Gaming Desk Comfort: Wrist Rests, Risers, Stands and Footrests

October 29, 2026

Sparky ergonomic half-round under-desk footrest in black

A good gaming desk isn't just about the keyboard and mouse. Long sessions are a lot more comfortable when your wrists, eyes, and feet are in a relaxed position. The good news: you don't need an expensive chair or a standing desk to make a big difference. This guide covers four simple, low-cost comfort upgrades and how to set each one up.

Start with posture basics

Before buying anything, try this quick check while sitting at your desk:

Elbows bent about 90 degrees, with forearms roughly level with the desk.
Wrists straight, not bent up or down while you type.
Top of the screen at or a little below eye level.
Feet resting flat or supported, not dangling.

Whatever doesn't line up tells you which upgrade to start with.

1. Wrist rests: keep wrists straight

Many gaming keyboards sit fairly tall, which can make you bend your wrists up to reach the keys. A wrist rest in front of the keyboard lifts your wrists so they stay straighter.

Choosing one

Keyboard rest only: memory foam feels soft and conforms to your wrist. Our Memory Foam Keyboard Wrist Rest has a non-slip base and comes in eight colors.
Keyboard and mouse together: our Memory Foam Wrist Rest Mouse Pad uses slow-rebound memory foam under a soft fabric top, has an anti-slip base and comes as a keyboard rest (about 45.5 x 8 cm), a round mouse pad, or a 2 or 3-piece set.

Setup tip: rest your palms (the heel of the hand) on it during pauses, not while actively typing hard. Wrist rests support you; they're not meant to pin your wrists in place.

2. Monitor risers: bring the screen up

If you look down at your monitor, you spend the whole session looking down. A riser lifts the screen closer to eye level and adds storage space underneath.

Our Wooden Monitor Riser comes in 30 x 20 x 8 cm or 40 x 20 x 8 cm sizes, with room underneath for a keyboard, notebook, or small desk items. Measure your monitor's stand base before choosing a size.

Running two screens? Our Dual Monitor Arm holds two 13–32" monitors (VESA 75/100) on gas spring arms, so you can set each screen's height and angle and free up the desk space under them. It clamps to the desk edge or mounts through a grommet hole.

3. Laptop stands: for laptop gamers and second screens

Gaming on a laptop puts the screen far too low. A stand raises it so the screen sits higher, then you use a separate keyboard and mouse at desk height.

Our Adjustable Aluminum Laptop Stand adjusts in height and angle and folds flat for travel. Many people also use one to hold a laptop as a second screen next to their main monitor.

4. Footrests: support from the floor up

If your feet don't rest flat on the floor, or you like to shift position during long sessions, a footrest helps. Our Ergonomic Under-Desk Footrest is a half-round shape, about 40 x 20 x 10 cm, with a soft cloth cover, so you can rest your feet or rock them gently. It's light and easy to slide out of the way.

Where to start on a small budget

Screen too low? Start with a riser or laptop stand. Screen height usually makes the biggest difference.
Wrists resting on a hard desk edge? Add a soft wrist rest.
Feet dangling or restless? Add a footrest.

Add one at a time and give each a few days before deciding what to change next.

Comfort habits that cost nothing

Take a short break every hour: stand, stretch your hands, look at something far away.
Keep your mouse close to the keyboard so your arm isn't reaching out to the side.
Use a large enough mouse pad so you're not lifting the mouse constantly. See our mouse pad size guide.