Keyboard sizes are written as a percentage of a full keyboard. Smaller sizes remove keys to save desk space and let your mouse sit closer to you. The trade-off is that the removed keys move onto hidden layers you reach by holding a function key. Picking a size is the biggest decision when buying a keyboard, so here is what each one gives up and gains.
Full-size (100%)
Has everything: letters, the function row across the top, arrow keys, the navigation keys, and a number pad on the right. Around 104 keys.
- Good for: anyone who types a lot of numbers, like spreadsheets or accounting.
- Downside: the number pad pushes your mouse far to the right, which is less comfortable for your shoulder over a long day.
- Examples: Corsair K70, Logitech G915, most office keyboards.
TKL (tenkeyless, about 87 keys)
A full keyboard with the number pad removed. You keep the function row, arrow keys, and navigation keys. This has been the classic gaming size for years, and most pro FPS players use one.
- Good for: people who want everything familiar but with the mouse a little closer.
- Downside: still fairly wide, and you lose the number pad. A cheap separate number pad solves that if you need one.
- Examples: Logitech G PRO X TKL, Razer Huntsman V2 TKL, Keychron Q3.
75% (about 84 keys)
Almost everything a TKL has, but squeezed together so the board is narrower. The most popular enthusiast size right now.
- Good for: the best balance of keys and desk space.
- Downside: the keys are packed tightly, so the arrows tucked near the right shift take a day to get used to.
- Examples: Keychron Q1, GMMK Pro, NuPhy Air75.
65% (about 68 keys)
Drops the function row but keeps the arrow keys and a few navigation keys. Compact while still feeling normal.
- Good for: a small board that still has arrows. Most people adjust within a week.
- Downside: the function row moves to a hidden layer, so F4 becomes Fn plus 4, for example.
- Examples: Keychron K6, Akko ACR68.
60% (about 61 keys)
Just the letters and modifier keys. No arrow keys, no function row, no navigation keys. Everything else lives on layers.
- Good for: a tiny board and the most desk space.
- Downside: a real learning curve, since you reach arrows and the function row through key combinations.
- Examples: Razer Huntsman Mini, Anne Pro 2, Ducky One 2 Mini.
40% (about 46 keys)
Letters and a few keys only. Even the numbers live on a layer. This one is a serious hobby choice, not a starting point.
- Good for: enthusiasts who want almost no hand movement.
- Downside: it takes months to retrain your muscle memory. Numbers feel awkward for a while.
- Examples: Vortex Core, Planck.
Ergonomic boards
Alice layout
The keys are split into two angled halves joined in the middle, which lets your wrists sit at a more natural angle while staying one solid board. Examples: Keychron Q8, TGR Alice.
Split keyboards
Two separate halves you can place wherever your shoulders are comfortable. The best ergonomics, with a steeper learning curve. Examples: ZSA Moonlander, Glove80.
What layers are
On a small board, the missing keys are not gone, they are on a layer. You hold a function key and press a letter to get an arrow, a function key, or a navigation key. Most modern boards let you set this up in software, so you can put any key wherever you want.
Which size to buy
| If you are | Try |
|---|---|
| Buying your first mechanical keyboard, or office work | TKL or full-size |
| A casual gamer or typist who wants something smaller | 75% or 65% |
| An FPS player who cares about mouse comfort | TKL, 65%, or 60% |
| Someone who uses lots of keys (MMO, RPG) | Full-size or 75% |
| Doing heavy number entry | Full-size, or a TKL with a separate number pad |
| Curious about the hobby | 75%, where most enthusiast boards live |
| Dealing with wrist pain | An Alice, split, or low-profile board |
More keyboards guides
- Mechanical keyboard switches, from scratchLinear vs tactile vs clicky, what spring weight means, what lubing does, and how to pick your first switch.
- Keycap materials and profilesABS vs PBT plastic, how the letters are made so they do not rub off, and how cap shape changes the feel.
- Stabilizers and how a keyboard gets that deep soundWhy the big keys rattle, how the board is put together, and the simple tweaks that turn a hollow keyboard into a deep one.