Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard Size Guide
Modern mechanical keyboards come in a range of different sizes, shapes and layouts. The most common mechanical keyboard sizes/layouts are listed below.
Mechanical Keyboard Size Comparison
Keyboard Size | Key Count | Arrow Keys | Function Row |
---|---|---|---|
Extended | 105 key+ | Yes | Yes |
Full Size | 104 key | Yes | Yes |
TKL/Tenkeyless/80% | 87 key | Yes | Yes |
75% | 78 key | Yes | Yes |
65% | 66 key | Yes | No |
60% | 61 key | No | No |
40% | 47 key | No | No |
Numpads | 21 key | No | No |
Gaming Keypads | Around 32 key | No | No |
Extended Mechanical Keyboard
Extended mechanical keyboards go beyond the standard 104-key layout for the sake of adding a cluster of marco keys for gaming or media keys.
Corsair are a well-known producer of extended layout mechanical gaming keyboards, offering both extra macro keys and media keys in the Corsair K95 Platinum RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.
See More: Extended Mechanical Keyboards
Full Size Mechanical Keyboard
Full size layout, 104-key mechanical keyboards are familiar to most users and have been around in some form or another since the mid 1990s. The 104-key variant of the IBM Model-M Buckling Spring Keyboard was first released in 1994, setting the standard for the full size mechanical keyboard layouts we see today.
See More: Full Size Mechanical Keyboards
TKL Mechanical Keyboard
Tenkeyless (TKL) mechanical keyboards are around 80% the size of full size layout keyboards due to the lack of a numeric keypad. Compact TKL mechanical keyboards are perfect for set-ups with limited space.
See More: TKL Mechanical Keyboards
75% Mechanical Keyboard
75% mechanical keyboards are similar in size to TKL mechanical keyboards, with a slightly smaller layout thanks to compact cursor and arrow keys. The Vortex Race 3 is a popular choice when it comes to 75% Mechanical Keyboards.
See More: 75% Mechanical Keyboards
65% Mechanical Keyboard
65% mechanical keyboards are small in size yet big in function. All MIYA Pro Mechanical Keyboards by Ducky and Varmilo feature a 65% layout.
See More: 65% Mechanical Keyboards
60% Mechanical Keyboard
60% mechanical keyboards have around 61 key and use secondary key shortcuts to replace ommited key clusters. The Ducky One 2 Mini is one of the best 60% mechanical keyboards and is what I am using to type this guide.
See More: 60% Mechanical Keyboards
40% Mechanical Keyboard
The 40% mechanical keyboard features around 41 key.
See More: 40% Mechanical Keyboards
Numpad
Mechanical numeric keypads feature 21 key, like the numeric key cluster on a full size layout mechanical keyboard. Mechanical numeric keypads are often used for data entry and can be paired with TKL or 60% keyboards.
See More: Mechanical Numpads
Keypad
Gaming keypads are focused around the keys mainly used for gaming on the left-hand side of a standard full size keyboard layout.
See More: Mechanical Keypads