The Best Gaming Mouse Pads for Maximum Control

A high-quality and comfortable gaming mouse pad is essential for successful gaming. Only an optimally designed mouse pad allows the sensor of your gaming mouse to scan the surface with precision, providing maximum accuracy and control for all your in-game movements. While technically any PC mouse can function without a pad, as a gamer, you seek a setup that not only functions adequately but excels.

The following buying guide highlights what to consider when purchasing a mouse pad from bestware and explains the various materials, sizes, and features.

Why Buy a Mouse Pad for Gamers?

There are two main reasons why this pad is essential as a gaming accessory for gaming laptops or gaming PCs:

1. As a mouse mat, it not only protects your desk from scratches and wear and tear but also ensures that your gaming mouse glides much more quietly than on a hard tabletop. Even a mouse with mouse glides can otherwise make an annoying scraping noise.
2. However, the far more important reason for a gaming mouse pad is the significantly higher speed and precision with which the laser or LED sensor can scan the special surface - ideally with pixel-perfect accuracy.

These are the Features of a Good Gaming Mouse Pad

The ideal mouse pad for gaming enhances precision, boasts high-quality craftsmanship, is durable, comfortable, and features a non-slip, typically rubberised underside. It is these additional attributes that set a gaming mouse pad apart from a standard office mouse pad. Before making a purchase, consider which features are essential for you. We will outline the most important ones for you.

Should You Buy a Mouse Mat Made of Soft or Hard Materials?

Gaming mouse pads made from hard materials (hard pads) such as plastic or aluminium do not wear out easily, making them highly durable. However, they tend to be less comfortable and produce more noise when the mouse glides over them compared to models made of soft textile materials (soft pads).

Soft pads typically feature a two-layer structure. A non-slip underside made of textured rubber ensures a secure grip on all types of tabletops. The top layer can be made of fabric, plastic mesh, or nylon.

To enhance the durability of fabric mouse pads, some manufacturers edge their models with sturdy stitching. Gamin mouse pads  from Nyfter, for instance, exemplify how this can be achieved with great comfort.

What are the Different Gliding Characteristics?

A high-quality mouse mat surface not only provides the aforementioned extra precision but also minimises the starting and frictional resistance of the gaming mouse gliding over it. Consequently, the mouse reacts more easily and quickly to every movement. Particularly smooth and finely textured surfaces offer this benefit.

On the other hand, some gaming mouse pads prioritise an improved stopping point rather than maximising gliding speed. If you are a high-sense gamer who makes short, precise movements instead of fully utilising the pad's surface, this is advantageous. Your gaming mouse will stop more effectively at the desired point even after a small, abrupt movement.

What Size Should a Gaming Mouse Pad Be?

The optimal size is primarily determined by your playing style. Extra-large XL or XXL mouse pads are particularly suitable for players who cover long distances on the pad with their mouse. This is common among low-sense players in first-person shooters who deliberately reduce mouse sensitivity to react more precisely to gameplay.

If you prefer playing with very high mouse sensitivity and only cover short distances on the gaming mouse pad, you should opt for a smaller, more compact model in a standard format, which is usually cheaper. However, there is nothing stopping you from choosing an XXL mouse pad and placing both the mouse and gaming keyboard on it for a neat, tidy look on your gaming desk.

If the size (length and width) of your gaming mouse mat does not match your mouse settings and playing style, it can become annoying. If you constantly use the full surface of a pad that is too small, you will find yourself having to lift the gaming mouse in the middle of a game to reposition it.

The ideal height is a matter of personal preference: most models range between approximately 1 mm and 5 mm in height – flat enough not to interfere when sliding your wrist or forearm over the edge. The difference in height between the tabletop and the mouse pad is not noticeable during gameplay and does not negatively affect your hand position.

Some very high pads feature a flattened edge to enhance comfort during play. As comfort is subjective, it is best to try out different heights to find what feels most comfortable for you.

What Other Features and Tips Should Be Considered?

Here, we list a few more optional features and tips that you should consider before making a purchase.

Gaming Mouse Pads with and without RGB Lighting

RGB mouse pads seamlessly integrate into your RGB setup of a laptop or desktop PC and peripherals. The RGB lighting is integrated into the edge, resulting in a stylish look without compromising function. However, to power and control the lighting effects, it is necessary to connect the RGB gaming mouse mat to the computer via USB.

Mouse Pads with Aiming Markers or Movement Markers

Some gaming mouse pads feature markings on the surface that can help improve your aiming. With these markers, you can synchronise mouse movements with in-game actions more easily and learn to react as precisely as possible more quickly.

Gaming Mouse Pads with USB Hub

An integrated USB hub is extremely convenient, providing additional USB ports for connecting peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse or gaming headset. Some manufacturers combine this feature with the power supply of their RGB mouse pad. To utilise the USB hub, it must be connected to the laptop or PC; a modern USB-C port offers sufficient power to connect multiple peripheral devices.

Printed Mouse Pads

The surface of cloth pads, in particular, may be adorned with gaming motifs printed on or woven into the microfibre fabric. This adds visual appeal without hindering gaming performance; the surface of fabric mouse pads remains uniformly smooth, allowing your mouse's sensor to operate easily on the optimised surface despite the print.

How Do I Clean a Mouse Pad?

Many models feature a water-repellent surface, making them easy to clean, similar to pads made of hard materials such as plastic. Simply rinse them under running water and use a little washing-up liquid if necessary. Then, dry them thoroughly before using them again after cleaning.

Some fabric models are equipped with special nano-coatings, making them water and dust repellent due to the material alone. However, cleaning conventional fabric mouse pads can be more time-consuming. Depending on the level of dirt, it may be advisable to soak the pad in water first to loosen coarser particles of dirt.

Buy Gaming Mouse Pads from bestware

Are you searching for the finest, high-precision, high-end mouse pads from leading manufacturers such as Asus, Corsair, Nyfter, or one of the price-performance favourites from Sharkoon? Then you will discover the perfect model as a companion for your gaming mouse at bestware – available in various sizes, crafted from different materials, and spanning every conceivable price-performance category. Whether for demanding e-sports or casual gaming, you will be optimally equipped.