Seamless edges

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Still not as slick as a hard surface

The Razer Strider Chroma has a hybrid surface — harder and slicker than a cloth mouse pad, but with enough texture for controlled, precise movements. It’s the best of both worlds, perfect for gamers who need both speed and control, and it’s water-resistant and easier to keep clean than most cloth mouse pads.

The Razer Strider Chroma only comes in one size — extended, which is large enough to hold both your keyboard and mouse without covering your entire desk. The Strider Chroma has a thick, no-slip rubber base and looks fantastic on your desk with seamless edges (no visible stitching) and 19 zones of bright, Chroma-infused RGB lighting that can be customized in Razer’s Chroma Studio with different colors and effects (including audio-reactive effects). 

The main downside to the Strider Chroma is its price — with an MSRP of $130, it’s practically like buying a keyboard or a mouse. But it’s so beautiful it just might be worth it.

Best Hard Surface Mouse Pad

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

5. Razer Atlas

Best Hard Surface Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Tempered glass
Measurements: 450 x 400 x 5 mm
RGB Zones: None
Software: -
Base: Anti-slip rubber base

Reasons to buy

+
Low-friction surface feels great
+
Easy to clean/oleophobic coating works well
+
Optical and laser sensors track very well

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Too large
-
Not great for sweating

If speed is your top priority, a soft, cloth mouse pad is not for you — and even a hybrid mouse pad will slow you down. You need a hard, smooth, low-friction surface made of plastic, ceramic, aluminum, or glass, like our favorite hard surface mouse pad, the Razer Atlas. 

The Atlas is Razer’s first tempered glass mouse pad, and it’s entirely analog — no RGB, no Razer Synapse, nothing. Its smooth, matte surface is micro-etched with 2μm texturing that’s designed to work with optical sensors, and features an easy-to-clean oleophobic coating. The Atlas felt amazing and tracked perfectly with every laser and optical mouse we threw at it — though Razer recommends using a mouse with a Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor, such as the DeathAdder V3 Pro, of course. Its oleophobic coating offered just the right amount of friction (read: none) for maximizing speed without sacrificing precision. 

Our main issue with the Atlas was its size — at 17.72 x 15.75 x 0.19 inches (450 x 400 x 5mm), and made of rigid glass, it’s a little too large to easily fit on the average desk, as it can’t be placed on uneven surfaces, nor are you supposed to put heavy, rough, sharp, hot, cold, etc. objects on top of it. Even just a little smaller would make this mouse pad an easier fit for the more deskspace-challenged.

Read: Razer Atlas Hands-On 

Best XL Cloth Mouse Pad

(Image credit: Corsair)

6. Corsair MM350

Best XL Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Anti-fray cloth
Measurements: 35.4 x 15.8 x 0.2 i36.6 x 15.7 x 0.2 inches (XL Extended)nches ( 900 x 400 x 4mm)
RGB Zones: None
Software: None
Base: Non-slip rubber

Reasons to buy

+
Thick and Durable
+
Stable
+
Affordable
+
Luxurious feel
+
Multiple Sizes

Reasons to avoid

-
Style isn’t for everyone

With how big mouse mats are, it’s important that they don’t just provide your mouse with a good surface to slide around on, but also your wrists with a comfortable surface to rest on. The Corsair MM350 knocks this out of the park. While it does come in a smaller, more pad-shaped size, we’re recommending the mouse mat-sized, XL Extended version here so you can get the most out of that luxurious feel while not being too bothered by the seams at its edges.

While the mat’s surface feels great — almost like a cooling pad — it does come decked out with a battle-damaged gunmetal gray pattern that won’t be for everyone. This is a shame, as it’s easily our favorite non-RGB mouse mat, and folks who are already avoiding RGB might prefer to have a plain version available.

Still, the slick-but-not-slippery surface and large size make it an excellent buy for function alone.

Best XL Cloth Mouse Pad with RGB

7. HyperX Pulsefire

Best XL RGB Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Textured cloth
Measurements: 35.43 x 16.54 x 0.2 inches
RGB Zones: 2
Software: HyperX Ngenuity
Base: Rubber

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable textured cloth surface
+
Touch sensor for controlling RGB
+
Grips tightly to surface

Reasons to avoid

-
Too large for some desks
-
Only 2 RGB zones

The HyperX Pulsefire mouse mat is HyperX’s first RGB mouse mat in its rectangular XL size, and is easily the company’s best RGB mouse pad for larger desks. At a spacious 35.43 x 16.54 x 0.2 inches, it’s a little too big for some setups, but it’s also a great way to cover as much of your desk as possible if you have the space. And at $50, it’s got a cheaper MSRP than similar rectangular options from the likes of Steelseries and Thermaltake.

Construction is solid across the board here, with a textured cloth surface that gives you plenty of grip without feeling uncomfortable on your wrists and arms. The silicone shielding around the RGB-lit edge also means this mouse pad’s corners aren’t likely to fray anytime soon. Plus, the textured rubber on the mouse pad’s underside means it won’t slip around with your sweeping arm movements while you’re gaming.

The RGB is a little less robust than we’d like. There are only two zones, and while you can select from a wide variety of patterns and colors, there's no integration with Discord and the list of games with special integration for HyperX’s RGB software is pretty sparse. Still, the mouse pad's RGB touch sensor is a nice bonus, allowing you to easily cycle through 3 RGB presets without needing to dive into software.

Make sure to measure your desk before getting this mouse pad so it doesn't end up hanging over the edge!

Best Alternate Size Hard Surface Mouse Pad

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Best Alternate Size Hard Surface Mouse Pad

Specifications

Surface: Speed
Measurements: 13.78 x 11.81 x 0.14 inches
RGB Zones: None
Software: None
Base: four small circular anti-slip feet

Reasons to buy

+
Multiple sizes
+
Durable, easy to clean
+
Fast, accurate tracking

Reasons to avoid

-
Glass (rigid, cold)
-
Expensive
-
-Not as smooth as Razer Atlas

Size definitely matters when it comes to glass mouse pads — if Razer's Atlas is too small or too large for your desk space, Skypad's Mousepad 3.0 has you covered. The Mousepad 3.0 comes in two sizes: regular (13.78 x 11.81 inches / 350 x 300mm) and XL (19.69 x 15.75 inches / 500 x 400mm) — exactly not the size of Razer's 17.72 x 15.75-inch (450 x 400mm) Atlas. 

The smaller "regular" sized Mousepad 3.0 is the perfect size for the majority of desks — enough space to move your mouse with plenty of panache, thanks to the slick glass surface. The larger XL Mousepad 3.0 is large enough to fit a small gaming keyboard and an ultra-lightweight mouse — perfect for eSports players — for a more uniform peripheral surface. 

While Skypad's Mousepad 3.0 isn't quite as smooth as the Atlas (it doesn't have the Atlas's oleophobic coating), it works just as well. Mice track perfectly along the micro-patterned matte-finish surface, which offers a smooth glide with a small amount of resistance from the texture. The texture does make precise stopping easier to adapt to, though the Atlas is probably better for those who want speed above all else. 

Read: Skypad Mousepad 3.0 Review 

Best Mouse Pad Accessory

HyperX's wrist rest adds support with cooling gel and memory foam.

9. HyperX Wrist Rest

Best Wrist Rest

Specifications

Size: 17.5 x 3 x 0.75 inches (44 x 7.6 x 1.9cm)

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely comfortable
+
Attractive design

Reasons to avoid

-
A few dollars more than competitors

Quick Shopping Tips

Mouse pads aren't that complicated, but there are some variables to keep in mind while you shop:

  • Material: Hard, plastic surfaces are more slippery, so your mouse will glide rapidly with little force from your hand. These are best reserved for more competitive gamers (or at least players with a mouse featuring DPI control). Soft, cloth mouse pads offer more precise pointer control, but may not be as quick as you'd like. You can also find hybrids, which are, well, hybrids. Hard and hybrid mouse pads will wear down skates more quickly than soft mouse pads.

  • Size:  Mouse pads start small but come in a few sizes — the largest ones will take up your entire desk. Do you need a gigantic mouse pad? If you play games that require extreme precision and control — such as first-person shooters — you might want to consider a larger pad; precision is generally attained with a lower DPI, and a lower DPI means bigger hand/arm movements. You definitely don't want to run out of room when you're lining up a headshot.

  • RGB: RGB mouse pads are pretty, but they're powered via USB. This doesn't necessarily need to plug into your PC, unless you want to customize the pad's RGB with software (or have it coordinate with your other peripherals). Also, not all RGB is created equal. The number of RGB zones (not the same as the number of LEDs) will determine how complex the light show can get.

  • Cleaning: If you do more than just occasional snacking at your desk, make sure any mouse pad you choose is easy to clean. Smooth, slippery surfaces are easy to wipe down, while cloth pads usually need more care (although some are treated to be spill-resistant). You'll need to take extra care with RGB mouse pads.

Finding Discounts on the Best Mouse Pads

Whether you're shopping for one of the best RGB mouse pads or considering a model that isn't on our list, you may find some savings by checking out our lists of the latest Best Buy promo codes, Newegg promo codes and Micro Center coupons.

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal
Senior Editor, Peripherals

Sarah Jacobsson Purewal is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware covering peripherals, software, and custom builds. You can find more of her work in PCWorld, Macworld, TechHive, CNET, Gizmodo, Tom's Guide, PC Gamer, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, SHAPE, Cosmopolitan, and just about everywhere else.

With contributions from
  • owcraftsman
    Is there a reason the Corsair MM800 (Hard) was left out of the roundup? I have two of them here and would like to know how they stack up.
    Reply
  • helper800
    owcraftsman said:
    Is there a reason the Corsair MM800 (Hard) was left out of the roundup? I have two of them here and would like to know how they stack up.
    Same here, I have the MM800 and would like to know how it compares...
    Reply
  • computerfreak76
    you guys should include the corsair mm700 rgb extended gaming mousepad!
    Reply
  • Geezer760
    Wow! $275 for the Razer Strider, who in their right mind would pay $275 for a mouse pad, A mouse pad?
    Reply