Protect Your Desk in Style With the Best Leather Desk Pads

Finding Your Next Leather Desk Pad: A Buyer’s Guide

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.

Types of Leather

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 

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

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.

Real leather

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. 

Size

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.

Color

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.