Many gaming mousepads go for a low-key black look, prioritizing performance over aesthetics. But while they’re cool in their own right, not everyone digs the understated look of a black mousepad. So what’s an aesthetically-minded gamer to do? Why, get one of the best RGB mousepads, of course.

Many of the best RGB mousepads are simple: take a good mousepad and add a couple (or more) RGB zones around the border. It’s an effective approach, retaining the high-quality surface gamers love while adding a welcome bit of bling. If that sounds right up your alley, read on!

Our Favorite RGB Mousepads

1. SteelSeries QcK Prism Cloth

SteelSeries’ QcK Prism Cloth is a much-needed upgrade for the venerable QcK, bringing it into the modern age with two fully-programmable RGB zones and 16.8 million colors. The QcK Prism Cloth retains the classic control-focused QcK surface, making this a prime candidate if you want a slower-paced gaming mousepad without giving up the RGB bling.

For the unfamiliar, the QcK textured cloth surface is a control surface focused on accuracy and stopping power over outright speed. It’s been around for ages, and SteelSeries has retained it for the QcK Prism Cloth without significant changes. So expect a locked-in and steady gaming experience with the QcK Prism Cloth that’s perfect for accuracy-heavy games like Valorant or CS:GO.

The QcK Prism Cloth sports two RGB zones, even on the desktop-length XL and 3XL sizes. It’s a bit disappointing, but what the QcK Prism lacks in quantity it makes up for in quantity, with vibrant LEDs and transparent stitching to fully showcase the RGB.

While there may only be two RGB zones, you can at least do a lot with them. SteelSeries’ Engine software features several extensions (or “Apps” in SteelSeries’ language) that let you control the QcK Prism Cloth’s lighting. You can sync the QcK Prism Cloth up with other SteelSeries Prism peripherals via PrismSync, for example. Or you can use GameSense integration with supported games to have your RGB lighting change colors based on health or armor values.

Discord integration is also present, as is an audio visualizer that pulses the RGB in time with music or game audio. All relatively standard stuff, of course, but it’s executed competently. SteelSeries can’t quite compete with Razer regarding RGB zones, but they’ve covered the software side reasonably well.

The SteelSeries QcK Prism Cloth comes in five sizes, from Medium to 5XL. The final two sizes are “member-exclusive” products on SteelSeries’ site; the largest you can grab from a third-party retailer is the 22×48-inch 3XL. We can’t imagine anyone needing a larger pad than that, but you know where to go if you do.

Overall, the SteelSeries QcK Prism Cloth is a solid RGB mouse mat that should fit the bill for most users. Sure, it’s not the fastest pad out there, nor does it have the most RGB zones. Still, we think the affordable price and multiple sizes make it a great starting point for anyone after an RGB mousepad.

2. Razer Strider Chroma

Razer’s Strider Chroma is the company’s latest RGB mousepad, and it may well be the greatest. It has a slick surface sure to please the speed-minded while offering 19 RGB zones to satisfy all sorts of RGB cravings.

The Razer Strider Chroma is the RGB version of the Strider, a speed-focused gaming mousepad imitating the much-loved (and pricey) Artisan Hien. It retains all the goodness of the non-RGB original, mainly the polyester surface offering smooth glide with good control and stopping power. It’s a versatile, water-repellent surface that offers the best of both worlds, although it may be a bit too speedy for those used to slower pads.

Aside from the smooth surface, the Strider Chroma also excels in the RGB department. You get 19 RGB zones around the edge of the pad, all controllable via Razer Synapse 3. Synapse lets you choose from eight stock lighting modes, with custom lighting modes available via Synapse’s Chroma Studio functionality.

As with other Razer Chroma-enabled peripherals, you can also set up audio-reactive lighting via Chroma Visualizer and link the Strider Chroma to other Chroma-enabled peripherals via Razer’s Chroma Connect. If you already have other Chroma RGB devices, then the Strider Chroma would be a great addition to the party.

The main issue with the Razer Strider Chroma is that it only comes in a desktop-length XXL size. While that’s fine if you’re after an extended mousepad, it does make the Strider Chroma unusable for those with smaller desks. You’re also paying for the size here, with the Chroma coming in at around $130. We would’ve loved to see a smaller version for more budget-conscious users.

That said, you do get a lot in return for the money. Nineteen RGB lighting zones are almost unheard-of on an RGB mousepad, and the fact that you get such a versatile surface to go along with it is even better. If the price and size work for you, the Razer Strider Chroma is a strong contender for the best RGB mousepad available.

3. HyperX Pulsefire Mat RGB

HyperX’s Pulsefire Mat RGB is, for our money, one of the more underrated RGB mousepads on the market. Sure, its RGB implementation isn’t going to blow you away, but it’s still a good-looking pad with a reasonably quick surface that’ll suit users looking for a nice middle ground between speed and control.

Where many RGB mouse mats go with control surfaces for maximum appeal, HyperX chose a slightly different route with the Pulsefire Mat. It leans towards control, but it’s more of an all-rounder surface that should work for many users. You get enough glide for flicks and tracking without giving up the control that’s so important for slower-paced games and precision aiming.

HyperX has kept the RGB implementation relatively basic with the Pulsefire Mat RGB, with only two customizable RGB zones. You get a button on the control unit for cycling between three preset wave patterns, which doubles as an RGB on/off switch with a long press.

Like any RGB mouse mat worth its salt, you get more in-depth customization via HyperX’s proprietary software suite. NGENUITY, as the company calls it, lets you set custom colors and choose between a few common lighting modes, including cycling, breathing, and solid color modes. NGENUITY also lets you set color opacity and cycling speed, so you have a lot of options to get the aesthetics just right.

The HyperX Pulsefire Mat RGB is only available in an extended size, and its roughly $50 price is good value for how much mousepad you get. Note that it’s noticeably deeper than most extended mousepads at 16.53 inches. It’s not a huge issue but is worth bearing in mind if you’re tight on desk space.

Overall, the HyperX Pulsefire Mat RGB is a solid, good-value RGB extended mousepad. Its RGB lighting isn’t extraordinary, but it’s on par with most similarly-priced competitors. Where it stands out is the surface, which occupies a halfway point between speed and control that makes it easy to recommend.

4. KTRIO RGB Mousepad

KTRIO is far from a household name as far as mousepads go, but the company is behind some great budget pads that punch well above their weight. Case in point, the company’s extended-size RGB mouse mat offers a grippy control surface and pleasant RGB lighting at around half the price of big-name brands.

KTRIO’s RGB mousepad has a slow Razer Goliathus V2-style textured cloth surface that trades speed for precision and stopping power. It’s not a fantastic surface, but it nails what a control surface needs to do: offer precise, controlled glide without feeling too sluggish.

The surface is also water-repellant, so liquids bead up on the KTRIO and wipe away cleanly. That’s nice to see at this price, especially considering that some pricier pads don’t have this feature.

Of course, you’d expect some compromises at this price point, and they come from the RGB implementation. While you get a reasonably vibrant set of LEDs, you don’t get much customization. All you get is a single button that cycles between ten available lighting modes.

The KTRIO isn’t for anyone who wants extensive RGB customization. But if you want RGB on the cheap and don’t mind a basic, set-and-forget implementation, this is a great option that’ll save you a ton of money compared to big-name brands.

5. Razer Firefly V2

If you want the durability and maintenance benefits of a hard surface combined with top-tier, class-leading RGB, there’s only one option for you: the Razer Firefly V2.

Unlike many other hard mousepads, the Firefly V2 doesn’t focus on all-out speed. Instead, the Firefly V2’s plastic base has a textured surface coating that gives it a slower, controlled glide. It’s not a slow pad by any means, but it’s much more restrained and user-friendly than other hard pads, many of which demand excellent mouse control skills for precision aiming

The slightly slower surface (for a hard pad) combines with the 19 RGB zones to make a mainstream-friendly RGB product that’ll work even for hard pad novices. It’s a clever move by Razer that maximizes the appeal of what would be a niche product otherwise.

As with Razer’s other RGB mousepads, the lighting is the star of the show here. The Firefly V2 boasts 19 independent RGB lighting zones, all fully customizable in Razer Synapse 3. You get eight stock lighting modes and 16.8 million colors. If the stock modes don’t work for you, you can create your own lighting modes in Chroma Studio, which is part of Synapse 3.

The Razer Firefly V2 also has all the other goodies you’ve come to expect from a Razer Chroma-enabled Razer product. There’s Chroma Visualizer for audio-reactive lighting, while Chroma Connect lets you sync the Firefly V2 with other Chroma-enabled products. You also get access to the Chroma Workshop for user-made profiles and even more apps.

Overall, the Razer Firefly V2 is the best mousepad if you want a vibrant, colorful RGB mousepad that’ll be easy to take care of and will last a long time. Sure, it’s a bit pricey for its size, but this much RGB lighting doesn’t come cheap.

6. ASUS ROG Balteus Qi

ASUS’ ROG Balteus Qi is one of the few RGB mousepads out there that can compete with Razer’s offerings. Its 15 lighting zones may not equal Razer’s 19, but it’s still a significant cut above most of its competition. But that’s not the only trick up ASUS’ sleeve: the Balteus Qi adds Qi wireless charging, giving it extra utility beyond just a mouse surface.

But let’s start with the Balteus as a mousepad. It’s another example of a slower hard pad that doesn’t totally do away with control as many hard pads do. It’s still a quick and snappy mousepad compared to the average cloth mousepad, but it’s certainly more forgiving than a glass mousepad like the SkyPad Glass 3.0.

The Balteus has a unique portrait layout that’s longer than it is wide. It’s a bit of an odd shape for a pad, but the upside is that you have a lot of vertical room for flicks. Not everyone can take advantage of this, but we think low-sens FPS gamers (CS:GO AWPers, for example) will find it helpful.

You get 15 RGB zones on the ROG Balteus Qi, all programmable via ASUS’ Armoury II software. It’s not quite as slick as Razer’s Synapse 3, but it offers everything you need to customize your Balteus. You get full control over all 15 zones, from choosing colors and brightness to setting up cycling lighting patterns.

Armoury II also lets you store three profiles and decide whether the Balteus’ control unit changes the lighting brightness or cycles between lighting modes. And, of course, you get lighting sync via ASUS’ Aura Sync, in case you have an ASUS motherboard or other RGB peripherals.

The Qi wireless charging feature isn’t quite as handy as Logitech’s PowerPlay for gamers, as you’re not likely to find any mice with Qi wireless charging out there. However, it’s still a valuable bonus for anyone with a Qi-compatible phone or accessories. The charging zone is in the upper right, signified by a subtle decal.

Overall, the ASUS ROG Balteus Qi is an interesting alternative for a hard RGB mouse mat. You get a good amount of RGB zones, and the Qi wireless charging is a nice value-add. You can go for the non-Qi ROG Balteus if you don’t need the latter, but you may as well since prices aren’t all that dissimilar.

Before You Buy

Buying an RGB mousepad may seem straightforward, but the variety in surface types might trip you up if you’ve never used a gaming mousepad before. So let’s cover the two main surface types, alongside some notes on RGB ecosystems and mousepad maintenance.

Speed vs. Control

There are two general categories for gaming mousepads: speed pads and control pads. Speed pads, as the name suggests, focus on smooth glides and low-friction surfaces that encourage quick flicks and fast-paced gaming.

On the other hand, control pads are slower and designed for games where precision matters more than outright speed. Control pads offer more control over moving and stopping your mouse (usually known as “stopping power”).

Many mousepads exist somewhere in between these two extremes. Think of speed and control as being two ends of a spectrum, with most mousepads falling somewhere in between the two. Some lean towards speed (Razer Strider Chroma), some towards control (HyperX Pulsefire Mat RGB), but few pads are purely one or the other.

RGB Ecoystems

If you already have other RGB peripherals, we suggest buying your RGB mouse mat from the same manufacturer. While it’s not mandatory, going this route minimizes software bloat and resource drain since you won’t have to install another configuration program.

Many manufacturers also have thorough RGB lighting syncing options, which lets you play around with creating a more unified RGB aesthetic. Razer is especially good for this with its Chroma Sync, and if you already have a Razer mouse (for example), we highly recommend going with the Strider Chroma or Firefly V2 to complete your RGB gaming setup.

RGB Mousepad Maintenance

Due to the included circuitry, maintaining and cleaning an RGB mousepad requires a bit more care than your average cloth pad. Non-RGB mousepads are fine with the “soak first” method we recommend for cleaning mousepads, but that won’t work with an RGB mouse mat.

Instead, mix the water and soap in a small bowl, soak a sponge in it, then scrub the sponge (soft side down) gently into your RGB mousepad’s surface. Take it slow, as you want to avoid getting the control unit wet. It contains all the crucial circuitry that controls and powers the lights, and you don’t want to risk any water getting inside and shorting it out once you plug it in.

And, if you do get the control unit wet, be sure to let it (and your mousepad) dry out thoroughly before plugging it in. You could also open the case up to ensure it dries out perfectly, but that’ll likely void your warranty.

Closing Thoughts

It’s easy to think that RGB mouse mats are more for show, but the best RGB mousepads we’ve listed here show that you can get good looks without sacrificing a good mouse surface. Sure, most of them play it safe and opt for a slower, control-focused experience, but there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you know what you’re getting.

If you’re more of a control gamer, then the SteelSeries QcK Prism Cloth is likely your best bet. It has the classic QcK surface and comes in multiple sizes for maximum compatibility with your setup. But if you have the cash to splash, you should check out the Razer Strider Chroma for its smooth surface and 19 RGB zones.

All the best!