The Best Gaming Mouse Pads in 2024
With both AAA and indie developers churning out quality games, we’re facing an unprecedented barrage of quality games. Whether you’re drawn in by captivating storytelling or amazing gunplay, the current gaming market has something for everyone. That trend applies to PC hardware, peripherals, and accessories. If you’re looking for a stylish mouse pad to lessen the power of your fists after a frustrating match of League or Overwatch or want to find a nice mat to tie your whole desk together, then you’re in the right place. The best gaming mouse pads should find a balance between affordability, style, and utility.
We’ve compiled a list of the best gaming mouse pads. They come in various sizes (both normal and XXL), both in plain and RGB variants so that every kind of gamer finds his or her perfect fit. They come from reputable brands and some very promising underdogs, so you’re guaranteed to find quality and longevity in each one. Keep your gaming keypad and fps mouse in arms length, and let’s get to it.
Best Gaming Mouse Pads
SkyPad 3.0 XL
The Hard Pad King
- 50cm x 40cm x 3.5mm
- Durable glass surface
- 4 low-profile rubber feet
The latest mousepad releases from Pulsar and Razer have solidified the idea that hard pads with incredible speed and durability have made a comeback and this shift in the market is all due to the popularity of SkyPad glass mousepads.
The SkyPad 3.0 is a mainstay in the aiming community and is used by many in tracking heavy games because of the smooth surface that has 0 friction. The surface of the glass does give you a bit of control but it is minimal and you need a good bit of mouse control to perform on the SkyPad 3.0.
The main allure of the SkyPad 3.0 is that the surface will never change (since it is glass), it is low profile (no stitched edges and very slim rubber feet), it is extremely easy to clean and maintain, and all of this is a one-time investment since the chances of you shattering this pad (under normal use) are minimal.
- The glide of the SkyPad 3.0 is smooth and fast
- The surface is durable and will last forever
- The pad is low-profile and does not bother you during gaming
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain
- Gliding over any dust or debris will be very annoying so keep a microfiber cloth handy
- The glass surface eats mouse skates for breakfast – be ready to swap skates often
- You need to use a sleeve so your hand does not get stuck to the surface
- Premium product – premium price
Endgame Gear MPC 450
The Cordura Choice
- Cordura surface
- Dirt, water, dust repellent
- Offered in different sizes and colors (blue/black)
If speed is what you want, but you are not quite ready for a glass mousepad, the MPC450 should be your next choice. The MPC450 is a Cordura mousepad, which means it is made out of extremely durable cloth and has a fast glide.
Cordura is quite unruly and rough but it provides a fast and textured glide that does help you with mouse control. The extra friction provided by the rough and bumpy surface is either what people like or hate the most about the MPC450.
What is most attractive about the MPC450 is that it costs only 30$ for the 45cm x 40cm size which is decent for most gamers.
- Fast glide with some control because of the Cordura fabric
- The durability of the pad is very high
- The MPC450 is quite cheap for a great product like this
- You can get the stealth version of the MPC450 for a sleek look
- A 50cm x 50cm option would have been the perfect size for a mousepad like this
- The stitching is quite tall and bumpy – necessary since Cordura is a tough material
- People with sensitive skin might need to play with a sleeve on because the surface might be uncomfortable for them
- Hard to find in stock sometimes
X-raypad Aqua Control – Uncoated
The Budget Hybrid Pad of Choice
- XL – 45cm x 40cm
- Hybrid/uncoated surface
- 4mm thickness
Hybrid surfaces like the Artisan Hien are still popular since these mousepads offer a ton of speed but also enough control and stopping power making them usable in any game. The Aqua Control line of mousepads from X-raypad is quite popular with many gamers because of their variety of sizes, designs, and affordable prices.
The real stars of the show are the uncoated Aqua Control pads since these will be a bit faster and rougher – meaning better durability. The Aqua Control pads with designs on them will be a bit smoother and have a bit more control which is still a desirable trait – but you have to remember that coatings wear off leading to worse durability.
Overall, purchasing a plain white/black Aqua Control pad in whatever variant you like will be an amazing purchase since you are getting a Hien-like surface for only 30$!
- A cheap and solid alternative to expensive hybrid pads
- The newer versions have an improved rubber base and decent stitching
- The durability of hybrid pads is decent while offering fast flicks and enough control
- Amazing value purchase
- A 50cm x 50cm option would have been a better size
- The stitching and base of X-raypads still cannot compare to the Artisan/LGG level
- The number of choices might confuse new gamers looking at the Aqua Control line of mousepads
Artisan Zero
A Unique Black Square
- 49 x 42 x 0.4/0.3 cm (XSoft, Soft, Mid sponge)
- Poron base
- Circular knitting (polyester)
Everybody in the gaming industry at this point should know about Artisan and the fact that they produce amazing premium-quality mousepads. These pads have been scrutinized over the years and have been solidified as one of the best in every possible category – the Zero probably being the most popular mousepad out of their entire lineup.
The Artisan Zero is a medium-speed pad which is the most controller option from Artisan. It offers plenty of control while also allowing for speed and micro adjustments in-game. Like every other Artisan pad the Zero has amazing stitching, a Poron base in different softness, and a surface with great properties and durability, and the XL size (recommended size) comes in at 49 x 42 x 0.4 cm.
The Zero is the most popular pad from Artisan because it is the safest choice offering enough control and stopping power combined with speed so that most gamers can adjust to the pad quite easily and perform well on it.
- Premium mousepad in all aspects
- The best stitching on the market
- Comes flat-packed
- Unique surface with decent durability
- Now comes in the Daidai Orange color
- Artisan mousepads are pretty expensive
- Availability for your preferred size, softness, and color will often be scarce
- Local retailers will often charge quite a bit more since they have to import them from Japan
Artisan Hien
The Hybrid Cloth King
- 49 x 42 x 0.4/0.3 cm (XSoft, Soft, Mid sponge)
- Poron base
- Pearskin weave (polyester)
There is a reason why all hybrid mousepads are inevitably compared to a Hien or are called Hien-clones and that is simply because nothing quite beats an Artisan Hien when it comes to fast hybrid mousepads.
Just like the Zero, the Hien is one of the most popular mousepads on the market, being focused on a fast glide with enough stopping power to make proper adjustments. Since the Hien is a hybrid pad, it is a lot more resistant to wear and does not care about humidity or other factors that might influence cloth pads.
The Hien has all of the Artisan features – a Poron base, amazing stitching, great surface quality, and durability. The only thing to note is that since the surface is rougher certain people might need a period of adjustment to it.
- The Hien is a lot more durable than other Artisan mousepads
- Offers great speed but also enough stopping power
- The red color is probably iconic by now
- Amazing stitching/base
- The hybrid surface is rough so certain people might not like it
- The X and Y axis have different speeds – you get used to it very quickly but still something to note
- As with other Artisan pads, the Hien is hard to get in your preferred size and base softness and is expensive
Artisan Hayate Otsu
The Better Hien?
- 49 x 42 x 0.4/0.3 cm (XSoft, Soft, Mid sponge)
- Poron base
- Jacquard weave (polyester)
In Artisan’s own words, the Hayate Otsu is supposed to be a better Hien with the same concept of controlled speed. The weave of the Otsu is less abrasive, has no X & Y axis differences, and prioritizes stopping power, unlike Hien which focuses more on speed.
The Hayate Otsu then places between the Zero and the Hien in the Artisan speed scale offering a very impressive combination of speed and control. Since the surface is less rough and more satin-like the Otsu does not have the same high durability as the Hien.
Overall the Otsu boasts all the premium aspects of an Artisan pad and offers a stable and fast initial motion but with a good amount of stopping power for great control over your mouse movements.
- A pad with a controlled glide and manageable speed
- Artisan quality product
- Offered in the Red Wine color
- It fixes a lot of the issues people have with the Hien
- The softer surface makes it less durable
- The Wine Red color is almost always out of stock
- The XSoft base makes it feel muddy if you push into your pad a lot
Lethal Gaming Gear Saturn Pro
The Artisan of the West
- XL SQ – 50 x 50 x 0.4/0.3 cm
- Different base hardness
- Black/red colors
- Low-profile stitched edges
For a long time now Artisan’s mouse pads were unrivaled in terms of quality therefore a lot of gamers had to go through the hassle of importing them from Japan while paying taxes and shipping fees. Lethal Gaming Gear (once an Artisan distributor for NA) decided to break that chain and introduced their line of pads, culminating in the Pro series that we are looking at today.
The Saturn Pro from LGG is supposed to be an Artisan Zero competitor with the same amazing Poron base and flat stitching. The Saturn Pro however is unique with a surface offering more control than the Zero while retaining the freedom of initiating flick quickly. If the Zero is truly a medium-speed pad, the LGG Saturn Pro is more on the control side of things while retaining some aspects of a medium-speed pad.
Overall if you are looking for a true control pad that has amazing stitching and overall quality and the Zero was a bit too fast for you, the Saturn Pro is undoubtedly the best choice.
- A true Artisan quality competitor with amazing stitching and base
- Not just a Zero clone – unique surface with unique properties
- Better availability and pricing
- The Saturn Pro is currently available only for pre-order
Lethal Gaming Gear Venus Pro
The Artisan of the West Part 2
- XL SQ – 50 x 50 x 0.4/0.3 cm
- Black/red colors
- Low-profile stitched edges
- Poron base
If the Saturn Pro from LGG was a take on a control mousepad, the Venus Pro is their version of a hybrid pad that slots between a Hien and a Hayate Otsu (closer to an Otsu in terms of speed). The Venus Pro offers low initial friction and fast glide while also giving you enough stopping power to enhance your precision.
The surface is smooth but a little bit abrasive (characteristic of hybrid pads) – not as smooth as an Otsu, but also not as rough as a Hien. The Venus Pro offers the same quality surface with amazing stitching (the closest to the Artisan level you will see on the market) and in the future LGG is working on offering different softness bases like on the pre-order Saturn Pro and Artisan pads.
The Venus Pro also comes in a black/red variant and an XL (490x410mm) and XL SQ (500x500mm) size depending on your preferences.
- Amazing hybrid pad alternative to an Artisan Hien/Otsu
- Great quality pad that is constantly being improved by LGG
- Better availability and pricing
- The Venus Pro lacks base hardness options for now – LGG is working on it
- The surface is a more diluted Venus/Hien lacking friction and feedback for certain users
How to Choose the Best Gaming Mouse Pad
After giving you these recommendations, it’s easy to see why someone would be confused about choosing the best gaming mouse pad for their personal needs. The offer is overwhelming. When thinking about buying a mouse pad, it’s important to think about the aesthetics, the length, whether or not you want RGB, and if you want a soft or hard mouse pad.
Length
If you’re into shooters, then the length of the mouse pad is very important. If you play with a lower sensitivity or DPI, then you need a lot of room to move your arm around. An XXL mouse pad if that’s your playstyle. When you’re playing with low sensitivity, you tend to move your arm rather than your wrist, so it’s important to have a lot of leeway. Of course, if you play with a higher setting, then a shorter mouse is fine.
With a longer and wider mouse pad, you can also fit your keyboard and/or monitor. That’s not as important, but having your keyboard locked in place and sitting at the same height as your mouse is pretty comfortable, at least in my experience. If space isn’t a factor for you, I think that a larger mouse pad will bring more value, regardless of how you’re going to use it.
RGB
With RGB, you can go either one of two ways. You either love it or hate it. RGB mouse pads are pretty widespread. If you have an available USB slot on your PC or laptop and want to add more lighting to your desk, it can be a pretty inexpensive way of doing so. They’re affordable, come with soft or hard bases, and also in all sizes.
Soft vs Hard
There are no real benefits to hard or soft mouse pads. In terms of cleaning, it’s easier to clean the hard mouse pad because it’s made of plastic and you can just wipe it down with a cloth. Soft pads are made using cloth in general and will gather more gunk over time. Soft pads are also easier to transport since you can roll them up and put them in your backpack.