Finding out what is the best size of a mouse pad is difficult, because there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” for mouse pads. A good mouse pad really depends on the surface, quality, your preferences, and of course, the size of your desk!
So of course, it is important to keep these in mind when picking out a new mouse pad. To make things a bit easier, we’ll go through some tips and things to consider below!
With that said, it is very important to ensure the mouse pad will fit your desk space, and to always check the dimensions as many brands use the same names for different sizes.
Large Mouse Pads: Usually around 450x400mm in size, which provides adequate room for moving the gaming mouse around. Suitable for both low DPI and high DPI gaming. With this size of mouse pad, gamers don’t need to worry about running out of space. Perfect for large desks.
Extra Large (XL)/Extended Mouse Pads: Commonly called “desk mats” due to the huge amount of space they take up. Typically 900x400mm in size, designed to have a keyboard and mouse placed on top of them. Perfect for creating a themed desk setup, but it’s worth mentioning that not all mouse pads of this size are based on performance, as they’re traditionally based more on the design that’s printed on them.
Some other factors to consider when choosing a mouse pad are the DPI that you intend to play onm and the type of pad itself.
A lower DPI would typically require a larger mouse pad due to the larger hand movements associated with it. A higher DPI can be used on mouse pads of any size, at the cost of accuracy depending on the sensor in the gaming mouse.
Lastly, the material of the mouse pad and its purpose are important factors. Many mouse pads have “speed” and “control” variants, and it is important to ensure the mouse pad that you’re buying matches what you want. A speed pad will be incredibly fast with low control, while a control pad will be slower but easily supports fine movements. Mouse pads can also be made out of cloth, hybrid, and hard materials like plastic and glass. Typically cloth pads are slower than hard pads, and cheaper too. 
