A Guide to Choosing a Mechanical Keyboard Size

Jun 13

Mechanical keyboards come in a lot of different sizes. It can be daunting to figure out which you should get, especially if you're used to a traditional full-size (100%) keyboard where all the keys you'd ever need are just a short tap away. This is a guide on how to decide, based on your keyboard usage.

🔥 TL;DR: get a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, unless you need a numpad, in which get a traditional full-size one. You can't really go wrong with this.

But of course, there’s more to keyboards than just the safe options. So here's an opinionated flowchart for what keyboard size to pick. It covers all the main sizes, but doesn't go into non-standard elements like split boards and ergonomics.

What size mechanical keyboard should you get?

AN OPINIONATED FLOWCHART

*Have a flowchart.* *See the high-res version.*

Why a smaller keyboard?

Compact keyboards save desk space and reduce the distance your hand needs to move between your keyboard and your mouse.

What about the missing keys?

Function layers let you configure “layers” that can be toggled. It’s like holding down fn on your laptop to adjust your volume or screen brightness.

*Fn + WASD = arrow keys on a 60% keyboard*

That’s just like, your opinion, man.

Mechanical keyboards are all about preference, so you don’t have to follow these recommendations if you don’t want to. It’s fine! That’s the beauty of custom keyboards.

Here's a breakdown of the keyboard sizes offered in this flowchart with what layout they typically come in.

Full-size (100%) Keyboard

You know what this is. All the keys, in all of the width. This is the standard size and layout for many office and gaming keyboards, and is available anywhere where you might buy a keyboard.

⭕ Get a 100% keyboard if:

you want all of the keys.
you want something easy to buy keycaps for.
you want something that’s widely available to buy.
you want the biggest variety of options to choose from.

❌ Don't get a 100% keyboard if:

you don't need a numpad—go smaller!

1800 Layout Keyboard

Bonus full-size keyboard. This has the same number of keys as a standard full-size layout, but compacted a bit smaller.

***1800 Keyboard Layout*** *— the navigation cluster sits above the numpad, allowing the keys to compact closer together.*

*TKC1800 keyboard with* ePBT ABS keycaps in Dolch.

⭕ Get an 1800 layout keyboard if: you want a full-size board with a bit of flair.

❌ Don't get an 1800 layout keyboard if: you don't need the numpad—in that case, you can get a smaller keyboard.

TKL (Tenkeyless) Keyboard

AKA an 80% keyboard. This layout should look pretty familiar to you. It's like a standard full-size keyboard, but without the numpad (hence tenkeyless). It has all the keys you'll probably need, in a layout you’re already used to, making this a great place to start for your first mechanical keyboard.

Relic SSK keyboard, a modern remake of the vintage IBM SSK (‘Space Saving Keyboard’) which has a tenkeyless layout. One unique element of this custom keyboard is that the bottom row removes the Windows keys, a modifier key, and features a longer spacebar. Featuring *GMK Black Lotus keycaps*.

⭕ Get a TKL if:

you want a foolproof mechanical keyboard size.
you want something easy to buy keycaps for.
you want something that’s widely available to buy.

❌ Don't get a TKL if:

you need a numpad.

75% Keyboard

Function function function, all close together. A 75% keyboard includes arrow keys, most navigation keys, and the function row. The keys are often laid closely together with little empty space in between sections (such as separating the function row from the number row) in order to fit a compact size. This is also what many laptop keyboards look like.

*Godspeed75 keyboard* *with* *Infinikey Black on White keycaps*.

⭕ Get a 75% keyboard if:

you want something a bit smaller than a TKL.

❌ Don't get a 75% keyboard if:

this looks too claustrophobic (get a TKL!)
maybe that function row is unnecessary after all? (go a bit smaller)

65% Keyboard

Compact, but make it practical. A 65% keyboard gives you back your arrow keys and a few navigation keys. This is the sweet spot when it comes to a small size.

*Portico keyboard with GMK Rudy keycaps.*

⭕ Get a 65% keyboard if:

you want something small and practical.
if you’ve looked at a 60% keyboard and thought, “this would be perfect if it just had arrow keys.”

❌ Don't get a 65% keyboard if:

I dunno, this is a pretty sweet compromise of form and function.
(except without…the function keys 😎👉)

60% Keyboard

The classic compact keyboard size. 60% keyboards are easy to come by as pre-built boards that you can buy and use straight out of the box. Their layout is often standardized, making it easy to find keycaps that are compatible. And they're not too unfamiliar—most prominently, you're missing the arrow and navigation keys.

*Kira 60 keyboard with* *ePBT ABS keycaps in White on Black (WoB)*.

⭕ Get a 60% keyboard if:

you want to buy something readily available.
you want a small keyboard but nothing too weird—a standard 60% keyboard is easy to buy keycaps for.

❌ Don't get a 60% keyboard if:

you need those arrow, navigation, or function keys.

40% Keyboard

The iconic small keyboard size. 40% keyboards are usually the smallest a compact keyboard goes while retaining some practicality. They rely heavily on programmable function layers, and they're astonishingly small compared to a full-size board.

At this size, you lose the number row and most punctuation keys that are present on a 60% board.

40% keyboards also feature key sizes that aren’t present on more common boards. Since 40% keyboards are more niche, it can be challenging to find keycaps that will fit them, since most keycaps aren’t made with these boards in mind.

Function layers let you configure “layers” that can be toggled. It’s like holding down fn on your laptop to adjust your volume or screen brightness.

*An example 40% keyboard layout. It features a split spacebar, where one spacebar can be used as a function layer toggle.*

*MiniVan keyboard* *with* *Infinikey Pastel keycaps in Peach*.

⭕ Get a 40% keyboard if:

you want something small.
you want a travel-friendly keyboard.
you want to try out something unique and novel.

❌ Don't get a 40% keyboard if:

you don't have the time to configure and adapt to something new.
keycaps compatibility is a concern — keycaps that fit 40% keyboards are harder to come by.

This article covers standard sizes with their most common layouts, but keyboards aren’t limited to just these. Within a size classification, the layout of the keys can greatly vary. The beauty of custom keyboards is that there are a lot of unique options that suit different needs and tastes.

Some examples of custom keyboard layouts are: