Extended mousepads are a great addition to any computer setup. The best extended mousepads are brilliant at both tying a desk setup together and offering low-sens gamers ample room for flicks and sweeps. So whether you’re checking out extended mousepads for performance or just like how they look, you’ve come to the right place.

Mousepad preferences will differ based on the games you play and whether you like speed or control, so there’s no objective best pad out there. To that end, we’ve focused on a range of readily-available options covering everything from ultra-smooth speed pads to slow, locked-in control pads. Let’s get started!

Our Favorite Extended Mousepads

1. X-Raypad Aqua Control 2

New to gaming mousepads and want a safe first buy? In that case, X-Raypad’s Aqua Control 2 might be the perfect XL gaming mousepad for you. It occupies a middle ground between speed and control mousepads, making it a safe choice for many users.

X-Raypad uses uncoated Amundsen cloth for the Control 2, which gives it its great combination of speed and stopping power. You get a reasonably fast and smooth glide, without veering too much into the realm of lower-control speed pads. The X-Raypad should work for most playstyles and genres.

It’s also a generally durable material, with sweat- and humidity-resistant properties ensuring better longevity than other cloth pads. Combine that with the anti-fray stitching and you have a pad that should last you a good while. The main downside is a slightly rougher finish to the uncoated Amundsen fabric. Arm aimers with sensitive skin may find it slightly irritating, but we don’t expect it to be an issue for most users.

X-Raypad’s Aqua Control 2 is one of the thicker extended mousepads out there at 0.16 inches (4 mm) thick. The extra thickness gives the Aqua Control 2 a slightly plusher feeling than other extended pads. If you like a cushioned feeling from your mousepad, the Control 2 is a good bet.

Overall, the X-Raypad Aqua Control 2 is a brilliant mousepad that offers the best of both worlds. If you want a safe XL mousepad that covers as much ground as possible, this is the best extended mousepad for you. The X-Raypad Aqua Control 2 is also available in white.

2. KTRIO Extended Mousepad

The KTRIO extended mousepad doesn’t have a big brand name attached to it, nor does it have any fancy logos or big marketing claims. But it’s a surprisingly good mousepad for the price, perfect for those of you seeking a bargain option for gaming or aesthetics.

Despite the low price, the KTRIO actually has a decent surface usable for gaming. It’s not a fast mousepad, granted, but it’s a solid control pad that’s not dissimilar to Razer’s Gigantus mousepads. So expect good stopping power and a reasonably fast glide compared to other control pads.

You get a water-resistant surface on the KTRIO, which isn’t something you always get on even pricier pads. Water will bead up when it hits the surface, wiping away easily without soaking into the cloth or backing. Add to that the decent-quality anti-fray edge stitching, and you have a surprisingly well-built mousepad for the price.

The only significant downside is the smaller dimensions of the XL size. But that’s not a huge deal, as the KTRIO comes in four sizes, going up to an XXXXL mousepad that measures 23.6 inches deep and 47.3 inches wide.

There’s a lot to like about the KTRIO extended mousepad, provided you’re into slower control surfaces. Speed-obsessed gamers will have to pony up for one of the pricier speed pads, but it’s one of the best affordable mousepads for those who like controlled movements or just want something on the cheap. There’s even an RGB version if you want some RGB lighting on the cheap.

3. Fnatic Dash

The Fnatic Dash is, for our money, one of the best hybrid mousepads on the market right now. It’s not a cheap pad, but you get a great combination of an ultra-fast, smooth glide and strong stopping power.

Fnatic’s Dash uses a “hybrid F15” surface, which weaves polyester strands into the main fabric. The polyester gives it the speed and glide it’s known for, while the cloth keeps everything under control. It’s not as fast as a hard mousepad, but it’s significantly faster than almost all cloth mousepads. Uniformity is also excellent, with no perceptible difference between horizontal and vertical movements.

The polyester strands also ensure that the surface is somewhat water-resistant. Spilled water and liquids bead up on the surface, and sweat won’t permeate too deeply into the fabric. In my experience, the water repellency does wear off slightly after a year, but it’s still resistant compared to a non-hybrid cloth.

As with most modern mousepads, the Fnatic Dash has anti-fray stitching to extend its longevity and avoid separation. The stitched edges are also low-profile and more comfortable than other pads. Combine that with the smooth surface, and you have a great pad for arm aimers.

That said, while the edge stitching is great, the surface itself is prone to creasing issues if you bend or roll it incorrectly. The top can come loose from the backing foam, creating unsightly air bubbles. But it’s easy to avoid by only rolling it up with the mouse surface on the outside. Do that, and the Dash will last a long time, even in humid conditions.

Overall, the Fnatic Dash is an excellent extended gaming mousepad whose combination of fast glide and solid control feels unique amongst the sea of high-quality gaming mousepads. If you’re curious about speed pads or want something fast without feeling too slippery, the Fnatic Dash is for you.

4. Mad Catz G.L.I.D.E. 38

If you want insanely smooth glide and minimal friction without stepping up to a hard mousepad, then you’ll want the Mad Catz G.L.I.D.E. 38. It’s one of the fastest XL gaming mousepads available, perfect for all you speed demons out there.

The G.L.I.D.E. 38’s “advanced textile-weave surface” is remarkably slick and smooth, offering very little stopping power or friction. It’s not far off a glass pad speed-wise, although it’s not as totally speed-focused. You still get some control here, so it won’t be quite as jarring a leap as if you were to jump immediately to a glass mousepad.

The G.L.I.D.E. 38’s hybrid surface is also water-repellent, making maintenance and cleanup a breeze. Water will tend to bead up on the surface, so you should be able to wipe spills off without issue.

Unlike many other pads with a foam or non-slip rubber base, Mad Catz went with a silicone base for the G.L.I.D.E. 38. It doesn’t affect the mousepad’s overall feel much, but what it does do is give it excellent anti-curling properties. It’ll flatten out quickly even if you keep it rolled up for weeks, which is convenient if you rotate mousepads or travel with it regularly.

Mad Catz opted against stitched edges, instead going for a heat-bonded finish that should keep the mousepad together without the potential irritation of stitching. We’re unsure if it’ll last as long as standard stitches, but arm aimers are sure to love its seamless edges.

Overall, the Mad Catz G.L.I.D.E. 38 is an outstanding extended gaming mousepad perfect for gamers who prioritize tracking and aim speed. This is the pad to get if you want a smooth surface and ultra-responsive flicks. But if you’re unsure, go for a slower pad and see how you get on first.

5. SteelSeries QcK

If there were a “classic” mousepad, then the SteelSeries QcK would be it. It’s been around for ages and graced the setups of more pro players than we can count. It’s not hard to see why, either: the QcK is a safe, reliable control mousepad that offers excellent stopping power, perfect for those who value precision over speed.

The QcK has a micro-weave cloth surface married to a non-slip rubber bottom. SteelSeries claims that the micro-weave surface is designed for “maximum control,” and it ticks that box. The QcK is on the slow side as far as mousepads go, but what you get in return is great stopping power that lets you effortlessly stop on a dime once you get used to it.

It’s great for games that prioritize precision aiming over ultra-fast flicks or target tracking. Think CS:GO and not Apex Legends, and you’ll have a good idea of what the QcK is good at. Thankfully, despite being a slow pad, the QcK avoids feeling too slow. Higher-sens gamers will still be able to make micro-adjustments, albeit with less responsiveness than a faster pad.

The surface is reasonably durable, too, so it should last six months to a year before showing any signs of slowing down. However, the lack of anti-fray stitching means that you may encounter separation issues (where the cloth surface separates from the rubber base) before that.

The QcK comes in three extended sizes: 3XL, 4XL, and 5XL. The 3XL QcK is already large enough for most desks, but it’s good to have the option to go super-sized if you have a ton of desk space that needs covering.

Overall, the SteelSeries QcK Edge is the best long mousepad if you need a pad that prioritizes control and accuracy over all else. It’s a one-trick pony, but it does its trick exceedingly well. If you want some RGB lighting to spice your desk up, check out the QcK Prism Cloth instead.

6. Razer Gigantus V2

Razer’s Gigantus V2 is the company’s premier control pad, offering strong and noticeable stopping power with slightly more mouse glide than control stalwarts like the QcK. If you’re a hardcore control pad user seeking a bit more speed, this may be the perfect pad.

Like the SteelSeries QcK, the Gigantus V2 uses a micro-weave cloth surface married to a thick foam core, with a non-slip rubber base to stop the mousepad from sliding. The weave differs from the QcK’s, which accounts for the increased speed, but it offers a similar level of stopping power for your mouse.

Razer also opted to forego the stitched edges common to most other mousepads. While that impacts long-term durability, the upside is that low-sens arm aimers won’t have to deal with a stitched edge rubbing against their arm and irritating the skin. It also helps keep the price down, which is great for budget-conscious buyers.

Unlike some of Razer’s older mousepads, the Gigantus V2 is a sleek, minimalistic offering; the only visible branding is a small Razer tag on the top-right. We appreciate this, as it leaves the surface free of logos or other printed graphics that may affect the glide or mouse feel. The exposed green foam is also a nice touch, adding some visual flair without going overboard.

If the basic XXL Gigantus V2 isn’t large enough, Razer sells a 3XL version for huge desks. At 47.3 inches wide and 21.7 inches deep, it’s every inch the equal of SteelSeries’ QcK 3XL, and perfect for those who need a ton of space for low-sens arm aiming. Unless you know you need that much space, though, we think the standard XXL linked above is more than enough.

Overall, the Razer Gigantus V2 is a solid option if you’re after an extended-length control mousepad. We like the slightly speedier take on a control surface, and at around $30, it’s an excellent value option if you like a slower pad.

Before You Buy

Buying a mousepad is relatively straightforward: you only have to worry about the size and type of pad (speed or control). And since you’re already looking for an extended gaming mousepad, let’s focus on the differences between the two general mousepad types here.

Speed Pads vs. Control Pads

There are two general types of mousepads: speed pads and control pads. The names are self-explanatory, really. Speed pads have low friction and fast glide, focusing on quick mouse movements. In contrast, control pads are slower and concentrate on offering more control over moving and stopping your mouse.

Don’t think of “control” and “speed” as binary opposites, where a pad has to be one or the other. Instead, think of them as two ends of a spectrum, with most pads falling somewhere in between. There are pads out there that focus exclusively on one or the other—the Mad Catz G.L.I.D.E. 38 is a good example of a speed-only pad—but many combine the traits of both to varying degrees.

One related term you’ll see a lot in mousepad reviews and discussions is “stopping power.” This relatively straightforward concept refers to how easy it is to stop your mouse during or after flicks and sweeps.

Control mousepads usually focus on higher stopping power, boasting higher friction and grip to help you stop your mouse precisely. Conversely, fast pads with low stopping power have less friction and won’t slow down and stop your mouse as strongly. Of course, you can still use a fast pad for precision aiming; you’ll just have to do most of the work to stop precisely there.

Closing Thoughts

Extended, desk-length mousepads are probably our favorite type of mousepad here at Voltcave. They offer a ton of space for huge mouse movements while offering a nice, clean work area for both your keyboard and mouse, as well as other peripherals.

Choosing the right extended gaming mousepad comes down to personal preference and the games you play, so there’s no one-size-fits-all choice from our list. That said, we think the X-Raypad Aqua Control 2 and Fnatic Dash are two of the best extended mousepads available right now. They’re excellent mousepads and worth checking out if you want pads that combine speed and control admirably.

Happy hunting!