The best mouse pad overall
As mentioned the intro, you generally have to make a compromise between friction and comfort when selecting the right mouse pad for your needs. A soft mouse pad might be more comfortable, but it will create more friction on your mouse, requiring you to do more work to glide it around. A harder surface won't have that "give" to it, allowing the mouse and therefore the optical sensor to glide more freely, but it's less precise and will be harder on your wrist in the long run.
Our favorite, the SteelSeries DeX, reinvents the common mouse pad with a unique design that all but renders this dilemma solved. It has a unique 3D surface that is comfortable to use while reducing friction and increases your mouse's responsiveness. Instead of cloth or foam padding, the DeX is made of a soft rubberized polymer with a slightly raised texture. This results in a mouse pad that's easy on your hand and wrist, but the 3D surface greatly reduces the actual contact area between the pad and your mouse, thereby mitigating drag.
The soft pad material is also completely waterproof and fully washable, and the edges are heat-bound so the DeX won't fray like many cloth mouse pads do after while. The great design of the SteelSeries DeX comes at a price, though. At around $40, it's the most expensive of our picks.
It's nonetheless the closest thing to a perfect mouse pad that you can buy, and well worth the money. The durable polymer should last a long, long while, too. Don't be surprised if you see other companies copying the design of the DeX in the future.
Pros: The unique 3D texture reduces surface contact between mouse and pad for more fluid and precise tracking, the soft rubbery polymer is comfortable and waterproof, heat-sealed edges prevent cracking and fraying, and no obnoxious branding
Cons: It's expensive at around $40
Buy the SteelSeries DeX mouse pad on Amazon for $37.99 (originally $39.99)The best mouse pad with wrist support
Unless you specifically want the increased movement speed of a hard working surface, then soft mouse pads are generally the best option for most people, especially if you're sitting at a computer for extended periods of time. Even a soft mouse pad can become uncomfortable after hours of use, though. Although the softer material might feel better on your hand, a flat pad still doesn't offer any real support for your wrist.
Mouse pads with padded wrist rests, like our pick from 3M, are a popular and simple way to solve the problem of wrist pain. A number of padded designs exist today, but the 3M Precise mouse pad has a few features that put it well ahead of the competition.
Firstly, the gel pillow's leatherette covering is softer and more durable than those of other ergonomic mouse pads. These typically have rubber- or cloth-covered gel pads that are more prone to cracking, pitting, leaking, or otherwise deteriorating over time.
Secondly, the 3M Precise mouse pad offers more than just increased hand comfort: This pad also features 3M's patented surface design that's purpose-built for optical mouses. This flat, micro-grooved layer sits on top of the soft non-slip base underneath, providing enhanced tracking for optical sensors. This results in smoother, more responsive cursor feedback compared to standard cloth-surfaced mouse pads, which haven't changed much since the days of ball mouses.
The 3M Precise mouse pad is cheap, too, and the model without the gel-filled hand rest was almost our "best budget" pick. This particular gel-padded design rings in at just $17, making it the second most affordable selection on our roundup and a great choice if you're on the fence about buying an ergonomic mouse pad and don't want to spend too much money to try it out.
Pros: Durable leatherette-covered gel-filled wrist rest for added comfort, the 3M Precise micro-grooved surface enhances optical mouse feedback, and it's highly affordable
Cons: The pad is prone to curling slightly at the edges over time
Buy the 3M Precise mouse pad with gel wrist rest on Amazon for $17The best oversized mouse pad
Mouse pads have come a long way since the '90s, and not just in terms of surface designs and materials: They've grown in size as well. Oversized pads, often referred to as "mouse mats" to distinguish them from their smaller counterparts, serve a number of purposes: They give your hands and wrists a soft place to rest upon whether you're mousing or typing, prevent your keyboard from sliding around, and protect the surface finish of your desk.
Our favorite, the Glorious PC Gaming Race mouse mat, has everything we like. Its soft and tactile surface feels great and tracks beautifully, and unlike many other cloth mouse pads, this mat has a stitched frame around the edges that prevents warping and fraying.
The standard pad measures in at three feet long by 11 inches wide, giving you plenty of surface area for your keyboard and mouse, while its size and rubber base secure it in place on your desk. There are even larger options, too: the XXL and XXXL.
The mat's soft surface is an open fabric, so it will absorb dirt and anything you spill on it more readily than other designs. The Glorious PC Gaming Race mouse pad is washable, though, either by hand or in a machine on a gentle cycle (air drying is recommended), and keeping it clean is not a problem. Just know that it's going to require it at some point like any cloth mouse pad.
The Glorious PC Gaming Race extended mat is also a solid value starting at $24, which is a great price for something of this size and quality.
Pros: Soft and comfortable cloth surface, anti-slip rubber base, stitched edges prevent fraying, multiple sizes available for just about any desktop setup, and it's a great value at $24 for the standard mat
Cons: The non-sealed fabric collects dust and dirt more quickly than some others
Buy the Glorious PC Gaming Race extended mouse mat on Amazon for $23.99The best hard mouse pad
Hard mouse pads such as our favorite, the Corsair MM600, are growing increasingly popular with gamers, especially those who play a lot of fast-paced games like first-person shooters.
Rigid, flat surfaces simply allow for quicker mouse movements owing to less drag, as the mouse naturally tracks more freely across a hard surface than a soft one. Such designs are also favored by people who find them to be longer-lasting and easier to clean than soft cloth mouse pads.
What's unique about the Corsair MM600 compared to other hard pads is that it features two different polymer surfaces: The "speed" side, made for low friction and quick movements, is roughly equivalent to the hardness of the Corsair MM400. The "precision" side has a bit more give to it that allows for increased mouse control. Both surfaces are hard, but to a different degree that gives you more options depending on the task at hand, and they both feel great and track exceptionally well.
These polymer surfaces are framed in a sturdy and rigid aluminum housing. The whole frame features four rubber feet which keeps it from sliding around on your desk, so the MM600 does require a perfectly flat surface or it will wobble. This polymer and aluminum construction also gives the Corsair MM600 a much longer lifespan than cloth mouse pads. It's easier to keep clean, too — just wipe it down.
All of this is very good, because the Corsair MM600 is not a cheap choice at around $60 full price, but we've seen Amazon have it down to $24.99.
This may be more than many are willing to pay for a simple mouse pad (if this describes you, then read on for our final pick), but it's well worth it given the high-end MM600's excellent quality, long-lasting durability, and the fact that you're basically getting two mouse pads in one.
Pros: Two hard surfaces with different friction levels, large working area, very sturdy polymer and aluminum construction, easy to clean, and durable materials are much longer-lasting than soft cloth mouse pads
Cons: Hard surfaces are not as comfortable to use for extended periods, and the rubber feet require a completely flat surface to sit on
Buy the Corsair MM600 dual-sided aluminum mouse pad on Amazon for $24.99 (originally $62.69)The best budget mouse pad
If there's a mouse pad that embodies the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" design philosophy, then it's the SteelSeries QcK. This classic mouse pad has been an icon among gamers, both professional and casual, for almost 20 years running now, and its design hasn't changed over the years.
That's a good thing: The SteelSeries QcK isn't just the best mouse pad you can get on the cheap; it remains one of the best you can buy, period.
The SteelSeries QcK is a soft pad with a micro-woven cloth surface and an anti-skid rubber bottom, representing the standard mouse pad design we've all known since the '90s. It won't last as long as the SteelSeries DeX or Corsair MM600. After a couple years, it's gonna start to warp and fray. That's just par for the course with cloth mouse pads, although you can expect the QcK to last longer than other cheap ones.
The QcK doesn't do anything special, but what it does, it does very well, and that is to provide a soft, responsive surface for your hand and your mouse that's easy and comfortable (maybe too comfortable) to use for hours at a time. It does it cheaply, too, at only $10.
If you're looking for a well-made, no-frills, no-nonsense mouse pad and ten dollars is what you're willing to spend, the SteelSeries QcK is the best one you're going to find at this price.
Pros: Does everything you need a mouse pad to do with no bells and whistles, soft and comfortable while remaining responsive enough for tasks like gaming, non-skid rubber base, and it's an unbeatable value at $10
Cons: The soft padded cloth design may fray a little at the edges after awhile (although it's more long-lasting than other cheap mouse pads)
Buy the SteelSeries QcK mouse pad on Amazon for $9.99