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What Are The Different Sizes Of Keyboards?

Have you ever thought about how many distinct sizes of keyboards exist? You’ve probably seen folks talk about percentages while referring to their keyboard. You might be wondering what those statistics represent and what everyone is talking about.

That is the subject of this post; I will go through all of the different keyboard sizes and how many keys each one has.

First, take in mind that the “%” refers to the number of keys on each board, which varies significantly.

  • The 65 percent keyboard has 66-68 keys and is the last to feature dedicated arrow keys.
  • The 60 percent board, with 61 keys, is the most common choice for bespoke boards.
  • The 40 percent keyboard is the smallest keyboard that nevertheless operates correctly.
  • A typical keyboard contains around 100 keys; because it is full size, it is referred to as a 100% keyboard.
  • Following that is the TKL, or tenkeyless, with 87 keys.
  • The next size down is a 75% board, which has keys that are identical to the TKL but are significantly closer together.
  • Following that are customized boards known as num pads and macro pads.

Full-sized Keyboards (100 percent )

Full-sized Keyboards (100 percent )
Full-sized Keyboards (100 percent )

The normal sizes of keyboards has around 100-104 keys and is what most people see when they think of a keyboard.

A full-size keyboard has all of the necessary keys, such as a Numpad, function keys, arrow keys, and the whole home row.

This style of keyboard is appropriate for the majority of individuals. Whether you’re a gamer, typist, or coder.

There’s no reason not to use a full-size keyboard if you have a decent-sized workstation and lots of workspace. Unless you simply like a smaller keyboard or want to save a few dollars.

It seems to reason that larger keyboards will cost more than smaller keyboards, but depending on the keyboard, the converse may also be true.

Smaller keyboards are sometimes more expensive than bigger keyboards, and maintenance may be more expensive since some smaller keyboards have non-standard key sizes.

Another thing to consider is that some individuals prefer the TKL over the full-size keyboard. This is due to the fact that the Numpad makes more sense on the left, therefore some users would prefer have a separate keypad.

Tenkeyless (TKL)

Tenkeyless (TKL)
Tenkeyless (TKL)

The 10 keyless is the following sizes of keyboards. Except for one small change, these are nearly identical to conventional keyboards.

These keyboards usually feature 86 or 87 keys. They are ideal for those who have little work space yet are accustomed to using a conventional keyboard. It is quite simple to adapt to the new design.

You could also prefer this sort of keyboard if you find the keypad on the right side difficult and would prefer to have a separate keypad on the left.

Most keyboards have a TKL variation that you can buy, so finding one that you like should be easy.

75 Percent

75 Percent
75 Percent

The 75 percent model is the following sizes of keyboards. This is where you’ll see various differences in key sizes and arrangement. This is required in order to make the keyboard smaller.

This keyboard is just a smooshed variant of the TKL.

The home row, for example, is usually vertically oriented. They also have the arrow keys and the home clusters next to one other.

Not only that, but some of the key widths have been changed, for example, the right shift key is smaller than you may be accustomed to. This may appear strange at first. However, because this key is rarely used, you may not even notice it.

Another thing to keep in mind is that this style of keyboard is less popular and more difficult to find. When it comes to the 75 percent model, your options are rather restricted.

Furthermore, if you enjoy creating custom keyboards or purchasing bespoke components for your keyboard, a 75% discount makes it a bit more difficult. This is related to the fact that they are extremely rare, as are the parts.

Just a few things to consider before looking into this size keyboard.

65 Percent

65 Percent
65 Percent

The 65 percent keyboard will be the following size down. This is the smallest size that can be used before things become overly complex. At this scale, a few things happen, making it extremely intriguing.

At this stage, the whole function row of keys, as well as the home cluster, are removed. The good news is that these keyboards still include separate arrow keys, which many people require.

This type of keyboard, like the 75 percent board, is extremely unusual. However, many people like these keyboards since they are the lowest possible size without sacrificing key functioning.

You might not be able to get this tiny depending on how you use your keyboard. If you find yourself frequently using the function keys, this is not for you. You’ll be changing the keymap settings all the time, which will be inconvenient.

>> Read more: In-Depth Guide and Review Of 65 percent Keyboards

60 Percent

60 Percent
60 Percent

Now we’re down to 60% keyboards, and things start to get pretty little. These keyboards lose the same keys as the 65 percent, as well as the specialized arrow keys, to reach this level of compactness.

Some keys on 60% keyboards are also smaller than usual. This may be awkward at first and require some time to adjust to.

If you need to utilize particular keys, such as the arrow keys and the function keys, you may switch between modes, which will cause the keys to operate differently depending on the mode.

Going this tiny may be too much for others. However, many individuals like using this type of keyboard. It is a common choice for custom-built mechanical keyboards.

40 Percent

40 Percent
40 Percent

This is the last size keyboard you can get before your keyboard stops working properly. After that, you’re left with only the number pad or a macro pad. We’re talking about the 40% keyboard.

This is the most basic keyboard. There is no home row, no numbers, and pretty much everything that isn’t a letter is gone. There is no colon, semicolon, or other punctuation.

As far as I know, the 40% keyboard is not even made, or if it is, it is quite unusual. The only way to get your hands on a keyboard of this magnitude is to construct one yourself. This is due to the small number of individuals that genuinely desire this keyboard.

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