5 Things to Know About Static-Dissipating Mousepads

They work by bleeding off static charge These pads have a conductive surface or grounding wire that safely discharges static buildup.

Static cursor jumps are usually caused by you, not the pad Walking across carpet builds charge in your body, which then discharges through the mouse.

Grounding yourself is a cheaper fix Touching a metal desk leg or lamp before using the mouse costs nothing and solves the same problem.

Some pads include a wrist rest with a grounding strap These combine the pad with a direct path to ground, but they cost $15–30.

Don’t expect a pad to fix a floor or sock problem If your carpet and footwear create static, the pad alone won’t stop it.