Thick mousepads can mess with low-profile mice.

Yes, it can cause tracking issues — especially if your mouse sits low to the pad.

The problem is sensor height. Low-profile mice have the sensor closer to the bottom of the shell. A 5mm+ pad lifts the mouse higher relative to the desk surface, which can throw off the sensor’s tracking plane. On a hard desk, that extra height also makes the pad feel spongy rather than stable, and some sensors lose consistency with that much lift.

Ultralight mice are usually fine if they have a deep sensor well or adjustable lift-off distance. But if your mouse skips, jitters, or feels floaty, the pad thickness is a likely culprit.

Stick to 3–4mm for low-profile and ultralight mice. You get enough cushion for comfort without messing with tracking.