The best mousepads of 2021: ASUS, Razer, and more

A good mousepad can make or break a computer experience. Whether you’re a gamer looking for RGB-lined accessories or an on-the-go worker looking for comfort in a coffee shop, we’ve got you covered with our recommendations for some of the best mouse pads out there.

The best mousepads

In this list, we have recommendations for traveling folk, people who enjoy the added functionality of wireless charging, and gamers who seek out the best for precision in games. Without further ado, let’s get into our list of the best mousepads you can buy!

Best mousepad for travel

For a remote worker, a mousepad that you can take in a bag is essential for comfort on the go. Razer made the Goliathus Speed small enough to easily throw in a bag and bring to a local coffee shop to get some work done.

While Razer products are typically gaming-oriented, this mousepad has a small 8.47″ x 10.65″ surface best for browsing and other smaller mouse movements. $8 is a reasonable price for a thin and easily portable mousepad; check it out below.

Best gaming mousepad 

SteelSeries’ QcK series has been a big hit over time for gamers, so no wonder the QcK large is the company’s best-selling mousepad. This gaming mousepad has a 17.72″ x 15.75″ surface that’s perfect for low-DPI gamers that frequently have to make large, sweeping movements. 

As always, this mousepad also has a rubber base to help it stay put while your mouse glides across the woven cloth surface. The $15 price tag makes it one of the best cheap gaming mousepads, too.

Best hard mousepad

While there’s certainly appeal to hard mousepads, they aren’t for everyone. With heavy use, they can wear down relatively quickly compared to cloth due to the friction between mice feet and the surface. For those who prefer a hard surface, though, the Logitech G440 is one of the best mousepads out there for its hard yet slick surface that lets mice glide with less effort than a cloth.

Made for high-dpi gaming, the surface measures 13.39″ x 11″, giving you plenty of room for flick shots and the like. 

Best wireless charging mousepad

Marketing for mousepads with wireless charging can be misleading sometimes — manufacturers often don’t mention upfront that the charging pad is a small zone in a specific spot on the mousepad. This will lead potential buyers to believe that the pad will keep a compatible mouse alive during gameplay.

According to my research, Logitech’s Powerplay solution is the only feature that will provide charging during use, thus keeping the mouse alive. It is only compatible with a few Logitech mice, but it sounds nice to no longer worry about a mouse dying in the heat of battle. 

With that out of the way, ASUS makes one of the best mousepads with a charger built-in; the ROG Balteus. In addition to the wireless charger at the top right, it features a hard textured surface, RGB lighting, and USB passthrough as a perfect place to plug in your mouse’s dongle. It’s pretty steeply priced at $80, but the aesthetics that this mousepad offers in addition to the functionality make it a decent addition to your setup.

Best large mousepad 

Last up; an XL mousepad can bring a setup together in the best way; laying both your mouse and keyboard on a large mousemat makes a desk look cohesive. Plus, you’ll seldom run out of room when making sweeping mouse movements in games. 

The Corsair MM300 is one of the best mousepads out there for its width, measuring in at a hefty 36″ wide, you can fit a whole 104-key keyboard and mouse on this with room to spare. At just $30, this one is a steal for anyone looking at expanding their setup on the cheap. 

That’s it for our list of the best X product you can buy, but it’s only a fraction of what’s out there. Let us know what you use in your setup below, and see our list of the best gaming mice to complete your setup.