A desk mat is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to a workspace. It protects the desk, gives your keyboard and mouse a consistent surface, and pulls a setup together visually. The biggest decision is the material. Here's how felt and vegan leather compare, based on how we design and use our own mats.
The short answer
Choose felt if you want a soft, warm surface that's comfortable under your wrists and works well with a mouse. Choose vegan leather if you want a wipe-clean surface and a classic, aged-leather look. Both of our ranges have a full non-slip rubber base, come in the same three sizes and are 100% vegan.
Comparison at a glance
| Felt | Vegan leather | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Soft, warm, non-itchy | Warm, soft, smooth |
| Mouse use | Smooth, consistent surface | Smooth surface |
| Spills | Blot quickly; felt absorbs liquid | Wipes clean |
| Look | Minimal, modern | Distressed, aged leather |
| Colours | Dark, medium and light grey | Black/grey, tan brown |
| Base | Full-coverage natural rubber | Full-width non-slip rubber |
| Sizes | 30 x 70, 30 x 90, 40 x 90cm | 30 x 70, 30 x 90, 40 x 90cm |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes |
Comfort and feel
Felt is the softer of the two. Our felt mats use a 3mm vegan-friendly felt top that's non-itchy, even for sensitive skin, and the natural rubber base underneath adds a little cushioning. If you rest your wrists or forearms on the desk for long periods, felt is the more comfortable option.
Vegan leather has a smoother, firmer feel. It's still warm to the touch, and many people like the slightly more structured surface for writing and for a tidy, professional look.
Using a mouse
Both materials work with a mouse. Felt gives a smooth, consistent glide across the whole mat, which is why felt mats are popular for gaming setups as well as work. Vegan leather is smooth too, and is a good choice if you mainly type and use your mouse casually.
Spills, cleaning and everyday wear
This is where the two differ most. Vegan leather wipes clean with a damp cloth, so it's the practical choice if you drink coffee at your desk or share it with children. Felt is more absorbent: blot spills straight away and spot clean with cold water. Our cleaning guide covers both materials step by step.
Style
Felt gives a minimal, modern look and suits clean, Scandinavian-style and gaming setups. Our felt comes in three greys: dark grey hides everyday marks well, medium grey is the most versatile, and light grey brightens white and light wood desks.
Vegan leather brings more character. Our distressed, aged-effect finish looks like worn leather and suits traditional and home-office setups, especially on natural wood. Tan brown adds warmth; black/grey is more understated.
What matters regardless of material
Whatever you choose, check two things before you buy:
- The base. Many mats use rubber strips or corner pads, which let the edges lift and the mat shift. All Wolvende mats have a rubber base across the entire underside.
- Whether it stays flat. Cheap mats often curl at the edges or crease and never fully flatten. Our felt mats have a non-curl, anti-crease construction, built to lie flat and stay flat.
Choosing a size
Both ranges come in Small (30 x 70cm), Medium (30 x 90cm) and Large (40 x 90cm). Our desk mat size guide explains which fits your desk.