Best gaming mouse pad in 2023

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.

The best gaming mouse pads today:

1. SteelSeries Prism QcK XLK – best overall
2. Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma – RGB lighting
3. Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad – best budget pad
4. Logitech G440 – a hard surface for FPS games
5. Logitech G Powerplay – charges a wireless mouse

1. SteelSeries QcK Prism

The best mouse pad for gaming overall

SteelSeries QcK Prism specs:

Pros

• Smooth woven surface
• Grips to desktop
• RGB implementation is more than a gimmick

Cons

• 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.

2. Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma

The best RGB mouse pad

Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma specs:

Pros

• RGB lighting
• Synapse software is easy to use

Cons

• 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.

3. Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad

The best budget mouse pad

Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad specs:

Pros

• Affordable, even at larger sizes
• Good for general use
• Machine washable

Cons

• 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.

4. Logitech G440

The best hard mouse pad

Logitech G440 specs:

Pros

• Great for FPS games

Cons

• 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.

6. Logitech G Powerplay

A premium mouse pad and a charger

Logitech G Powerplay specs:

Pros

• Never run out of battery
• Comes with a Logitech G440 pad

Cons

• 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.

Is a hard mousepad good for gaming?

There are still pretty much two main kinds of mouse pads: hard vs soft. Hard surface mouse pads are good when it comes to 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 that it doesn’t move around. If you’re not sure which gaming mouse pad is right for you, read our guide on hard vs soft mouse pads to find our more.