mats are one of those purchases that make you go, “Why didn’t I buy this sooner?” They aren’t just great looking, but they also improve your productivity and the cleanliness of your . That’s why I’ve chosen four of the best desk mats while keeping budget and usability in mind.
The Best Leather Desk Mat Options
When you are working at home you might want to improve your boring and make it a bit more comfortable and more suited to your style so you can have a smooth space that works for you. It is your own home after all. A can also make you and your workspace more productive due to the comfort it provides. mats are especially great to calm me down due to the softer texture of the as opposed to the wood of a regular , or I am just weird like that.
In this guide, I am going to discuss mats that I handpicked because I like the look, the price, etc. Of course, I am also going to ask around and look at reviews from others before I recommend something. I might have had a great experience, but if 50 others have had a horrible one, I am not going to recommend it. I will also take in mind how much an item costs and the quality you get for that price.
This guide is going to have an easy-to-follow structure. I will start off with the criteria (Quality, Aesthetics, and price) I use to judge when looking for the best . Then I am going to discuss a couple of them that caught my eye and I feel confident enough to recommend.
Then I am going to pick two, a “best overall” and a “budget pick” to help you out making a decision. I will end the article with my final thoughts and tips that you can use before you buy and I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about mats.
My criteria when picking a
Now, I am not going to pick out some random mats and judge them by gut feeling. I am going to use 5 main criteria to judge the mats I am looking at. These are all 20% of the score, and failing one of the criteria means automatic disqualification.
Quality of the materials
When I buy something, I want it to last. The quality of the material is pretty important to me. I need to be able to use it as much as I like without it getting worn down after a short time. Buying low-quality goods are more expensive than high-quality ones, so this is a vital point!
Aesthetics
I like it when the I am using looks great and gives an aura of class. This is pretty subjective, so you might disagree with me on this point. I do try to pick things that look great in any decor. This might be the criteria I am the laxest on since it is really subjective.
Comfort
When using an item like a , you must be sure that it improves your working experience. If it feels worse than a wooden without a , I am not going to give it very high marks. It needs to help boost my productivity, or at least make my working life a bit easier.
Price
I like it a great deal. Despite all criteria being equal, I do judge the most strict on this point. If I think a is overpriced, it is going to lose marks. If a is mind-blowingly cheap for the quality you are getting, that is going to make me very happy.
Reviews and thoughts of others
I like it when a has gotten a lot of reviews. It gives me an insight if other people have had similar experiences compared to mine. It also shows me what the good and the bad points are, the that I might have missed.
Extra features
These are small extra things that I like that might give it an edge for you. These are features like being , having an anti-slip base, or being very easy to clean.
Our picks
So, I have looked at a lot of mats, more than anyone should ever do in an afternoon, so I have gotten a pretty decent idea of what makes a great and what makes it worse. Here are the ones that stood out amongst hundreds of mats.
I am going to discuss how they match up according to my criteria. Just note, these are the best of the best. If I say the quality is a con, it doesn’t mean it is a bad product. It just falls short as opposed to the other 3.
Satechi Eco- Deskmate
- PREMIUM ECO-LEATHER DESIGN - crafted from quality Polyurethane (PU) leather, the Eco-Leather Deskmate helps to protect your desk space and...
- MULTI-FUNCTION DESK MAT - acts as a comfortable resting surface for your hands while typing or writing; ideal as a desktop blotter, mouse...
- PROTECTS YOUR DESK SPACE - its easy to clean, water-resistant material protects a wide area of your desk from spills or scratches. Simply...
Pros
Quality materials – This is one of the best mats out there if we are talking about the materials used. I like it a lot that the is made out of eco-. So it gets good marks from me on that point.
Comfortable – The does what it needs to do. The surface is smooth and soft and doesn’t have many bells and whistles that don’t add anything useful to the project. The size is just perfect for me (23 inches x 12.2 inches). This is a great to boost your productivity.
Aesthetics – The is available in a couple of colors, namely blue, brown, and black. They aren’t flashy and are pretty soft on the eyes. I personally love the black the most. It seems to fit into every interior.
Cons
Reviews – While the reviews on this are not bad at all – remember that we are dealing with the top out of hundreds of mats – it does seem to fall flat on some points. A lot of people are not happy with the stitching and the smell of the when.
Price – This is a close call, and I was thinking about making a third neutral category, but I decided to put it into the con list after all. While the price by no means is going to break the bank, I do think the could be priced a couple of dollars down.
Extra features that I like
- Easy to clean
- Water-resistant
- Non-slip base
Dwelling With Pride
- EXECUTIVE LOOKING – Our mousepad boasts a superior personal look that’s perfect for the home or office. It is a double-sided large mouse...
- Durable & Spacious : We made our desk pad extra thick and large to give your desk the full protection it needs. It’s perfect for placing...
- Stays In Place : With a non-slip function, our PU leather mat doesn’t slide or move when you write, type, or drink. It’s the perfect...
Pros
Quality materials – The is made from great materials. When you roll the is doesn’t leave any marks. The surface also feels smooth and premium. Using this as a mouse was also very great.
Comfortable – The feels soft and has a slick surface that won’t hold you back when you are working. The is perfect to work long hours without hurting your arms. It is definitely a major upgrade from working on a regular wooden .
Reviews – People seem to love this ! It has hundreds of very positive evaluations and barely any negative ones. There is nothing amongst the reviews that give the impression that there are quality or delivery issues with the . You will get what you pay for.
Cons
Price – Talking about paying, you will pay quite a bit. This is not cheap at all. It is one of the more expensive plain surface mats around. I do think this is mainly due to the material the manufacturer used. They definitely didn’t skimp on quality. However, this isn’t a that you are going to buy on impulse.
Aesthetics – For me personally, the colors are a bit too aggressive and are hard to fit into a calm relaxing working environment. The backside of this has a bright red finish. This is something I don’t like. It gives a cheap look to an otherwise very high-quality .
Extra features that I like
- Heat-resistant
- Waterproof
- Non-slip base
Dacasso Classic
- LUXURY ADDITION TO THE OFFICE SETTINGS: Give your desk some personality with this great top-grain leather pad! Featuring a clean, open work...
- PRESERVE YOUR WORK SURFACE: The bottom of each of our desk accessories and workplace organizers is lined with a protective velveteen backing...
- DACASSO GUARANTEE: We are proud to provide our customers with top-quality office accessories which add elegance and functionality to their...
Pros
Quality materials – Out of all mats on this list, and out of the hundreds I have seen, this one has the best materials. The feel is premium and this is obviously an item made out of materials that are going to last you a lifetime. It is a great if you are someone who places materials and the durability of your products above anything else.
Aesthetics – This just looks amazing to me. It fits into almost any interior and has nice soft colors that aren’t an attention grabber. It will give a luxury feel to almost any and is an amazing addition to give a little extra to your home office.
Comfortable – Working on this just feels great. The surface is really soft and your arms don’t get red from the fiction, even after working for hours on end. This is a major plus, as your productivity when working from home is going to suffer if you are using a bad . From all the mats I am discussing here, this is the one you will enjoy working on the most.
Reviews – People love this . There are barely any bad reviews, and most of these seem to be of bad experiences or people who are never happy. So if you get this , you will probably be going to love it. It is one of the highest-rated mats that I have come across. No matter, if you are male, female, young, or old, the odds are pretty high you won’t have any regrets buying it.
Cons
Price – This is one major con where most of the people are going to go from a buy to never mind. A premium comes at a premium price. The price for this mat is a couple of price classes above anything else on this list. A lot of people won’t be able to justify spending this much money on a , no matter how great it is.
Extra features that I like
- Easy to clean
- Extremely long-lasting
- Anti-slip
- Perfect size (for me)
Nekmit
- Quality material designed to look like real leather
- Non-slip felt bottom safe for any surface
- Protect your surfaces and still use your trackball or optical mouse, also as the best desk decor for your office and home
Pros
Reviews – People seem to go wild for the Nekmit . Everyone seems to be in agreement, this is amazing for the price and the quality you are getting. There isn’t a trend in the (rare) negative reviews, which makes me think that those negative experiences were little mistakes or people that aren’t happy no matter what.
Price – This is a mid-ranged price and definitely gives you what you are looking for regarding worth for your money. You aren’t going to find a lot of other mats that can beat this price and quality.
Quality of the materials – The materials this is made out of is just very good. There is little else to say that this is a top product. It will last a very long time, and you are going to have to make an effort to damage it. Even when you roll it up, the goes back into shape without damage or marks on the surface.
Cons
Comfort – The feels too thin for me. It gets uncomfortable after working for a long time on it and your arms tend to hurt due to the friction with the surface. If you are using this casually and just an hour or two a day, you are not going to notice this con too much.
Aesthetics – While it isn’t ugly in any way, it just doesn’t add anything to your interior. Many other mats gave a nice, comforting, or premium feeling to your working space. This is just there. While there is nothing wrong with that, it does not give you great marks on this criteria, and we are looking for the best of the best after all.
Extra features that I like
- Anti-slip
- Easy to clean
How do they compare?
These are the four mats I thought were worth taking a deep dive into. These were the best amongst many not discussed here. So no matter what you are going to end up with, it is not going to be bad. However, there are 2 that do stand out for me on different criteria.
Best overall – Dacasso Classic
If money is no issue, this is going to be the you are going to want to get. The is high quality, is pleasant to work on, and looks amazing on a . You should strongly consider getting this if you want to have one for the next 25 years or so without having to swap it out for a new one.
This is best suited for homeworkers that sit on their for hours on end. It feels great on your arm and using the is a much better experience than just having your wooden with nothing on.
Best mats on a budget – Satechi Eco- Deskmate
If you are on a budget and you still want to get yourself a quality that you surely are going to enjoy, then get the Satechi. This is my favorite out of them all on my current budget. It is a great for someone who wants to try one out and doesn’t want to break the bank right away.
I also like the material – eco- – that the is made out of. The feels nice and is a good fit in most interiors.
Leather Desk Mat FAQs
Answer: You can clean a mouse pad by using a wet cloth. Make sure you don’t get it too wet and dry it off with a paper towel or something.
Answer: The leather goods material that it is made out of is very important. It determines most of the features. While faux or low-quality leather can be very soft and cheap, it probably isn’t going to last. If you have to swap out your mat every 5 years instead of every 25, costs are going to add up to more than getting a decent mat from the start.
Answer: I think so! As long as you are not going above your budget and work at your desk a lot. It is a very nice upgrade to just working on a wooden desk. If you spend many hours on your desk – as I do – your arms are going to start to get irritated and red. A good soft desk mat prevents that. It also gives a smooth look to your desk.
Answer: Yes! As long as the mat isn’t too soft and thick, a desk mat made out of leather or similar material is great to write on. When writing, always make sure you are using an appropriate pen so you won’t penetrate your paper. A fountain pen is a great idea as you don’t need to apply a lot of pressure on it.
Summary
Finding the best leather desk pad is pretty hard. There are hundreds to choose from. The four that I found are all excellent choices. Regarding the quality of materials, all of these are top-notch. However, the price is very different. The most expensive mat costs almost 5 times as much as the cheapest one. So you can’t just pick a mat in my opinion, it is definitely something where budget comes into play.
I have picked 2 very solid choices and no matter which one you are going to pick, you will get your money’s worth. You are going to be able to upgrade your working space by quite a bit if this is your very first mat.