Best gaming mouse pads

(Image credit: Future)

The best gaming mouse pad is much more than just a glorified mouse pad with a logo on it. And while just a few years ago, that might have been true, now you can expect a few extra bells and whistles with the best gaming mouse pads. Features such as RGB lighting and wireless charging are perfect additions for the demanding gamer and their wants or needs.

When you start looking for the best gaming mouse pad, like most peripherals these days, it will be obvious how many options you truly have. And like most peripherals, that means that there’s one that will fit your needs whatever they may be. Maybe you want one to match the RGB light show of the rest of your rig or something with as little friction as possible to help with pinpoint accuracy.

SteelSeries QcK

SteelSeries QcK

Specifications

Surface: 133.56-inches square
Size: 12.6 x 10.6 x 0.07 inches (320 X 270 x 2mm; W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Relatively thin 

Existing solely as a budget mousepad, the SteelSeries QcK does exactly what you want out of a mousepad and nothing more. The QcK’s surface material has a high thread count for extremely precise mouse control and a smooth glide. At the same time, its rubber base helps prevent it from sliding around your desk while you’re gaming. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and there’s even a higher-end version with RGB lighting – the SteelSeries QcK Prism. 

Cooler Master MP510

Cooler Master MP510

Specifications

Surface: 81.37 - 558 inches
Size: 9.8 x 8.3 x 0.11 inches (250 x 210 x 3mm; W x D x H) - 35.4 x 15.7 x 0.11 inches (900 x 400 x 3mm; W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Glow in the dark logo

There are a lot of mouse pads out there that we love in theory, but just won’t fit our desk – either too big or entirely too small. However, the Cooler Master MP510 looks to get on top of this problem by offering 4 different sizes, from a small pad that’ll fit any desk to a giant mouse pad that will take up even the largest desk. It’s made of a durable Cordura fabric that won’t fray, stain or even absorb liquid. So, you won't have to panic when you inevitably spill your drink – except for all your other peripherals, we guess. 

Razer Sphex v2

Razer Sphex v2

Specifications

Surface: 140-inches square
Size: 14 x 10 x 0.02 inches (355 x 254 x 0.5 mm; W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Unobtrusive 

Sure, everyone loves RGB lighting, but what if you’re looking for an unobtrusive, seamless desk surface? Well, the ultra-thin – less than half a millimeter in height – Razer Sphex v2 is the mouse pad for you. Despite its thin profile, the polycarbonate surface is durable and optimized for laser or optical gaming mouse control. We picked the regular size, but if you have a smaller desk, there’s a Small size variant as well. 

Roccat Hiro+

Roccat Hiro+

Specifications

Surface: 111.2-inches square
Size: 13.78 x 8.07 x 0.09 inches (350 x 205 x 2.5 mm; W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Smooth mouse control

The top of the Hiro+ is covered in a vulcanized silicone surface with a 3D structure to help increase your gaming accuracy and speed. The base has a non-slip surface for steady mouse control, and the edges have been rounded for a smoother profile. Its surface is also coated to protect from water and grime and makes for easy cleaning.

Corsair MM1000 Qi

Corsair MM1000 Qi

Specifications

Surface: Micro-textured hard surface
Size: 350mm x 260mm x 5mm (W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Great surface

Most people think that the best gaming mousepads are just glorified tablecloths that you move your mouse on top of. Well, until the Corsair MM1000 Qi hit the market, that was almost right. Not only is this thing one of the best gaming mouse pads, but it also features Qi charging. Launching alongside the Corsair Dark Core RGB SE, which itself features Qi compatibility, the MM1000 Qi isn’t just Corsair’s answer to the Logitech PowerPlay, it takes mouse pads to the next level.

Razer Goliathus Chroma

Razer Goliathus Chroma

Specifications

Surface: 140.6-inches square
Size: 13.99 x 10.05 x 0.12 inches (355 x 255 x 3 mm; W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Gaming optimized 

Let’s say you have a ton of RGB-bedecked peripherals, a keyboard, a mouse, and maybe even a headset. You can’t just leave your mouse pad out of the RGB party, so you should keep an eye out for the Razer Goliathus Chroma. This illuminated mouse pad takes Razer’s expert RGB implementation and throws it into a soft gaming mouse pad that’ll let you score those headshots, and do it in style.

Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris

Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris

Specifications

Surface: 139.7-inches square
Size: 13.7 x 10.2 x 0.2 inches (350 x 260 x 5mm; W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Customizable lighting

You simply can’t go out looking for the best mouse mat for gaming in 2019 without considering RGB. All the hottest gaming peripherals right now boast about how they can light your desk up like a Christmas tree, and the Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris is no different. On top of Corsair’s always-fantastic RGB implementation, the MM800 uses a low-friction finish that’ll allow for quick and precise tracking across its surface. And if the lighting wasn’t enough, the MM800 uses Corsair’s special CUE2 interface to sync its lighting with your other peripherals and even your PC through RGB share. It’s even available in two materials: cloth and a micro-texture surface.  

Asus ROG Scabbard

Asus ROG Scabbard

Specifications

Surface: 613.65-inches square
Size: 35.43 x 17.32 x 0.11 inches (900 x 440 x 3 mm; W x D x H)

Reasons to buy

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Well-tested

More of a ‘desk pad’ than a gaming mouse pad, the Asus ROG Scabbard is absolutely massive. It can hold your laptop or keyboard and mouse, along with any other accessories you have lying around. It has a non-slip ROG red rubber base and low-friction Sheath woven surface for maximum mouse control. Asus has even temperature tested the ROG scabbard down to -30°C – but we wouldn’t recommend gaming in sub-zero conditions, even if you’re really into overclocking.

Bill Thomas

Bill Thomas (Twitter) is TechRadar's computing editor. They are fat, queer and extremely online. Computers are the devil, but they just happen to be a satanist. If you need to know anything about computing components, PC gaming or the best laptop on the market, don't be afraid to drop them a line on Twitter or through email.