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In between finding a comfortable chair and an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, the humble desk pad is often overlooked. Nowadays, they're virtually indispensable, protecting your desk from stains and scratches and providing a comfortable surface to work, surf or game on. Whether you use desktops or small laptops, there's plenty to choose from, so we've put together this handy buying guide to help you decide on the best desk pad for your needs.
Whether it's a large A3 mat for writing in the office, a stylish black leather surface protector, a clear, customisable mat, or even a cork or felt one with a cute design, we'll point you in the direction of one that fulfils your every need. We've even included a list of the top 10 desk pads in the UK on Amazon and Argos.
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Table of Contents
While the thickness of various desk mats may only vary by a matter of millimetres, this can make a surprising amount of difference when it comes to a surface that you're going to spend a reasonable amount of time working on. How a desk mat feels beneath your wrists will affect how you work, so the ideal thickness is a matter of preference.
While some may want a mat that's plush and comfy, others will prefer the lightweight, non-intrusive feel of something much thinner. As a guide, a mat with a thickness of 0.5 mm sits roughly in the middle.
Naturally, thicker desk mats will offer more protection from bumps and scratches than thinner ones, but as long as you don't plan on dropping an anvil on your desk, even one only a couple of millimetres thick should provide adequate protection.
Many desk mats use different materials underneath than they do on top, as a fabric that's comfortable under-wrist may not do so well at preventing your mat from sliding all over your desk!
Look out for desk mats with bases made from non-slip materials such as rubber or leather. As for appearance, fabric-topped desk mats allow for more variation in design, whilst some love the sleek look of leather or felt.
As well as providing you with a comfortable surface, desk mats also offer protection against spillages. While any mat will provide a barrier between a spilt cup of coffee and your work surface, PVC mats, for example, will allow you to wipe liquid away instantly. So check whether the mat is 'waterproof' or 'water-resistant' before buying.
Looking for more ways to keep your desk tidy? Check out our list of the best desk organisers!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nordik Cork and Vegan Leather Desk Mat With Cable Organiser | £24.97 High Mid | A Premium Desk Pad Made From Vegan Leather to Truly Elevate Your Workspace | ||
2 | Officity Wireless Charging Mat | £21.89 Mid | Declutter Your Workspace With Large, Water-Resistant Wireless Charging Desk Pad | ||
3 | KNODEL PU Leather Desk Blotter Pad | £15.99 Mid | A Muted Pink Desk Pad With a Non-slip Surface, Made From Durable PU-Leather | ||
4 | Razer Goliathus Chroma Soft Gaming Mouse Mat | £30.00 High | A Desk Pad to Enhance Your Gaming Experience With RGB Lighting in 16 Million Colours | ||
5 | Aothia Leather Desk Pad Protector | £11.99 Low Mid | A Bestselling, Remarkably Thick Desk Pad at an Affordable Price Made From PU-Leather | ||
6 | NTMY Felt Desk Mat | £6.99 Low | A Desk Pad That’s Both Functional and Fashionable, Complete With Built-in Pencil Holder | ||
7 | TITANWOLF Oversized Extra Large Gaming Mouse Mat | £21.75 Mid | Extra-Large Desk Protection for Multi-Screen Set-UPS With a Non-slip 3 mm Base | ||
8 | Oterri Clear Transparent Desk Pad | £12.99 Low Mid | Customise Your Work Surface With This Transparent Pad Made From PVC | ||
9 | iCasso Marble Pattern Desk Pad Mat | £16.99 Mid | Comfortable Desk Pad in Stunning Marble-Effect, Creating the Grandeur of Ancient Greece | ||
10 | The Worcestershire Stationery Company A3 Faux Leather Desk Pad | £24.99 High Mid | Furnish Your Office in an Affordable Manner With This Faux-Leather Pad Complete With Notepaper |
Everything about this desk pad screams premium, from its vegan leather top and cork backing all the way down to the beautifully made storage tube that it comes packaged in. It even includes a convenient cable organiser loop for keeping your desk neat and tidy.
It's completely waterproof and, despite being thin enough that it can be written on, it's more than capable of protecting your desk from bumps and scratches. Best of all, it comes at a very reasonable price, and that's why it's our number one pick!
A workspace cluttered with wires can look messy and unorganised, hampering productivity. Why not eliminate at least one with this desk pad that lets you wirelessly charge your mobile phone simply by placing it on its surface?
It works with a wide range of qi-enabled phones - including many iPhones and Samsungs - and the mat itself can be powered either through an adapter or a USB slot in your PC. To top it all off, this mat is made from a range of quality materials, including vegan leather.
Why not add to your new desk set up with a wireless keyboard?
The first thing you'll notice about this desk pad is the beautiful pink colour. Far from gaudy, it's a subdued hue that perfectly complements a lot of modern technology. However, there's a lot more to it, including a non-slip surface that's perfect for gliding your mouse across.
The PU-leather construction is tough and durable, which means it will easily be able to protect your desk from knocks and scratches. It's also incredibly smooth, making it an absolute joy to use.
This desk pad is the perfect choice for gamers. With RGB lighting all around its edge, you'll have the freedom to choose from a whopping 16.8 million colour options - providing you with a setting to fit every mood!
Practically speaking, this mat's 3-millimetre thickness makes it nice and comfy, and its non-slip surface will give you extra precision while gaming. Plus, the extra-large size gives you plenty of room for any additional accessories. It really is a pad that's sure to brighten up just about any gaming setup.
At only 2 millimetres thick - the same thickness as a coin - this desk pad is about as slim as it gets. This makes a nice lightweight surface that's easy to navigate your mouse across. Being made from premium PU leather, it's also incredibly smooth and looks classy.
This mat is durable enough to protect your desk from any unexpected spillages or scratches, and with an underside made from suede, you'll never need to worry about it sliding across the table. To top it all off, it even comes with a one-year warranty for your peace of mind. A great all-round option!
If you're on the lookout for a desk pad that's attractive as well as being functional, look no further than this handsome grey felt offering. Not only is it very on-trend, but it provides excellent protection for your devices and is incredibly comfortable to work on!
This pad also includes a handy pencil holder at the top, and the felt surface works equally well for both optical and rollerball mice. And did we mention that all this comes for an impressively low price? The only thing to note is that it isn't waterproof, so be careful of any spills!
If you use only a laptop, most desk pads will suffice, but if you're someone that requires two, or more monitors, you'll want something with a little more room. This extra-large desk pad lives up to its name, offering a whopping 120 x 60 cm of space!
With a non-slip base, and a 3 mm thick surface that's comfortable, as well as being water-resistant and washable, it's the perfect solution for web developers, data analysts, and, well, pretty much anyone that prefers the flexibility offered by several screens. For everyone else, however, it's probably a bit overkill.
A transparent desk pad might seem like an odd idea at first, but it gives you the option to display anything you want underneath it - whether that's family photos, notes, or even just the surface of your beautiful new wooden desk!
It's made from PVC instead of hard plastic, meaning it will work just as effectively on coffee tables and in kids' play areas as it will on your desk. However, it's worth mentioning that, because the mat arrives rolled up, it may take a little while to get it completely flat, but resting a few heavy objects on it for a while should do the trick.
Technology is often aligned with modernity or notions of the future, but that doesn't stop some from looking to the past to find exciting accessories for their workspace. For example, this 'marble-effect' design invokes the statues of Ancient Greece more than it does an Apple iMac!
Despite the faux-marble appearance, this mat is actually quite soft, and with a non-slip base and a water-resistant surface, its performance is just as good as it looks. It won't suit everyone's taste, but sometimes it's nice to go against the grain.
If matching furniture is your thing, you'll love this blue faux-leather desk pad. Not only does it conform to a style adopted by a large proportion of modern office furniture, but it's also made by a local British company, which offer a huge selection of similarly styled pieces.
Each A3 pad comes with 12 sheets of 120 gsm white paper for jotting down notes and numbers and can be refilled once it runs out. The simple blue design may be a little uninspiring for the home, but if you are furnishing a traditional office environment, a set of these affordable desk pads are a no-brainer!
No. 1: Nordik|Cork and Vegan Leather Desk Mat With Cable Organiser
No. 2: Officity|Wireless Charging Mat
No. 3: KNODEL|PU Leather Desk Blotter Pad
No. 4: Razer|Goliathus Chroma Soft Gaming Mouse Mat
No. 5: Aothia|Leather Desk Pad Protector
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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