Last updated on January 18, 2025
Tablet of the Guilds | Illustration by Nic Klein
When I started playing Magic, I had no idea that playmats even existed. I was blissfully ignorant just bridge-shuffling my unsleeved Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, and slapping my cards down straight onto the kitchen table. As I started to understand just how valuable my cards were, and when I realized I probably wasnโt going to stop playing Magic anytime soon, I decided to invest in some ways to help protect my cards, which included playmats.
For the uninitiated, in its most standard form, a TCG playmat is essentially a big mouse pad: a soft fabric top over a rubber bottom. These come in a variety of sizes and can be a variety of solid colors or feature artwork. Playmats can help protect your cards, help you play more easily, and custom playmats can even be a nice form of self-expression. Playmats typically also last a while, so while they do add to the overall price of getting into Magic, they arenโt a recurring cost.
Similar to card sleeves, there are a lot of options out there for playmats. Which one is the best for you will vary on your personal taste and individual needs. That said, if youโre unsure of where to start, there are a few playmats I would consider as the best options, to help narrow down your choices.
Best Overall
The best overall choice for a Magic playmat is easily Ultra PRO. My Ultra PRO Oath of the Gatewatch Gameday Champion mat is still going strong after 8 years, countless spilled drinks, and even an incident involving Korean fried chicken covered in sauce. The art itself still looks great after all this time, and there are very few signs of wear and tear on its surface, even without using a playmat tube.
In addition to the great quality of their mats, Ultra PRO is also the company that is officially partnered with Wizards of the Coast. This means they get official Magic card art for their mats, as well as special promotional art like the Extra Life 2023 My Little Pony mat which tied in with Magicโs Secret Lair event for the charity. With every new MTG set, Ultra PRO releases a slew of new playmats featuring some of the most prominent characters from the set, and they also typically have matching card sleeves to go with them. This makes it really easy to bling out your deck in matching gear featuring official Magic art.
Ultra PRO mats are also very reasonably priced. Mats for new Magic sets are typically priced at $21.99, or you can get a mat in a solid color for only $11.99. Ultra PRO also occasionally has clearance sales where you can get mats featuring artwork for even cheaper than the normal asking price. If you frequently host game nights, Ultra PRO also offers full table-sized mats which are usually priced around $94.99 for a six- to eight-foot mat.
While Ultra PRO might be the best all-around mat, some other sellers excel in specific areas in ways that surpass Ultra PRO. If your playmat needs fall into one of these more niche areas, then it is worth shopping around and seeing what other options you have.
- Officially licensed Stitched Playmat for Magic: The Gathering Dominaria Remastered
- Features exclusive artwork of Sneak Attack by artist Jerry Tiritilli
- Approximately 24 in. x 13.5 in. and lies flat
- Soft fabric top protects cards during gameplay
- Non-slip rubber backing keeps the playmat from shifting during use
Buyerโs Guide
Qualities of a Good Playmat
When buying a playmat, youโll want to make sure that it, at the very least, has a fabric top and a non-slip rubber back. If the entire mat is rubber, it wonโt be as easy to move your cards around and tap them as needed.
Additionally, youโll want to check how thick the mat is. If a playmat is too thin there wonโt be much difference between playing on it and directly on the table. A playmat that is too thin wonโt give you the added ease of picking up your cards or be as much of a buffer between them and whatever might get on the table.
Playmat Sizes
The standard size for an individual playmat is 24โ x 14โ (61cm x 35cm). These are the types of mats you will see most often and are used to cover an individual playerโs section of the table. This tends to be the best size for bringing to an LGS for events since players usually prefer to use their own mats.
If you are looking for a mat thatโs good for two-players, you can also find 24โ x 24โ (61cm x 61cm) playmats that are essentially just two standard-sized mats pressed together. These mats are nice for kitchen-table players who typically just play one-on-one and donโt feel the need for multiple mats.
Alternatively, you can buy a table-sized mat that covers your entire space. For example, Ultra PROโs 6ft or 8ft maps are good options for longer folding tables and are perfect for larger game nights at home.
If youโre looking for a specific-sized playmat, there are also options for buying more custom mats. These can be good for table mats if existing sizes are too big for your table, and also just personal mats if you want to play around with the exact size of your mat. Custom-sized mats can also sometimes be made with custom art, allowing you to choose the exact type of playmat you want.
Here are just a few good options for where you can buy a custom mat:
*Ultra PROโs custom playmats have a minimum order quantity of 1000 mats. This means they are a good option for your personal brand if you are looking to crowdfund a custom playmat for your own MTG content creation or personal game, but this isnโt a good option for someone just looking to buy a single custom mat.
Do You Need a Playmat?
If youโre new to Magic, I can absolutely understand seeing yet another accessory to buy and wondering if you really need one to play the game. Is having a playmat essential for playing Magic? No. Is it nice to have? Definitely.
One of the best aspects of having a playmat is that it makes it easier to pick up your cards. This might seem like a small deal, but it can mean a lot when it comes to preserving their value. If youโre constantly fumbling at the edges of your cards when trying to pick them up, youโre creating unneeded wear and tear on the edges that hurt the cardโs value. Even if you arenโt thinking of reselling your cards at any point, the longer your cards stay nice, the longer you can play with them.
Red Flags
Before moving on to some of your best options, I want to point out a few warning signs of a low-quality playmat. One easy indication is the use of โMTGโ in the name of any product that is not officially licensed by Wizards of the Coast. While โMTGโ stands for Magic: The Gathering, the abbreviation isnโt copyrighted in any way. Any playmat company can say they are an โMTGโ playmat without being affiliated with Wizards. While a playmat doesnโt have to be officially licensed by Wizards to be high-quality, it is a red flag if a company is trying to trick you into thinking Magic in some way sanctions them.
This also applies to any mats that are using artwork that are made to look like Magic art. For example, some Amazon sellers use AI-generated art that seems intentionally styled to look like art from a Magic card. One seller, Buibuic also uses โMTGโ twice in the listing for their product, showing that they really want you to believe this product is somehow affiliated with Magic.
When reading customer reviews, youโll also want to look for the use of specific language and pictures to help determine whether a review is meaningful or not. A review that simply says โawesome product!โ but gives no details isnโt necessarily the most helpful. Reviews that go into detail about the positive and negative aspects of a playmat are more likely to have more thought put into them. Reviews that include a picture are also helpful when buying from less-established brands, so you can see what the finished product actually looks like. If youโve seen people playing with an Ultra PRO or Upper Deck mat in person before, you can safely assume you know what products from those brands will look like, but if youโre buying from a site or seller youโve never heard of, youโll want a picture of a finished product. Also make sure itโs an actual picture, not a mock-up used for advertising purposes.
Also, not necessarily a red flag about quality, but something you may want to avoid is overly inappropriate designs. Iโm not going to link to any here, but some playmats feature sexually charged designs that include nudity. I would say use your judgment when it comes to buying a playmat like that if thatโs your speed. If youโre just playing at home with a group of friends and everyone is okay with it, then thatโs fine. However, if youโre going to FNM or other Magic events where you could be running into young players, or players who have sensitivities surrounding sexually explicit material, you should stick to something a little more appropriate for the setting.
The โCadillacโ of MTG Playmats
2. Elder Protectors
If youโre looking for the fanciest playmats, and donโt care too much about price, then you may be interested in a leather playmat. As nice as rubber or neoprene mats are, they arenโt as hardy a material as leather, but you are slightly more limited in the type of designs you can get on a leather mat.
One good option for leather mats is Elder Protectors. They have a variety of designs, including some that are Magic related, and some related to other well-known properties like Lord of the Rings. They also allow you to submit custom designs, but remember these designs are being pressed into leather. Make sure youโre picking a design that would work for that format.
Elder Protectors mats cost $79 before shipping, or $89 for a custom design. Their Etsy shop has plenty of glowing reviews which include pictures of the finished product, so you can see what they look like and hear what customers have to say to see if this type of mat is right for you.
1. Original Magic Art
If youโre looking for a more standard material, but would still like a more premium playmat option, I would recommend Original Magic Art. Original Magic Art works directly with MTG artists to sell prints and playmats of their artwork. OMA partners with Ultra PRO for their Magic mats, meaning they are a reliable quality, but these mats arenโt as widely available as the normal Ultra PRO mats. That makes them a bit more unique, and also a bit more expensive.
Original Magic Art mats start at $40, with some being $50. There is also the occasional limited edition mat that costs $80. These sometimes go toward benefitting a specific cause, for example the limited-edition Alesha, Who Smiles at Death playmat gives a portion of its proceeds to the Trevor Project.
Original Magic Art also runs crowdfunding campaigns to unlock new playmat designs. Once 25 customers have pledged to buy a playmat (at a discounted price of $35), the playmat will become available to order on the site. OMA also runs Kickstarter campaigns for playmat collections dedicated to a specific artist. Currently, you can pledge late to their Magali Villeneuve Collection to reserve one or more playmats based on Villeneuveโs stunning Magic art for cards like Teysa Karlov, Chadra, Torch of Defiance, or Eriette of the Charmed Apple.
Best Quality for the Price
2. Ultra PRO
When it comes to getting the best quality playmat at a reasonable price, Ultra PRO is still the way to go. This is especially true if you just want an $11.99 solid color mat. That said, if youโre looking for some different styles of artwork, you have a few options.
1. Inked Gaming
Inked Gaming offers standard playmats starting at $24.95, which is only slightly more expensive than Ultra PRO. They also have unique art from artists, and tie-ins like Michael Whelanโs cover art for The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Inked Gaming has also partnered with Thingamajigs for artwork like this legally distinct group of squirrels fighting totally-not Nicol Bolas which might make a nice mat for the upcoming Bloomburrow set. Inked Gaming also offers fully customized mats for the same price as their normal mats, which is a good deal.
Best Budget Playmat
2. Miniature Market (Various Brands)
If youโre looking for good deals on a playmat, I would recommend checking out Miniature Market. Not only do they offer Ultra PRO playmats at a slight discount, they also have sales where you can get playmats for as little as $7. If you arenโt picky about which exact playmat you pick up, Miniature Marketโs clearance items are probably the best option, since youโre getting mats from established brands at a heavy discount.
1. Make Your Own Option
If you donโt care about art at all, you can also just buy plain neoprene. Some playmats are made out of neoprene, and if you just want the material with no artwork on it, you can get it much cheaper than something with art on it. That said, youโll have to measure and cut the playmat for yourself, and it may be a little rough on the edge if you donโt have good tools for cutting it.
- Product Features--This large piece of foam insulation sheet is a non-crosslinked closed-cell structure foam rubber.This new type of material has good sealing performance, will not deform, and can be used in the temperature range of -150โ-50โ
- Good shock absorption and cushioning --The high-density sponge foam is very suitable as a cushion or cushion. It is widely used in car carpets and garage side protection, which can protect your car well
- Non-slip and Water-tight--The unique closed cell structure of this foam rubber also has non-slip and water-tight properties. Use it in your cabin and deck, you no longer need to worry about damage caused by slips and falls
- Multi-purpose DIY material--This foam rubber board can be used for clothing, role playing and interior decoration. You can use it for great art and craft projects! Easily cut out the right size to fit your furniture and protect the floor
- Adhesive installation instructions--The back of the Craft foam insulation film will be covered with a layer of white release paper. you can easily remove the surface release paper and stick it on the surface of the product that needs to be sealed
Should I Get a Playmat?
If you play Magic consistently, you should get a playmat. It is one of the best Magic products for protecting your cards, and it gives you a nice surface to play on. Your cards will move around more easily on top of it, even if theyโre in slightly stickier sleeves, and you donโt have to worry about what might be on the table. A good-quality playmat is also going to last you for years, so it isnโt a consistent extra cost for playing the game.
Playmats can also be a good social icebreaker when playing at a local store. Theyโre a good way to show off what Magic cards you enjoy, or what other interests you have if you decide to go with custom art. This can be a good way to strike up a conversation with an opponent or Commander pod.
How To Clean Your Playmat
While playmats are pretty resistant to a lot of substances, they will still get a little dirty over time. Itโs also important to remember that, while the top of your playmat might look nice, the bottom could be picking up crumbs, dirt, or other gross substances from the top of the tables youโre playing on.
Luckily, some brands offer specific washing instructions for how to take care of your playmat. For example, here are Ultra PROโs instructions for machine washing your playmat. If you arenโt sure where to find these instructions, or the brand you bought from doesnโt offer any, there are some general rules for washing playmats. One of the most important to remember is to never machine dry your playmat. Youโll want to hang dry any mats to keep them in good condition. As for washing them, you have a few options:
By Hand
- Make sure to run your water until it is lukewarm.
- Use a small amount of a mild liquid soap with no bleach.
- Gently scrub soap into your playmat with a soft cloth or your hands, avoid overly rough sponges.
- Donโt soak your mat, just use enough water to spread across the entire surface.
- Rinse and then air dry.
Machine Wash
- Make sure your mat is machine washable by checking the packaging or the sellerโs site for any information. If you canโt determine whether your mat is machine washable, stick to washing it by hand.
- Wash on a delicate cycle with cold water, and make sure any detergent you use does not contain bleach.
- Air dry your mat.
Wrap Up
Mishra's Research Desk | Illustration by Matt Stewart
If you have been on the fence about getting a playmat, you now hopefully have the resources you need to pull the trigger on the right mat for you. Whether youโre looking for a cheap playmat just to protect your cards, or you want to show off your style with a premium mat, you now have some good options.
Personally, I still think Ultra PRO is probably your best option, whether itโs their cheap colored playmats, the official MTG tie-ins, or the slightly more expensive Original Magic Art collaborations, Ultra PRO has an option for everyone. If you want to explore other options, you can also use the buyerโs guide to explore other brands not listed here, and it will help you decide which mats look good, and which you should probably skip.
Now that youโll be set on playmats, maybe you want to check out other Magic accessories, or look into some fun decks to play with your new mat. If you head over to our blog, you will find all sorts of Magic articles to help you on your next step. You can also connect with us on the Draftsim Discord or in the comments if you have any further playmat questions!
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