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By Austin Palmer ⋅ Senior Research Analyst ⋅ Jan 4, 2024
We researched over 40 mouse pads, then bought the 6 best products available today for comprehensive side-by-side testing to help you find the perfect pad for your home or office. We conducted extensive testing with each model using a variety of mice to see how they stacked up against one another. Specifically, we rated how well their surfaces performed, looking at their glide, noise, and tracking, as well as compatibility with different mice. Continue reading to find out which pad came out on top.
The SteelSeries QcK Series is our unanimous favorite in this test group. It is designed with gamers in mind, and that fact shows in its performance. Its micro-woven cloth material provides excellent tracking and above-average glide for a cloth mouse pad. A rubber base holds this pad firmly in place, and the entire pad is washable. This mouse pad can be purchased in several sizes, from small to large. We tested the medium size but appreciate that SteelSeries has size options to fit a variety of needs.
We have only a few minor gripes about this mouse pad. First, the edges lack stitching. Not only can this lead to peeling and fraying, but we noticed it was already slightly frayed upon unboxing. Although not a design issue, the QcK Series arrived rolled up in its packaging. While we appreciate this conserves packaging resources, this can cause problems. It may take a couple of days for the mouse pad to fully lay flat. However, some unlucky customers may find it takes longer than that for it to straighten out, if ever. These issues can be avoided by going with an aluminum model, like the Vaydeer Aluminum Mouse Mat. Overall, though, the SteelSeries QcK is a reliable mouse pad at a terrific price.
If you prefer a hard mouse pad, the Vaydeer Aluminum Mouse Mat is our favorite. It's reversible, which means you can choose whether you prefer to work on an aluminum or PU leather surface. Both sides are exceptionally smooth, with most mice gliding across the surface easily. We also appreciate the waterproof nature of this mouse pad, which makes it practically immune to damage from spills and easy to clean.
There are some downsides to the Vaydeer Aluminum Mouse Mat. We found this model was noisy with most mice we used, even with the included sound-dampening stickers on the mouse. Some models were worse than others, however, creating rather unpleasant noises. If you own a quieter mouse, this might be a trivial issue. The reversible design is also somewhat of a double-edged sword. Dual surfaces to choose from are certainly a perk, but the underside of the mouse pad will always be pretty slick and liable to move around on your work surface. Vaydeer includes adhesive rubber feet to mitigate this issue, but they can fall off over time, potentially hindering mouse movement. Considering everything, these shortcomings are minor, and we recommend the Vaydeer Aluminum Mouse Mat to anyone in the market for a hard mouse mat. If you're looking for a soft pad with a built-in wrist rest, take a look at the Amazon Basics Gel Pad with Wrist Support.
Another top option for a cloth pad is the Amazon Basics Gaming Computer Mouse Pad. There are multiple size options to fit your desk and your preferred mouse sensitivity. This machine-washable mouse mat has excellent tracking and a rubber bottom, delivering great work and home or office performance.
There are a few minor issues with this pad. The edges are somewhat rough and could irritate the user's wrist or forearm, depending on how each tester used a mouse on the pad. Additionally, our pad never laid completely flat, even after spending time in the hot sun or under a pile of books. You'll probably have better luck with a thicker pad like the Belkin Standard Mouse Pad laying flat. Still, we recommend the Amazon Basics Gaming Pad to anyone looking for a no-frills option at a great price.
Missing photo ID#453394~mouse pad - another great cloth model
The Belkin Standard Mouse Pad is a classic design reminiscent of the pads of yesteryear. Many nostalgic Millennials will remember growing up using these thick pads and mechanical mice. Not much has changed with this design, and for a good reason. Its thick padding (around 5 millimeters) is comfortable to use and makes it ideal for traveling. It isn't as flimsy as the thinner cloth pads, so it's easier to slide into a laptop bag, and it makes any imperfect work surface more manageable. The pad's neoprene base is grippy and stays securely in place while you work.
The Belkin Standard comes with some great features, but it also has some downsides. For instance, the covering lacks stitching to protect it from peeling up over time. And with our noses pressed up against the pad, we were greeted with the smell of neoprene, albeit pretty mild. Considering the classic design and robust padding of the Belkin Standard, these drawbacks are easy to look past for those in the market for a thick mouse pad.
Are you looking to combine a mouse mat and wrist rest all in one? Then look no further than the Amazon Basics Gel Pad with Wrist Support. This model combines a very comfortable wrist rest and a mouse mat at a price typically much lower than purchasing them separately. The rubberized base keeps this pad securely in place while you work.
This product has a few minor shortcomings. Like many other pads in this review, it doesn't have any edge protection, so there is potential for the surface material to fray or peel. We also found that cheaper or worn-out mice didn't glide as well, making for an unpleasant experience. All in all, the Amazon Basics Gel Pad is a reliable option if you are looking for a mouse mat with an integrated wrist rest.
Missing photo ID#453404~mouse pad - best integrated wrist rest
Are you searching for the smoothest glide around? Then look no further than the 3M Precise Pad. This model features a smooth, slightly textured plastic top that is quick and easy to clean, from daily dirt and grime to the occasional spilled drink. The non-skid backing keeps it securely in place on most work surfaces.
There are, however, some downsides with the 3M Precise. We found that all mice were innately louder on this pad compared to a more traditional cloth pad. Every pick-up and set-down of the mouse is much more noticeable. We also found that this model loses its effectiveness with optical mice once the surface begins to wear out. The 3M Precise isn't the best, but it could be a great option if you're looking for a smooth glide.
The 3M Precise's hard surface is easy to wipe clean.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Why You Should Trust Us
After purchasing the top mouse pads on the market, we put our comprehensive test plan into action. Our panel of judges used each pad extensively, up to 12 hours a day, and compared how well and how accurately mice tracked and noted if their quiet office was disrupted by scraping mouse feet.
This review is led by our expert tester Austin Palmer, who has been using computers since his great grandmother introduced them to him at the age of five. After over two decades of experience in building and diagnosing computers, he has logged well over 10,000 hours of screen and mouse time and is well-versed in the frustrations that using inadequate computer equipment can bring.
Cheap mice didn't glide well on this pad.
Some of the mice used to test mouse mat surfaces.
The polyurethane base on this model grips extremely well.
Analysis and Test Results
To track down the best mouse pad on the market, we focused primarily on the properties of the top work surface. We divided our evaluation of the surface into glide, noise, and tracking metrics and composed different side-by-side tests for each. We even blindfolded our judges for a handful of tests to help work towards our goal of impartiality. We used our extensive computer experience and analytical senses to evaluate each product and determine which came out on top.
Glide
Since the invention of the first mouse mat, the top work surface has been the main focus. When older mice used a physical ball that rotated rollers inside the mouse housing, it was essential to have a smooth and clean surface to optimize tracking. That same thought process still holds true nowadays for optical and laser mice, but now we get to add personal preference into the mix since mouse technology has advanced.
Leading the pack for glide is the 3M Precise. The plastic surface material feels ultra-smooth to move across, even with cheap mice or those with worn-out feet. It is so smooth that if you have a stiff mouse cable and take your hand off, you might not find your mouse in the place you left it. Following not too far behind are the Vaydeer Aluminum Mouse Mat and the SteelSeries QcK Series. The PU leather side of the Vaydeer is slightly smoother than its aluminum surface, as well as the QcK. Overall, we liked the QcK over the aluminum side of the Vaydeer, even though they were both exceptionally smooth. With cheaper mice, the Vaydeer's aluminum side felt scratchy.
The 3M Precise has the slickest surface in our test group.
Credit: Austin Palmer
The difference between the QcK and the cloth Amazon Basics Gaming is minimal when using high-end mice. When you are using cheap mice or mice with worn-out feet, the difference is staggering, dropping the Amazon Basics from above average to merely average.
Bringing up the rear, we have the Amazon Basics Gel and the Belkin Standard. High-end mice have noticeably more drag on these pads, while cheap mice performed abysmally. It felt like running through knee-deep water. These pads are decent with good-quality mice, but we don't recommend them if you are using a cheap or worn-out mouse.
Noise
Most mice move silently across cloth mouse mats, but hard mats can generate considerably more noise than you might want. A quality mouse tends to produce a lot less noise on hard pads than a cheap mouse, and with some mice, it doesn't make a difference as they are inherently loud. The less expensive and noisy mice made a significant impact on the noise level of our hard pads. The PU leather side of the Vaydeer is a bit louder than the cloth pads, followed by the 3M Precise. The Vaydeer's aluminum side is our least favorite, sounding like nails on a chalkboard, thoroughly irritating everyone in the vicinity. We also noticed minimal improvement even after installing the included noise-dampening feet on our mouse.
The Vaydeer Aluminum Mouse Mat is reversible.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Tracking
Mouse tracking isn't a big issue these days, especially with the fancy sensors many mice come with, but we wanted to check anyway. We performed repeated accuracy tests on each pad with a variety of mice and noted any discrepancies. As we expected, all the pads performed at approximately the same accuracy after accounting for typical human user error. The 3M Precise is the only pad that gave us some small concerns. Its textured surface is susceptible to smoothing out over time and will likely cause trouble for optical and laser mice but shouldn't be an issue for mechanical mice.
The 3M Precise's textured surface may not hold up to heavy use.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Conclusion
A mouse pad that works well for you can be the difference between a good or bad time at the office. Nowadays, moving your mouse cursor should be as automatic as breathing. Not having to spend time concentrating on dragging your mouse through molasses or on a surface so slick it is uncontrollable makes a big difference at the end of the day. Hopefully, this assessment has been helpful when it comes to selecting and purchasing your next mouse pad. Add an option from our our wireless mice review to complete your set.
