Keyboard and Mouse Wrist Rest Buying Guide: Size, Material and Correct Use (2026)

Mechanical gaming keyboards are often several centimetres tall at the front. Without a rest you bend your hands upwards or put your forearms on the hard edge of the desk. A wrist rest (more precisely, a palm rest) evens out that height. This guide covers which length fits your keyboard, which material suits what, and how to use a rest without creating new problems. Plus five models that are currently available on Amazon.de.

Transparency: We have not tested these rests ourselves. Dimensions and materials come from the manufacturers (HyperX) and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (as of October 2026). The usage tips come from ergonomics guidance by occupational safety bodies and universities (sources below). We deliberately don't list prices because they change constantly.

Palms, not wrists: how to use a rest properly

The support belongs under the heel of your palm, not the underside of your wrist. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) explains that frequent or heavy pressure on the underside of the wrist strains the tendons and has been linked to carpal tunnel syndrome and tenosynovitis. At the same time it notes that a soft rest can reduce pressure for people who would otherwise rest their wrists on a sharp desk edge.

The ergonomics guides from the University of California and UCLA also recommend:

• While typing, your hands float above the keys and your wrists stay straight.
• During pauses between keystrokes, rest your palms on the support.
• Don't plant your wrists and swivel your hands left and right to reach keys. That increases strain.
• With the mouse, move your forearm and wrist together instead of planting the wrist and waving the hand (University of Washington).

In games, your WASD hand often stays still for long stretches, which is where a rest helps most. If you type a lot (chat, work), lift your hands while writing.

A rest doesn't replace a properly adjusted setup. Chair and desk should let your forearms sit roughly level with your elbows bent at about 90 to 110 degrees (University of Washington, UCLA). See our guides to the gaming chair and gaming desk.

What matters most

1. Length that matches your keyboard

The rest should be roughly as wide as your keyboard. That's why manufacturers sell sizes for full-size, TKL (tenkeyless) and compact boards (60% / 65%). Measure the width of your keyboard before buying and compare it with the length of the rest:

A slightly shorter rest is usually fine as long as both hands fit on it in your normal position. Much longer rests reach into your mouse area.

2. Height and depth

The height should match the front edge of your keyboard. If the rest is taller than the keyboard's front, you bend your hands downwards. If it's much lower, it does little. Glorious lists 25 mm for its padded rests and 20 mm for the wooden one, HyperX lists 22 mm. Glorious notes that the foam can feel too tall at first and settles after 1 to 2 weeks.

CCOHS cites OSHA's advice that a rest should be soft and rounded and at least 3.8 cm (1.5 in) deep. All examples below are well above that at 88 to 102 mm.

3. Material: foam, gel or wood

Soft or hard is a matter of taste. Soft spreads the pressure over a larger area, wood is easier to clean and keeps its shape.

4. Non-slip base

During fast play you push the rest around. A rubber base keeps it in place. According to the manufacturer or Amazon listing, all models below have a non-slip rubber base.

5. A separate rest for the mouse?

There are small pads for the mouse hand (e.g. 200 × 100 mm). They mainly help with calm play that uses a lot of wrist movement. If you aim with your whole arm, you need free space on your mouse pad, and a rest can get in the way.

Five example rests

Example model

For 60% and 65%: HyperX Wrist Rest Compact

Compact rest with cooling gel memory foam, a non-slip natural rubber base and anti-fray stitching. Per HyperX 318 × 88 × 22 mm, about 250 g, for 60% and 65% keyboards. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Length × depth × height

318 × 88 × 22 mm

Material

gel memory foam

Base

natural rubber, non-slip

Fits

60% / 65%

Right for you if you use a compact board and want a soft, short rest.

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Example model

For TKL: Glorious Padded Keyboard Wrist Rest (TKL)

Fabric surface with a medium-firm foam core, stitched edge against fraying and a non-slip rubber base. 356 × 102 × 25 mm, for TKL keyboards. The listing says it may feel too tall at first until the foam settles after 1 to 2 weeks. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Length × depth × height

356 × 102 × 25 mm

Material

fabric, foam core

Base

rubber, non-slip

Fits

TKL

Right for you if you have a TKL keyboard and want a soft rest with a fabric surface.

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Example model

For full-size: Glorious Padded Keyboard Wrist Rest (Full Size)

Same construction as the TKL version, but 455 × 102 × 25 mm long for keyboards with a number pad. Sold and shipped by Amazon, only a few left in stock according to the page (checked October 2026).

Length × depth × height

455 × 102 × 25 mm

Material

fabric, foam core

Base

rubber, non-slip

Fits

full-size

Right for you if your keyboard has a number pad.

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Example model

Wood for TKL: Glorious Wooden Wrist Rest (TKL, Onyx)

Hard rest made of white ash with a smooth protective finish and a non-slip rubber base. 356 × 102 × 20 mm, so slightly lower than the padded version. The listing says to clean it with water only. Sold and shipped by Amazon, only a few left in stock according to the page (checked October 2026).

Length × depth × height

356 × 102 × 20 mm

Material

ash wood

Base

rubber, non-slip

Fits

TKL

Right for you if you don't want a fabric surface and prefer a hard rest that wipes clean.

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Example model

For the mouse: Glorious Padded Mouse Wrist Rest

Small pad for your mouse hand: 200 × 100 × 17 mm, fabric surface, medium-firm foam core, rubber base and stitched edge. Sold and shipped by Amazon, in stock (checked October 2026).

Length × depth × height

200 × 100 × 17 mm

Material

fabric, foam core

Base

rubber, non-slip

Fits

mouse

Right for you if you steer the mouse mostly from the wrist and want a soft place to rest during pauses.

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Comparison at a glance

Model	Size	Material	Height
HyperX Compact	60% / 65%	gel foam	22 mm
Glorious Padded TKL	TKL	foam, fabric	25 mm
Glorious Padded Full Size	full-size	foam, fabric	25 mm
Glorious Wooden TKL	TKL	ash wood	20 mm
Glorious Mouse	mouse	foam, fabric	17 mm

No keyboard yet? Start with the gaming keyboard buying guide. For the mouse itself: gaming mouse buying guide.

Checklist before you buy

1. Measure your keyboard's width: full-size, TKL or 60/65%?
2. Check the keyboard's front height and pick a rest of similar height.
3. Soft (foam, gel) or hard (wood)?
4. Non-slip base?
5. Do you need a mouse rest, or do you aim with your arm?
6. Adjust chair and desk so your forearms sit roughly level.

FAQ

Is a wrist rest good for you?

It can help if you use it correctly: rest the heel of your palm, not the wrist, and lift your hands while typing. If your hand or wrist hurts, get medical advice. A rest is not a treatment.

Should I keep my hands on the rest while gaming?

The ergonomics guides recommend the rest for pauses between keystrokes. In games your WASD hand often stays still for long stretches, and resting the heel of your palm is fine then. What matters is keeping the wrist straight.

Do I need a rest with a flat low-profile keyboard?

Often less so. The flatter the keyboard's front, the less height there is to make up. Pick a low rest or none at all.

Can I wash the Glorious rest?

For the wooden rest the listing says water only. The listings for the fabric versions don't give washing instructions, so follow the manufacturer's guidance.

Does a TKL rest fit a 75% keyboard?

That depends on your board's width. Measure it and compare with the 356 mm of the TKL rest or the 318 mm of the Compact version.

Sources

As of October 2026.

• CCOHS: Office Ergonomics – Wrist Rests
• University of California: Keyboards, Mice and Other Accessories (PDF)
• UCLA Ergonomics: Postural Guide
• University of Washington: Computer Workstation Adjustment Guidelines (PDF)
• HyperX Support: Wrist Rest Compact (60% & 65%) Specifications
• HyperX Wrist Rest Compact – product page
• Amazon.de product pages: B09SGVXKTV, B0DCPC45Z8, B0DCPGPNCF, B0DCPC6MS1, B0191YRNE6

Manufacturers occasionally change dimensions and variants. If something important changes, we'll update this article.