Are Large Desk Mats (XXL Mouse Pads) Better?

Desk mats, also known as mouse pads or desk pads come in various sizes. From small mats with dimensions of 200mm x 200mm to giant, extra-large mouse pads with dimensions as big as 1200mm x 600mm or larger.

Desk Mats are also designed to achieve different purposes and meet different needs, from those that are designed just to serve as padding for your mouse and mechanical keyboard alone to those that will house multiple computer sets and still give enough room to comfortably place a tablet to the side.

Desktop users are automatically presented with lots of choices to make: the type of keyboard to use, display and audio quality of the computer, operating system to go for, and so on. Other decision-making processes such as choosing a desk mat might seem like the most insignificant decisions to make. However, your choice, even in minute details such as a mouse pad can go a long way to improve your overall work experience, boost speed, and cause utmost satisfaction while you're working or gaming.

What Sizes of Mouse Pads or Desk Mats are Available?

As earlier mentioned, desk mats come in different size ranges depending on the manufacturer and the intended use. Generally speaking, the different size ranges available are:

• Small: These are desk mats (mouse pads) that are around 200mm x 200mm (8 inches x 8 inches) or smaller. These are desk mats that are fit for use precisely as mouse pads, whether as a matter of preference or because the workspace is not large enough. They make an excellent companion for those who travel a lot with their mouse or those who prefer small workspaces.
• Medium: These are desk mats that are around 300mm x 250mm (12 inches x 10 inches) or smaller in size. They make an excellent choice for most kinds of users and offer enough comfortable space for easy mouse movement.
• Large: These are desk mats around 450mm x 400mm (18 inches x 16 inches) or smaller in size. They are large enough to accommodate your mouse with ample space for movement. They allow space for more precise movements and are therefore a go-to for gamers and graphic designers, but they are not quite large enough to fit your keyboard.
• Extra Large (XL or XXL): These are desk mats around 900mm x 400mm (35 inches x 16 inches) or larger in size. they are extended or oversized desk mats that can cover most of a desk surface and provide for a keyboard and mouse. Extra large desk mats are most preferred by users who want a desk mat that will fit both their keyboard and their mouse. Since they cover most, if not all of the desk area, they also serve to protect the desk surface from scratches and spills.

Why Should You Buy a Desk Mat or Mouse Pad?

While desk mats are things anyone can do without, many, if not all, will agree that they are a great addition to a workspace. The desk mask is not the monitor that gives you an excellent display or the mouse through which you navigate your way around your work, yet, adding a desk mat to your workspace can bring all that different you need. Find out the most important reasons why you should buy a desk mat or mouse pad below:

Desk Mats Act as Protective Materials

Whether you are thinking of a way to preserve the smooth surface of your desk and avoid scratches or you need something that will protect the base of your keyboard, offer support, and prevent scratches and unnecessary friction, one desk mat can achieve all of these for you effortlessly. Even more amazing is how these materials are highly affordable to get, very durable, and will not create an extra burden in terms of weight or eating up space.

Desk Mats Provide Comfort & A Feel of Luxury

It is all a matter of preference, but many have figured that the hard feel and texture of a wooden desk is not something they want to deal with all day and night. So instead of interacting with a cold and rather uncomfortable hardwood surface, simply put all that discomfort away beneath the plush comfiness of a desk mat.

Desk Mats Transform the Look of Your Workspace

Not just your work desk but the whole room can come to life just by you adding a nice, cozy-looking desk mat to your desk. It does not matter whether it is a large desk mat or a tiny cute-looking mouse pad that matches the theme color of your computer or room décor, these seemingly insignificant lifeless things have the ability to transform the look of your room from zero to a hundred.

When choosing desk mats, you can play with colors to either complement or nicely contrast with what colors already exist within the work environment. You may even get a desk mat as a quick fix to hide away those scratches on your desk until you can afford to repolish or get a new desk. If you are someone who derives energy and drive from the outlook of your immediate environment, then carefully choosing a desk mat is a very affordable way to achieve that look, or at least, make a start.

Pros and Cons of Extra Large Desk Mats (XL Mouse Pads)

Pros of Desk Mats

• Ample Space: Extra large mouse pads and desk mats provide ample space for mouse movement, keyboard use, and the placement of other accessories such as a tablet, notepad, or smartphone. They are therefore great for people who use many devices and monitors when working or those who want to have all of their accessories seating on a padded surface.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Extra large desk mats can cover most of your desk surface and give it a unified and cohesive look. They can hide away scratches and stains on your desk and come in a variety of colors and patterns to choose from to match your preferred style or theme of your space.
• Ergonomic Benefits: Because extra large desk mats help you keep all your accessories on a single surface, they can help reduce strain on your arms, shoulders, and back. They also provide a cushioned surface for resting your arms or hands during extended periods of working at your desk.
• Maximum Protection: The larger a desk mat is, the larger the surface area of your desk that can be prevented from scratches, spills, and stains. These situations are mostly not a problem for desk mats since they are made from materials that will not scratch and are usually very easy to clean and maintain.

Cons of Desk Mats

• Space Requirements: Extra large desk mats would definitely require more space than smaller ones. They may therefore not be suitable if you have a limited desk space to work with.
• Limited Portability: Extra large desk mats are difficult to move around and will not stay as compact as smaller ones when folded. They will, therefore, take up more space during travels and can become a handful. Extra large mouse pads may not be ideal for those who need to move their workspace frequently.
• Potential Interference: Depending on the arrangement, size, and clumsiness of other accessories on the desk, a large desk mat can interfere with other desk accessories, such as a monitor stand or docking station. This, however, can be fixed by having a new setup that adjusts every accessory to accommodate the desk mat.
• Cost: Due to their size and the fact that they are made from higher-quality, more durable materials, extra-large desk mats are generally more expensive than smaller ones.

Pros and Cons of Small Desk Mats (Mouse Pads)

Pros of Mouse Pads

• Ease of Switching between Tasks: Small to large desk mats are easy to remove and replace depending on whatever you want to do at the time. Use your desk mat when you are working on your computer and immediately put it away when it is time to read a book.
• Require Less Space: Small and Large Desk Mats require a small space and will fit perfectly on most standard work desk types. They are also most ideal for use in a small workspace.
• They are Portable: Small to large desk mats are lightweight, easy to transport, compact, and can fit snugly into a box without taking up much space. They are therefore a good fit for users to travel frequently, those with mobile workstations, or those who work in different locations.
• Affordability: These desk mats are more generally less expensive than larger ones, making them a more affordable option.
• Versatility: Small to large desk mats are the most versatile in use and can serve several purposes such as mouse movement and writing, and can act as a distinct surface for other accessories.

Cons of Mouse Pads

• Can Hinder Speed and Precision: Due to the limited space they provide, small to large desk mats may not provide enough space for certain kinds of users to move their mouse or keyboard as swiftly and as extensively as they want. This can impact accuracy and precision during activities like designing and gaming.
• Limited Protection: Smaller desk mats offer limited protection to the desk surface, especially the parts that remain exposed. In the event of removing a small desk mat after a long time, there may be a distinct marked-out area that looks newer than other exposed areas. These uneven look destroys the aesthetics of a desk and may not make it fit for use unless it is covered with a mat.
• Ergonomic and Comfortability Issues: These desk mats do not provide enough space for resting your arms or hands during extended computer use. They are therefore not ergonomic enough and can cause discomfort and strains.
• Achieving Aesthetic Appeal Can be Harder: Small desk mats do not cover the entire desk surface. They may, therefore, appear disjointed from the rest of the desk and can give the workspace a cluttered look.

What Mouse Pad Thickness is Best?

Different mouse pads and desk mat thickness offer different feels and unique benefits. Thinner mats and pads, with 1-2mm thickness for example, offer a sleek and minimalist design and may be best for speed and precision because they offer less resistance.

Medium pads are within the range of 3mm in thickness and offer a balance between comfort and speed. Thicker pads (4mm and above) offer the most comfort and cushioning effect for the wrist. However, they can cause resistance and may not be best for speed.

Medium-thick mouse pads are the most common types available out there. Although personal preference will always come to play, 4mm thick mouse pads are most preferred by users because they offer the perfect balance between comfort and precision, provide a uniform surface, and have a not-so-chunky texture that allows the mouse to glide smoothly and freely.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mouse Pad or Desk Mat Size

Like every other computer accessory, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to desk mats. What works for your friend or colleague might not work for you. Therefore, before you go ahead to shop for that desk mat you found online just because it looks good in pictures, here are important factors you should consider:

The Material of the Desk Mat

In terms of feel and smoothness when moving your mouse on a mat, you will find several options out there. From leather to felt wool, linoleum, tempered glass, synthetic and natural materials, each of these materials feels different to the touch and can trigger different feelings altogether when you use each. Ensure to go for a material that is not only comfortable to the touch for you but will not cause any irritation in any way. Be mindful of any allergies you may have as well as other factors such as how waterproof, heat-resistant, microbe tolerant, and durable each material is.

The Size of Your WorkSpace

As much as you want a desk mat that will fill the whole of your desk, some large sizes may end up being too large for the area of your desk. It helps to have an idea of the dimensions of your desk so you can select a mat that is the perfect fit or one that will sit just about half or one inch away from your desk, thereby creating a nice border look that might even the overall outlook of your work table.

The Nature of Your Work / Activities

Are you someone who moves from board room to board room, traveling miles to make presentations and deliberate with other giant minds or are you someone who sits in front of the computer all day gaming or making marvelous designs? Answering questions like this can inform you of what type of desk mat to go for, especially where size and bulkiness is concerned.

Small and medium-sized desk mats are great for moving around. Some are even designed to be extremely portable and come in fancy bags or can be collapsed to take up very little space in your box. A large desk mat, on the other hand, is great for a large and permanent workspace and is excellent for ensuring precision and swiftness when navigating with a mouse since the space available to move on is wider. At the same time, a large desk mat can help you transform just about any smart surface into a comfortable workspace whenever you do not have access to your desk.

What Look Are You Trying to Achieve?

Compare desk mats to rugs and carpets. Buying the right rug and positioning it the right way can do a lot of things to a room. A large rug can make the space feel bigger, due to the area definition it gives while a smaller rug confined to one area can draw attention to that space. You can use a desk mat to achieve this as well.

Consider choosing a nice contrasting color with the color theme of your room if you want to draw attention to your work desk, and consider going for a small-sized desk mat or mouse pad if you do not want to hide all the beauty of your desk’s finish away. Compliment the overall look of your room which a color that already exists in the room’s theme or choose a color that syncs well with that of your computer and other devices.

The Material or Finish or Your Desk

Here is one factor many forget to look into but is equally important. Certain surfaces when they come in contact with each other, may begin to stick or cause friction that could slow down work, especially as you move your mouse around. That said, ensure to go for a desk mat or mouse pad material that will lie steady on your desk. Using a leather mouse pad on a leather desk, for example, might generate friction. You may speak with your vendor to give recommendations if you are not so sure of what may, or may not work.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the size of the mouse pad or desk mat you go for will depend on your personal preference and how much certain metrics such as comfort, speed, accuracy, design, and speed mean to you. Some fixed factors like the size of your work desk and the nature of your work also play a huge role in determining what size of desk mat would work for you.

In whatever situation, always make sure to avoid sentiments. Weigh your options well and go for what will work for you best, even if that is not what is most trendy. And who says you cannot have different sizes of desk mats to yourself so you can always have one that will cater to your unique needs per time?