Whether you’re starting a home office, looking to upgrade some of your computer or gaming equipment, or you’re purchasing an entirely new computer system and the accessories, choosing a mouse pad is an important decision.
Knowing the standard size for a mouse pad can help you pick the one that’s perfect for your setup, and if you’re making custom mouse pads and sending them out, knowing how much they weigh can help you calculate shipping costs.
How big is a mouse pad?
Mouse pads are available in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Most mouse pads are rectangular and have rounded corners, but some are decorative shapes, such as circles, triangles, squares, or the outlines of popular buildings or attractions. Others are shaped like animals or people.
Because they can be made into so many designs, mouse pads can be nearly any size. However, standard mouse pads are generally available in four sizes.
The standard mouse pad sizes are small, medium, large, and extended. A small mouse pad is 7.9 inches by 7.8 inches or 20 by 20 centimeters. A medium mouse pad is 15.7 inches wide by 11.8 inches tall or about 40 by 30 centimeters. A large mouse pad is usually about 16.9 inches wide and 14.6 inches tall or 43 by 37 centimeters, and an extended mouse pad is usually about 35.4 inches wide and 15.7 inches tall or about 90 by 40 centimeters.
It’s important to remember that, although mouse pads are usually available in these standard sizes, the specific dimensions of small, medium, large, or extended mouse pads might vary slightly across different brands.
For example, a small Corsair mouse pad is 10.4 inches by 8.3 inches, making it just slightly larger than the industry standard.
In general, most mouse pads are 0.08 inches thick, but they can be as thin as 0.07 inches or as thick as 0.1 inches. This is a range between about 0.18 centimeters and 0.3 centimeters.
How much does a mouse pad weigh?
In general, most small and medium mouse pads weigh about 1 ounce. Large mouse pads use more material, so they will weigh slightly more, as will thicker mouse pads.
Hard mouse pads usually weigh more than soft mouse pads.
What should I consider when choosing a mouse pad?
If you’re not sure what mouse pad size is the right choice for you, there are a few factors you can consider. First, it’s a good idea to think about how much space you have on your desk.
You’ll want the mouse pad to sit next to your monitor or keyboard so you can use it comfortably. Because desk space can be limited, a smaller mouse pad is often the better option.
Many people, however, opt for an extended mouse pad even though it’s quite large so that they can place their entire keyboard on it as well.
This is especially helpful if the surface of the desk is slippery or if the keyboard tends to move as you type.
You might also want to consider portability. If you have a laptop and frequently move it to work from different locations, a larger mouse pad can make that option more challenging.
In this case, it might be a better idea to invest in a smaller mouse pad or opt for an additional mouse pad for traveling.
You’ll also want to consider what type of mouse you’ll be using and what you’ll be using the computer for.
A claw or fingertip grip mouse is usually sensitive enough that even a small movement triggers the movement of the mouse on the screen, so less space is needed on the mouse pad to direct the cursor where you need it to go. These mice are frequently used in gaming setups.
A mouse that’s designed to be gripped by the palm as well as the fingers, however, usually requires more arm movements and is generally less sensitive, so it requires a bit more space to direct. In this case, a large mouse pad is usually the better choice.
If you’re going to be using the computer system, mouse, and mouse pad for office or schoolwork or for browsing the web, you probably won’t need excessive mouse speed or extreme control, so a small or medium mouse pad usually works perfectly.
However, if you’re gaming with your computer system, you may want to consider what types of games you’ll be playing before opting for a particular mouse pad size.
Some games require more or less screen DPI, which is how many pixels are in each square inch of screen.
Games with lower screen DPIs will need the mouse to move farther, so a bigger mouse pad is a better choice.
Games, particularly MMORPGs, that require higher screen DPIs require less mouse movement, so small mouse pads work just fine for these types of games.
Some mouse pads also come with additional features. For example, some mouse pads feature a thick wrist cushion, which can help to alleviate strain on the wrist and arm.
This is an excellent choice for office environments, but the cushion can sometimes get in the way when gaming.
You can also opt for a soft or hard mouse pad. Soft mouse pads tend to be more popular because they’re lightweight, portable, and can be folded. They can also extend the life of the mouse’s feet.
Hard mouse pads, however, are much easier to clean. Hard mouse pads offer slightly less control but provide more speed, which can be important for gaming setups.
