Thick mousepads are fine on carpet.

Probably not. Modern optical and laser sensors are good enough that the thickness of the pad itself doesn’t matter much. What does matter is the surface texture and stability.

If your desk is carpeted, the real concern is the pad sliding around, not the thickness. A thick pad might actually help by adding weight or grip. Tracking accuracy is affected more by the pad’s surface pattern and cleanliness than by how much foam is underneath.

The one exception is extreme thickness — like those giant “gaming” pads that are half an inch thick. On a soft carpet, that much squish can cause the pad to deform unevenly as you press down, making the sensor lose contact or skip. But a standard 3-5mm pad? You won’t notice a difference.

If you’re worried, just pick a pad with a smooth, consistent surface and make sure it stays flat. That’s where the accuracy lives.