In a market dominated by gaming-centric and colorful rubber or fabric desk mats, a leather desk pad is a breath of fresh air. It is the perfect blend of professional and casual, and it looks great in both environments. The association of leather with luxury also plays a huge part in making these desk pads look chic in almost every setup they’re a part of.
The only thing that can ruin the aesthetics and cozy textures is buying the wrong desk pad. Ending up with a coarse, bland, and low-quality leather desk pad is more likely than you might think. That’s why we’ve created this guide to set you on the right path. Let’s get started.
Leather desk pads are available in three different kinds of leather. All three of them have their own pros and cons, and the final decision is up to you. Just remember to keep your own particular needs in mind.
Microfiber leather is a super-advanced type of faux-vegan leather that is extremely high quality. It is ultra-durable, scratch and abrasion-resistant, water-resistant, and still soft to the touch. An inexperienced person might even mistake it for real leather. The only clear giveaway is its slightly rubbery consistency. Desk pads made from this type of leather are great for day-to-day use with almost no drawbacks.
PU leather is a more famous type of faux leather in the market, and the majority of desk pads are made from it. The biggest benefit of going with PU is the sheer number of options you have. Also, the darker shades look more lively and real in PU leather than they do in microfiber. So, if you’re planning on getting dark brown or black, go with a PU leather version.
Suffice it to say, desk pads made from real leather are the best. It is the most durable, soft, gorgeous, and impactful type of leather on the market. Before you make a beeline to some real leather desk pads, remember that they are extremely expensive. They’re so expensive, in fact, that almost all of them count as luxury products. Real leather also requires a lot more maintenance than faux leather versions. So, as awesome as it would be to have a real leather desk pad, it is not recommended unless you’re absolutely sure.
The next key factor to consider when looking for leather desk pads is their size, and you have tons of options to choose from. You can find everything from square pads to ultrawide options in sizes rivaling modern gaming monitors. So, what is the right size for you?
The only way to answer this question is to think about how you’ll be using a product. For example, say your entire setup is a laptop, a wireless mouse, and your phone. This setup can be served great with a 36 x 17-inch desk pad — and still leave room on the sides for notes and other stuff. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a full-size desk pad for your gaming setup, look for something around 42 x 26 inches so that your monitor, desktop, and accessories feel connected.
Keep in mind that you also have to factor in your available desk space.
The final key consideration for choosing a leather desk pad is color, and black is the safest option out there. It goes with almost every setup and desk. The second best option is brown, especially dark brown, for its mature and professional vibes.
This is only the tip of the iceberg though, you can also get leather desk pads in pink, blue, red, maroon, or even cyan. These vibrant colors on leather might look odd at first, but they can make amazing setups when paired with the right accessories.
This leather desk pad from Aothia is a no-nonsense option with insanely high quality standards. Its 31.5 x 15.7-inch size is just perfect for the vast majority of professional and casual setups, with ample room for a full-size keyboard, mouse, and phone. The edges of this product are also sealed in a way that’s both durable and soft. The true magic of this desk pad, however, is its fresh brown color that seems youthful, vibrant, and still mature at the same time. The eye-catching design and the durability helped us pick this option as the best overall on this list.
This option Gallaway is pretty average on paper. Its 36 x 17-inch size is perfect for smaller laptop setups and not much else. This product can be used for a full PC setup, but it won’t leave much room for anything other than a keyboard and a mouse. The thing that turns this just-okay option into something spectacular is its color. This shade of dark brown is mesmerizing to look at and even better to work on. It is even dark enough to be part of black-focused color theory, and it still retains enough saturation to complement a silver laptop placed on top.
The leather desk mat from Nordik is designed with professionals in mind, whether they’re artists, accountants, or programmers. Its 35 x 17-inch size is perfect for holding an ultrabook laptop, a phone, a wireless mouse, earbuds, and a few handy notes on the side. The thickness of this option is also an ideal balance between comfort and practicality, so you can rest your forearms and use it for writing on a piece of paper. A small but extremely important design element is the little cable organizer on the back that keeps your workspace tidy and ready for some solid workflow.
Yikda breaks all pricing conventions with its leather desk pad, making quality mouse mats accessible to everyone. This gorgeous option comes at half the price of most of its equally sized competitors. The awesome thing is that this lower price does not come at the cost of material or build quality either. In fact, this product is made out of microfiber leather which is considered one of the greatest in terms of strength, abrasion resistance, moisture absorption, and comfort. Not to mention the matching leather tie that comes with this pad also helps improve portability.
The option from Vine Creations is the one you need for upgrading your desktop setup. Its 36 x 20-inch design is ideal for a desk setup with a monitor sitting on top of the pad, which makes it all seem connected. There is also plenty of room for using a mouse alongside a full-size keyboard. Its all-black color also makes this product a great match with colorful PC gaming setups as well. The RGB lights from modern gaming machines shine flawlessly off this pad, setting a unique colorful aesthetic. Even the smooth texture of this option is great for using with a productivity or gaming mouse.
A: No, they are not waterproof. Most are just water-resistant and will eventually get damaged by excessive moisture.
A: Wipe it down thoroughly with a damp cloth or paper towel. Next, wipe it again with a dry cloth or paper towel.
A: Yes, you can, but the edge you cut might start fraying if you don't seal it with a leather edge finish or something similar.
