Big desk mat vs small mousepad: Desk mat quiets keyboard more, but won't make it silent

A small mousepad only covers the mouse area, so your keyboard still clacks on the bare desk. A full desk mat adds a layer of felt or foam underneath the keyboard, absorbing vibration and reducing high-frequency noise and reverb. The mouse click sound barely changes. A thick mat helps more than a thin one, but for true silence, you’d need quieter switches or o-rings.