Separate mats are better for wrist alignment.

Yes, if you’re serious about ergonomics, don’t go with one big desk pad.

The problem with a single large pad is that it forces your keyboard and mouse to sit at the same height and angle. That’s fine for a flat surface, but your wrists need different support depending on what you’re doing. Typing usually wants a slight negative tilt (keyboard tilted away from you) to keep wrists straight. Mousing is often more comfortable with a padded wrist rest or a slightly different height.

Separate mousepad and keyboard mat let you adjust each independently. Get a slim keyboard mat with a built-in palm rest (or none) and a mousepad with a gel or foam wrist rest that matches your grip. You can even swap the mousepad for a different thickness later without replacing everything.

A large desk pad looks cleaner and costs less, but it’s a compromise. If you already have wrist pain or want to avoid it, spend the extra time and maybe a few bucks on the two-piece setup.

Don’t