By Austin Palmer ⋅ Senior Research Analyst ⋅ Jun 21, 2022
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We researched over 50 different gaming mouse pads available today then bought the 10 best for a head-to-head comparison to find out which mouse pad will help you up your game. We spent hundreds of hours playing games, not to mention incorporating each pad into our different gaming setups. In addition to comparing their size and material, we also carefully tested how loud each pad is, along with ranking them on their speed and control. Continue reading to see which pad claimed the top spot, which is your best bet on a budget, and which one is best for lighting up your desk.
The world of gaming is expansive and making the best choice for your setup can be challenging. We're here to bring you expert information so you can find the right type of gaming device for your needs. We offer complete testing and reviews for gaming mice and gaming keyboards, along with a host of other gaming-related products.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on June 21, 2022, to add three new products to our round-up, including the Corsair MM300 Pro Extended, the Razer Strider Hybrid, and the Roccat Sense Pro.
Our favorite overall gaming mouse pad is the Cooler Master MP510. Offered in multiple sizes from small to extended, you're sure to find one that suits your mouse sensitivity and available desk space. We appreciate that the logo is smooth on the pad, as it doesn't impede mouse movement as raised logos sometimes do. The stitched edges also add extra durability to this model, and if you're prone to spilling drinks, you'll appreciate the splash-proof surface.
There are some slight downsides to this model. If you like to use your whole arm for movements, the rougher feel of the Cordura fabric might be irritating. The coarser fabric might also wear down the skates on your mouse faster than you'd like. However, if you want great control and don't mind the rough material, the Cooler Master MP510 is our top recommendation for a speed pad.
The Cooler Master MP510 uses Cordura for its surface, making it slick but a little rough.
The Corsair MM300 Pro Extended is a micro-weave cloth pad that has a spill-proof (liquid resistant) coating on the top side and an anti-skid textured rubber base that are joined with stitched edges. The pad has balanced speed and stopping properties but the action remains silky and predictable though somewhat variable depending on the mouse used. While it is quite fast for a cloth pad, it is by no means a speed pad. Conversely, it has great stopping power as compared to speed units but, as one might guess, this performance comes at the expense of increased input to initiate movements. Further enhancing the consistent feel of the MM300 is a flat logo in the corner that won't interrupt the mouse's movement.
The 36-13/16-inch by 11-7/8-inch MM300 Pro Extended offers players plenty of room to accommodate a full-sized keyboard with more real estate leftover than the typical medium-sized mouse pad provides. Additionally, the pad comes in a box and lays almost completely flat sans creases. The stitched edges on our model did cup a bit at first but flattened out in less than 24 hours. We had no complaints about the MM300 but we did hear some reports from others that a strange odor emanated from the pad when it was new. All told, this is a top-shelf pad that excels across all game types.
The Corsair MM300 Pro Extended offers maximum mouse and keyboard space as well as an absorptive coating.
Searching for a top-quality gaming mouse pad that's affordable? Look no further than the SteelSeries QcK Medium. SteelSeries offers a wide variety of sizes and styles of this pad, all utilizing the same micro-woven cloth. From small to extended, stitched edges or not, to thick or thin padding — there is a style to suit your preference at a price point lower than most competitors. We found the soft fabric to be quite pleasant and smooth to slide across. As a bonus, it's also washable.
Budget options usually have some drawbacks, and the QcK is no exception. For starters, the logo is raised, but thankfully, it isn't so sticky as to immediately stop your mouse. The edges are also not protected, which leaves them susceptible to peeling and fraying — ours arrived already peeling with frayed edges. All in all, the SteelSeries QcK Medium is a great mouse pad for gaming, especially for its budget price and the plethora of available options.
The Razer Strider Hybrid is a simple and effective pad that measures in at 17-5/8 inches by 15-11/16 inches, making it one of the larger pads in the class that doesn't fall into the extended class. The pad boasts a water-resistant polyester top sheet, and a stitched edge to help prevent delamination issues with its rubberized anti-slip bottom. We would classify the Strider as a speed pad, though it is on the lower end of the category as it doesn't glide as well as others that fall into the category — there is a noticeable degree of effort to get the mouse gliding at top speed. Yet, once the mouse is moving there is little resistance. We found this to be a fair trade-off given the pad's above-average stopping power.
While we don't have much criticism for the Strider Hybrid, if we were pressed on the matter, we would say that it was a little noisy with the volume tending to increase with the speed of the movement. It wasn't bad but once we heard the noise, we had a hard time not noticing it. Additionally, we were concerned that the surface material might delaminate and produce bubbles, though we didn't encounter any by the end of our testing. Minor gripes aside, we liked that the pad came in a large box that prevented creasing and allowed it to lay flat within the first day of testing. Moreover, the logo on the pad comes in the form of a tag that is attached on both sides preventing it from getting in the way. Lastly, if you like this pad but want it in an extended version, you're in luck because it has multiple size options.
The Razer Strider Hybrid pad has a nice surface feel with stitched edges to increase durability.
The Logitech G440 Hard gaming mouse pad is an outstanding choice if you are shopping for a hard mouse pad. It's practical and uncomplicated; you don't need to power any flashy lights or deal with additional cables, simplifying your setup. The low friction surface of this model made it one of the fastest in our testing. We also liked that the logo is printed beneath the cover. Like most hard mouse pads, the G440 is easy to wipe clean if you spill food or liquids on it.
The G440, however, is not without its drawbacks. The edges on this pad are somewhat sharp, so large, quick movements could scrape up your wrist or forearm if not wearing long sleeves. We wish that, at minimum, the edges were beveled. All mouse pads — even cloth ones — get "broken in," but this was much more noticeable on this model because the texture wore away quickly, causing tracking issues with the surface on unseen dust. The Logitech G440's slick surface and excellent speed make these drawbacks easy to overlook — especially if you find an easy solution to resolve the sharp edge situation.
Hard pads like the Logitech G440 are easy to wipe clean if they get dirty.
The Roccat Sense Pro is a 17-11/16-inch by 17-11/16-inch soft pad that is relatively thin compared to the competition. The pad makes use of a tightly woven polyester material typically used in military clothing and the difference is noticeable — in a good way. The pad also employs a rubbery anti-slip bottom with wrapped stitched edges for durability. While this pad is soft and thin, it is definitely in the speed pad class. In our tests, the mice glided across smoothly but, given the weave, it has a lot more stopping power than a hard pad. As such, players get the best of both worlds where these two factors are concerned. Moreover, the Sense Pro has very low start resistance. All told, the pad renders very smooth action.
We do have a few complaints about the Roccat Sense Pro though. For one, the pad is pretty loud. We are not sure if it's the material, the thinness of the pad, or a combination of both — likely the latter. Regardless, the noise increases with the speed of one's gestures. Additionally, the logo tag is only attached on one side leaving it to hang over the surface of the pad. While it did not get in our way, we could see it bothering others. These are minor complaints to be sure. Much more important to us was that the pad was shipped to us in a box that didn't leave it creased or curled. The Sense Pro was ready to play right out of the box.
The Roccat Sense Pro offers ample real estate, and a soft but durable top-sheet.
Are FPS games your jam? Then we highly recommend the Zowie G-SR for FPS beginners and even veterans. The G-SR is a very large mouse pad, offering plenty of room to find a sweet spot of DPI and in-game sensitivity for consistent accuracy. This model stays in place with minimal "walking," making it less likely you'll overshoot your target on a quick flick shot. Zowie takes a simplistic approach to gaming equipment, and, as such, they use a small tag sewn in on the edge to display their logo, leaving it well out of the way. We also found this model to be one of the quietest pads tested. It also works great for game genres other than FPS.
Although the G-SR is a solid mouse pad, it moved around a bit in testing, even with its large size. It wasn't a ton of movement, but by the end of our gaming sessions, we repeatedly had to scoot it back into place. The rubber backing isn't as grippy as some models, but still better than others. We also found that the stitched edges, while high quality, may irritate some users' skin — the same goes for other stitched mouse pads as well. Despite these minor flaws, the Zowie G-SR is an exceptional, high-quality gaming mouse pad.
The Zowie G-SR is a high-quality gaming mouse pad.
Looking to add a little flair to your setup? The Razer Firefly V2 is an excellent hard pad that can do just that with its virtually 360°, fully customizable RGB lighting. Razer has improved on the previous Firefly by adding a low-profile cable hub and a cable catch that's built right in. You can move your mouse effortlessly across the smooth surface without worrying about scratching yourself on a sharp lip, thanks to the rounded edge of the LED strip.
Unfortunately, the cable hub doesn't support USB pass-through, which means it takes up a precious USB slot. We also found that setting up the lighting the way we wanted it was a little confusing and time-consuming. This nuisance can be avoided by using one of the presets such as audio meter, breathing, reactive, spectrum cycling, static, or wave. Overall, the Razer Firefly V2 is a nice hard pad with some added RGB flare.
The Razer Firefly V2 has a ton of customizable RGB options.
If you've noticed that your desk space is lacking or that most extended mouse pads are too large, look no further than the Blade Hawks BX04 RGB. It offers good control with the added glamour of RGB lighting. It lets you easily swap through seven static lighting modes and three dynamic modes with the press of a button. You also don't have to worry about the pad peeling or fraying — the light strip is sewn into the edges, reinforcing them considerably.
Similar to other RGB pads, the Blade Hawks BX04 RGB doesn't offer USB pass-through, so it takes up a USB slot on your computer. The RGB settings are easy to cycle through, but you are limited to the manufacturer's presets without the option to customize them. Additionally, we found the stitched edges to be irritating. One tester complained that the stitches felt like they were made out of fishing line. If you can get past the irritating edge stitching, the Blade Hawks BX04 RGB is a great control pad that won't take up too much space.
The Blade Hawks is really easy to change lighting modes but is limited to manufacturer presets.
The Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris is a good option for a hard mouse pad if you want RGB lighting but without sacrificing a USB slot. The built-in USB pass-through for your mouse means that the mouse pad and mouse only take up a single USB slot on your computer. The lighting on this model is also fully customizable and can be adjusted to match your setup. We found that the rubber base grips most surfaces well, anchoring it in place even during high-intensity moments.
There are some downsides to the MM800. The hub for the cord and USB pass-through seemed to occasionally get in the way. It is centered on the pad and sticks up above the mouse surface by about 14 millimeters. On two of our test PCs, we discovered that the mouse pad wouldn't connect to the software unless it was plugged into a USB slot on the motherboard but would still light up with the default spiral rainbow. You need to log in to the software for the effects to take place. If you don't, the manufacturer's default rainbow spiral setting will run continuously. All things considered, the Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris is a decent hard mouse pad — especially if you have a wireless mouse.
This mouse pad can really add some flair to your setup.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Why You Should Trust Us
Senior research analyst Austin Palmer is a seasoned gamer. He gets in a lot of licks at home but it is at the lab testing keyboards, headsets, and monitors that he stacks up the hours. Senior Review Editor Nick Miley has been researching and testing consumer products ranging from kitchen appliances to computer peripherals for nearly a decade. He and Austin have worked hand in glove on several computer game-related reviews over the past few years.
This duo began the testing process by researching over 50 different gaming mouse pads and narrowing the list down to the best pads on the market. Next, the pads were purchased and put through an exacting series of side-by-side tests. Many hours were spent playing all types of games and evaluating the glide, size, and noise level, and noting details like tracking issues and stopping power. MOBA, FPS, RTS, MMORPGs, platformers, ARPG, RPG, tower defense, and sandbox were just a few of the game genres used in our evaluation.
We used calipers to measure the thickness of the gaming mouse pads.
Any model that mentioned they were water-resistant were met with a cup of water.
This model offers plenty of extra room when using a ten-key keyboard.
Analysis and Test Results
Our reviewing process is divided into a series of tests to assess different rating metrics. We compared their size, which pad offered more speed or control, how loud the selection of mice were when gliding across the surface, and noting if our judges experienced any tracking issues.
Size
Size does matter. If a mouse pad is too small, you will constantly be lifting and moving your mouse back to the center. Too big, and it won't fit on your desk. These possibilities are influenced by your mouse DPI/CPI settings and the size of your desk. Most people want to maximize the amount of surface area to use their mouse. When comparing the extended pads to the normal pads, we used ten-key and ten-keyless (TKL) keyboards.
The Zowie G-SR (18-5/8 inches by 15-1/2 inches) offers the most surface area to move around on. Following behind the G-SR, we have the Corsair MM300 Pro Extended (36-13/16 inches by 11-7/8 inches). With the MM300, you get roughly 21 inches of horizontal movement. When using a ten-key keyboard with the MM300 Pro Extended, you lose a few inches, but there is still more horizontal room than the competition.
When using a 10-key keyboard with the MM300, it still offers more room than a medium mouse pad.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Next, we have the Blade Hawks BX04 at 30-1/4 inches by 11-7/8 inches when using a TKL keyboard. The Logitech G440 (13-3/8 inches by 11 inches) comes in after the BX04's our rankings. This pad isn't as long as the other hard pads, but it doesn't include a cable hub for you to run into. Just behind the G440, was the Cooler Master MP510 (12-1/2 inches by 10-5/8 inches) and the SteelSeries QcK (12-1/2 inches by 10-1/2 inches). They aren't as long as the RGB hard pads, but, like the G440, you don't have to worry about a cable hub.
If your mouse pad is too large it might overlap items on your desktop, like a monitor stand.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Lastly, we have the Razer Firefly V2 (14 inches by 10 inches), the Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris (13-7/8 inches by 10 inches), and the Blade Hawks BX04 with a ten-key keyboard. Each pad offers approximately the same surface area, but the two hard pads can be moved away from the keyboard to give you more space, so your hand doesn't feel claustrophobic.
The Blade Hawks BX04 with a 10-key keyboard has roughly the same surface area as the Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Glide
Gaming mouse pads can be divided into two main types: speed and control. As the names imply, one is designed to provide very little friction for faster movements while the other is designed to steady your mouse for greater consistency — think FPS. Speed can still be emphasized in a control pad, and vice-versa — especially with advanced features like weaving plastic or glass into the fibers of the mouse pad. Some speed pads are easier to start and stop on while keeping the same moving speed — the same goes for control pads. The best type for you ultimately depends on personal preferences and will yield different results depending on the mouse you use.
The slickest, speediest pads in the class are the hard pads. Depending on the mouse you are using, one model might be slicker than the other. All the mice used in testing used their stock feet. We found the Razer Firefly V2 and the Logitech G440 had the lowest friction surfaces. Closely following these two is the Corsair MM800 RGB Polaris. There is almost no noticeable difference between the Firefly V2 and the G440, but you can feel a very slight slowdown when using the MM800, which has a more aggressive surface than the Firefly V2 and G440.
Hard pads greatly reduce friction but that comes at the cost of limited stopping power.
Credit: Austin Palmer
The Roccat Sense Pro and the Razer Strider Hybrid followed the hard pads as the next most frictionless models — these pads and those following have fabric surfaces. Of the Sense Pro and the Strider Hybrid, the Sense Pro arguably provides the best balance between speed and control. The polyester top sheet is naturally slick yet renders good stopping power. The Corsair MM300 Pro Extended sports a silky top sheet but lacks the same stopping speed. Yet, depending on how you play and what games you like, these nuances might not matter much. That said, in comparison to other fabric surfaced pads, mice glide effortlessly across the MM300 Pro Extended.
The Roccat Sense Pro offers superior glide for a soft pad.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Finally, in the control pad category, we have the Zowie G-SR, the Blade Hawks BX04 RGB, and the SteelSeries QcK Medium. As the name implies, there is a pronounced difference in speed reduction when using these models. As the "most speedy" control pad, the Roccat has equal moving speed compared to the BX04 RGB, but a lower stopping speed. Both are excellent control pads, but someone overshooting on the G-SR will have better luck with the BX04 RGB due to its superb stopping speed. The BX04 RGB initially felt like it had more resistance than the G-SR, but once we got used to it, they felt comparable.
At the very far end of the friction spectrum is the SteelSeries QcK Medium which offers maximal control.
Noise
Gaming can be quite loud, especially if you're using blue switches or yammering away in voice chat. A mouse pad shouldn't add to the noise. Using a variety of testing mice, we dropped, slammed, and slid across each pad to determine which model could minimize mouse noise. If you tend to pick up and set down your mouse a lot while gaming, you're a bit out of luck, as the thickness of the mouse pad can only do so much to dampen the noise. Additionally, even the best sound-dampening mouse pads won't do much to mitigate the rattling of some of the cheaper mice. The difference from cloth pad to cloth pad wasn't huge, but when we got to the hard pads, we could hear major differences.
Most mice were practically silent when sliding across the Corsair MM300 Pro Extended and the SteelSeries QcK Medium. However, the QcK Medium's 2-millimeter thickness doesn't do much to dampen the sound when picking up and setting down a mouse. Next up are the Zowie G-SR and the BladeHawk BX04. Only the most sensitive ears will be able to hear the minute differences between these two models, though the difference in noise levels between these pads and the MM300 Pro Extended is obvious. Yet, the BX04 and G-SR slightly edge out the other pads for when thunking down mice during gameplay due to their 4-millimeter thickness.
Mice passing over the Corsair MM300 Pro Extended aver all but silent.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Cooler Master MP510 performed comparably to the BX04 and the G-SR in the pick-up test but its rough surface produced a scratchier sound. Close behind the MP510 was the Roccat Sense Pro for the same reason. The polyester fabric produces a noticeable amount of noise when moving the mouse quickly across its surface.
The Roccat Sense Pro produces a scratchy noise due to its rougher surface.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Lastly, in a league of their own, we have the hard pads. These models are considerably louder than their cloth counterparts. The hard surfaces of the Razer Firefly V2, the Corsair MM800, and the Logitech G440 generate a scratchy sound when moving a mouse across their surfaces. The MM800 is markedly louder, most likely due to its coarse surface.
Tracking
Throughout our process, we kept an eye out for any tracking issues with our testing mice. The mice we used feature high-end sensors, such as the Mercury, HERO, or Pixart PMW 336X. While there are a handful of reviews out there that complain about tracking issues with some of these pads — particularly with older mice — we did not notice any significant problems. We expect that any high-end mouse with a clean sensor will work well with these pads. That said, a dirty sensor can cause plenty of tracking issues, so the ambitious gamer would do well to keep their mouse clean.
The pads tested did not show tracking issues no matter how fast we moved the mouse.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
The above review is as objective as possible, however, gaming mouse pad selection is largely dependent on personal preference, available desk space, and the mouse used. With these caveats in mind, we have presented every conceivable piece of information that one will want to have before making a pad purchase. So regardless of whether you're looking for a speedy hard pad or a soft control pad to zero in on those in-game headshots, our in-depth analysis will help you find the perfect gaming mouse pad.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
