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Everything is getting bigger – and that includes mouse pads. I’ve been using regular-sized mouse pads my entire life, and they’ve worked. But that doesn’t mean an oversized mouse pad isn’t worth trying, and I actually use one daily now. Let’s take a look when an oversized mouse pad might be worth your while.
At the basic level, these are just bigger iterations of traditional mouse pads – usually small rectangles big enough for the mouse to move just enough. These bigger versions often stretch from end to end on a desk.
Oversized mouse pads work well when your work is mostly done on the computer through the keyboard and mouse. On my desk, I barely ever write anything on paper anymore. I’m not even sure the last time I used a pen to write something down. So I don’t really need the desk space for papers and those kinds of things. I currently use this Everlasting Comfort gaming mouse pad while standing throughout the day.
There’s plenty of space on my VariDesk, and it just seems to make sense. It supports my wrists and hand movement and comfort across the whole desk. The pad I use is about 31 inches wide and 11 inches high. That stretches a good part across the desk. There are plenty of other sizes, so consider measuring before buying to see how big of a pad is needed for your setup.
The options
There are several options to consider. Let’s take them one by one here.
The professional look
I like just the black mouse pad that fits in and is more about functionality than look, perhaps. Certainly, it does have a slick and professional look after all. But it’s not trying to stand out like other options.
The gamer
Then we have the gamer mousepad. These are often colorful and add some more personality to the setup. I currently use one of these but I don’t turn the lighting on – usually.
The sports team
A wide variety of sports team mouse pads can be ordered. I actually have this Washington Commanders one on one of my desks.
Making a scene
Plenty of other options are available for pictures, like a beach or whatnot. These are too busy for me, but some might enjoy these options. 
Is an oversized mouse pad an absolute necessity? Definitely no. We have lived without one for a lifetime, but the same can be said about smartphones and computers. Who knows what else is essential today that we lived without? In the right setup, these can make things more comfortable and are worth considering.