Introduction
Becoming the best gamer you can be means getting gear that will suit your personal needs and preferences. A lot of people tend to spend heavy on their mouse (click here to see our recommended mice for CS:GO) but it’s not really common for people to spend a lot of time or money searching for their perfect mousepad. That’s a shame because, much like mice, pads come in a wide variety of sizes and materials, each with their own distinct characteristics.
Getting a pad that’s large enough to accommodate even the largest mouse swipe while still offering enough stopping power so that you can accurately flick to enemy heads can really make a world of difference in a game where one bullet to the dome can mean the difference between a round won or a round lost.
There’s lots of marketing speak out there when it comes to mousepads so if you’re unsure about what to pick you’ve come to the right place. We have gathered the top picks among CS:GO professionals and listed them here, along with a couple of lines of information on what makes the pads in question unique or worth getting.
Our Guide
The most used mousepads by CS:GO players
The most popular mousepads are calculated based on 537 professional players.
What makes a mousepad good for CS:GO?
The pads in this list are all slightly different when it comes to their features and build, but they do have a couple of things in common: they’re all cloth pads that have somewhat of a focus towards control. None of the pads in this list are speed pads, and that makes sense. CS:GO is a very ‘stable’ game when it comes to aiming; crosshair placement and prefiring angles is as important (and arguably even more important) than flicking and tracking, so it makes sense to see professionals go for steadier, slower mousepads that allow you to have that micro control that’s so important in a game like this.
It’s well-known that having a lower sensitivity leads to more consistent and precise aim, and since accuracy and pinpoint precision are among the most important qualities for a CS:GO player the average overall sensitivity is indeed on the lower side in CS:GO, and the choice of mousepads in this scene reflects that.
Of course there’s still such a thing as preference: if you’re someone who wants a speedy glide you’re by all means free to experiment with faster pads. This list is just a guideline, and we’re just commenting on the trends that we see in the pro scene. It’s incredibly important to use gear that matches your personal preferences, but this list should be a good starting point for people who are looking for a new CS:GO mousepad.
Top mousepad brands in CS:GO
| Rank | Name | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
21.23% |
| 2 |
 |
19.55% |
| 3 |
 |
13.04% |
| 4 |
 |
10.99% |
| 5 |
 |
9.50% |
Fun Facts
SteelSeries QcK Heavy
The QcK Heavy is an absolute unit of a pad. With its 6 mm thickness and large size it’ll certainly have your monitor wobbling a bit if you slap it down on a desk indiscriminately, and that heft is probably also what makes it so popular.
A thickness of six millimeters means that the pad will rather easily cover up any irregularities that can be found on the surface that you put it on. That’s not really the most useful aspect if you’re sat at home gaming on a perfectly smooth desk, but if you’re playing on a different surface with any regularity (like the pros do) it’s definitely worth it to consider this problem.
Aside from the thickness aspect, the QcK Heavy is also just a good gaming pad. It offers a medium-fast gliding experience which is really similar to what a lot of other pads offer, but it does it well, doesn’t need a lot of maintenance, and is available pretty much anywhere in the world (meaning it’s easy to source a replacement if you’re out and about for a tournament) so it’s a really good LAN pad.
SteelSeries QcK Heavy
Used by 91 CS:GO players (Jun, 2023)-
m0NESY
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dev1ce
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steel
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JamYoung
❝The SteelSeries QcK Heavy is a thick mousepad with a medium gliding experience. It can be ideal for people who have a lot of inconsistencies on their desk, as the thickness will cover up most surface-level bumps and dents.❞
Specs
| Height | 39.7 |
|---|---|
| Length | 44.5 |
| Thickness | 6mm |
| Stitched edges | No |
| Glide | Medium |
Pros
- Thickness covers up uneven desk surfaces
Cons
- Thick pad can get irritating on the skin for some
- Very strong rubbery smell initially
ZOWIE G-SR
It’s sometimes said by people who aren’t in the know that cloth pads are all extremely similar in feel, and while that might be true for some pads (and even then you’re painting with very broad strokes) the G-SR is evidence of the opposite being true.
The G-SR is one of the most controlling mousepads on the market, offering plenty of stopping power and surface friction. That’s going to make it a great choice for people who have a tendency to overshoot their targets or players who are often doing large sweeping motions and want to control those swipes a bit better, or just for people who don’t want a fast pad and prefer a grittier, more controlled glide.
The G-SR definitely isn’t for everyone due to its very specific glide, but if you like the sound of a control pad then this is definitely the one for you. It lays flat almost immediately and has a perfectly smooth surface. The pad is finished with stitched edges as well, so it’ll last you for a long time if you take good care of it.
CS:GO is a rather slow-paced game where there’s a lot of focus on crosshair placement as well as holding and controlling angles and sites, so in our minds it makes sense that one of the most popular CS:GO pads is a slower pad which allows you to perfectly control your aim.
ZOWIE G-SR
Used by 57 CS:GO players (Jun, 2023)-
b1t
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DD
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xsepower
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Walco
❝The ZOWIE G-SR is still one of the best control pads out there. If you want your mousepad to rein you in with plenty of stopping power and a controlled glide then you should look towards the G-SR.❞
Specs
| Height | 39 |
|---|---|
| Length | 47 |
| Thickness | 3mm |
| Stitched edges | Yes |
| Glide | Control |
Pros
- Stitched edges
- Very consistent surface and foam
Cons
- Slightly sensitive to dust, sweat, and oils
ZOWIE G-SR-SE
The GS-R-SE might sound as if it’s just some recolor of the G-SR, but that’s not the case. The SE version offers a faster glide than its sibling while staying true to the G-SR feeling of leaning more towards control.
The SE offers a super smooth playing surface which lays flat almost immediately, and thanks to its tightly packed foam it’s better at covering up playing surface irregularities than most other pads of the same (3.5 mm) thickness. All of these qualities combined make it a pretty great LAN pad, and the interesting glide (it’s a bit slower and more controlled than ‘the usual’ cloth pad gliding experience, yet doesn’t feel overly controlling) makes it an intriguing pad and something that you should definitely try out if you want to step away from the usual ‘medium-fast’ cloth pad gliding experiences.
ZOWIE G-SR-SE
Used by 56 CS:GO players (Jun, 2023)-
Freeman
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tenzki
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speed4k
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ISSAA
❝ZOWIE made a number of promises when they first unveiled the G-SR-SE Rouge, and from what I can tell they’ve delivered on all of them. The surface is smoother, the humidity resistance is better, and the foam is a little bit softer. The pad still feels every bit as consistent as it should be, though, and with its controlling medium glide (by this I mean that it’s pretty much a ‘medium’ pad, but it’s on the slower end of that spectrum) this Rouge offers an interesting glide experience for people who play tactical shooters or who just want a touch more control without losing out on gliding speed.❞
Specs
| Height | 39 |
|---|---|
| Length | 47 |
| Thickness | 3.5mm |
| Stitched edges | No |
| Glide | Medium |
| Static Friction X/Y | 43.85 |
| Static Friction Angle | 8.51 |
| Glide Difference X/Y | 10.30 |
| Dynamic Friction | 1.63 |
Pros
- Smooth surface
- Increased humidity resistance when compared to earlier versions, though it’s still not flawless at handling oils and sweat
- Firm, uniform gliding feeling thanks to the dense foam
Cons
- Design won’t be for everyone
Logitech G640
The Logitech G640 is Logitech’s take on a cloth gaming mousepad. It’s a solid pad with a nice and consistent medium to fast glide (which is very similar to that glide that both the QcK pads offer) and a thickness of 3mm.
In essence there’s nothing really special about this pad; it doesn’t try to offer a super controlling experience nor does it try to be the fastest pad out there, but it is a very reliable mousepad that needs very little maintenance which can make it a great choice for people who like to go on extended gaming marathons or for people who go to LAN parties often. It’s also one of the most used and bought mousepads in the world, so you’re always bound to find a replacement in case your pad has started going downhill (which is something that will happen to almost all cloth pads).
There are some team specific versions out there that do have stitched edges, so if you’re looking for that clean stitched look it could pay off to look around a bit, but the normal version comes without stitched edges.
Logitech G640
Used by 47 CS:GO players (Jun, 2023)-
XANTARES
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byali
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Kvem
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Lucky
❝The Logitech G640 is the ideal ‘starting pad’ for people who aren’t quite sure what they want when it comes to mousepads thanks to its middle of the road glide.❞
Specs
| Height | 40 |
|---|---|
| Length | 45.5 |
| Thickness | 3mm |
| Stitched edges | No |
| Glide | Medium |
Pros
- Excellent ‘middle of the road’ option when it comes to glide and thickness
Cons
- Edges start fraying after a while
Razer Gigantus V2
The Razer Gigantus V2 is the successor to the Gigantus, but it doesn’t share a whole lot of similarities with that mousepad. The first version was a very control-focused mousepad, while this one can be categorized as a medium glide mousepad, with a focus on having a good amount of static friction so that you can really feel in control when doing smaller movements.
This is a good mousepad for those who want to experience a bit more control when doing any fine aiming, all while not feeling reined in by their mousepad when performing big swipes. It’s also available as an extended mousepad for those who want to have their keyboard on their mousepad.
Razer Gigantus V2
Used by 37 CS:GO players (Jun, 2023)-
JDC
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gAuLeS
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GuardiaN
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xertioN
❝If you’re looking for a pad that’s a bit more controlling without feeling murky or extremely gritty then this is definitely one to consider.❞
Specs
| Height | 40 |
|---|---|
| Length | 45 |
| Thickness | 3mm |
| Stitched edges | No |
| Glide | Medium |
Pros
- Decent humidity resistance
- Decently thick and consistent foam
Cons
- Can move around (a bit) during particularly intense matches
- Stitched edges have been removed when compared to the V1
VAXEE PA
VAXEE is a relatively new brand in the Counter-Strike scene, but their products have already found their way onto the desks of many professional players. This PA mousepad is available in many different finishes, but all of the printed versions have the exact same glide.
What you’re getting here is a pad that’s extremely similar to the ZOWIE G-SR-SE. With a decent amount of static friction, the pad helps you make those tiny corrections with more precision, while the pad lets you go a little bit when making larger movements. All in all, the PA is a control-oriented mousepad, but it has a glide that’s really well suited to games such as Counter-Strike.
VAXEE PA
Used by 54 CS:GO players (Jun, 2023)-
honda
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neaLaN
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tudsoN
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Bubzkji
❝If you’ve got a feeling that you would like a bit more control but you don’t want to overdo it with a muddy/gritty dedicated control pad then the PA can be right up your alley.❞
Specs
| Height | 39 |
|---|---|
| Length | 47 |
| Thickness | 3.5mm |
| Stitched edges | No |
| Glide | Control |
| Static Friction X/Y | 44.9 |
| Static Friction Angle | 7.64 |
| Glide Difference X/Y | 14.8 |
| Dynamic Friction | 1.45 |
Pros
- Smooth surface
- Tight rubber base makes the surface feel very consistent
- Lots of designs available
Cons
- No stitched edges version
- Humidity resistance isn’t the best
Best Mousepad for CS:GO – Conclusion
Professional CS:GO players seem to trend more towards the controlling side of things when it comes to their gaming mousepads. This makes a ton of sense if you ask us: CS:GO isn’t a game where you’re constantly wildly swinging your crosshair in all directions (at least not when you’re playing it properly) so a focus on stability is logical with this type of game. If you are a dedicated CS:GO player who is new to the world of gaming mousepads and you’re looking for a pad, we would encourage you to look in the direction of a more controlling mousepad.
If you have any questions or remarks then please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!