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Just like you wouldn’t want your office chair to damage your floors, you don’t want your computer and other work supplies to damage the tabletop of your desk. A simple desk pad protects your surfaces — and offers some extra functional benefits, too.
The best desk pad mats also serve as a mousepad, except rather than containing your mouse’s range of motion to a small square, they provide ample amounts of space. They also help keep your workspace clean, since their water-resistant surfaces make any spills easy to clean. Many people also find that having a desk pad helps them keep their workspace organized — this is especially true in the case of desk pads that have built-in pockets for important documents and miniature calendars.
Desk Pad Buying Guide
Dimensions: When shopping for the best desk pad for your office, take the dimensions of your desk into consideration. Obviously, your desk pad can’t be bigger than the available space on your desk, but you do need your desk pad to be big enough to fit beneath your monitor, keyboard, mouse and any other office equipment that you want to place on top of your work surface.
Material: Most of the desk pads and mats in this guide are waterproof to further protect your desk setup. We prefer desk pads that are made with non-slip materials, like cork or rubber.
Style: Take your own aesthetic preferences into consideration. Some desk pads come in a variety of fun, bold colors, which can be great for a more creative, casual workspace. Others stick to standard colors, which will blend in to even the most formal offices.
What Are the Best Desk Pads?
No matter what type of office you’re in, these desk pads are a worthy addition to any work setup thanks to their functional, stylish designs. Here are our top picks.