Mechanical Keyboard Sizes: Which One is Best for You?

Gaming Keyboard SIzes, which one is best for you?

Gaming keyboards come in a variety of different sizes. Some people might be wondering which mechanical keyboard size is the best for them. In this blog post, we will be discussing the different sizes of gaming keyboards and what each one has to offer.

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What are the different mechanical keyboard sizes?

The three most common gaming keyboard sizes are full-size, tenkeyless, and compact.

Keyboard sizes - The Full-Size Keyboard with 104 keys

The full-sized keyboard

The full-sized keyboard is the largest of the three options and includes a numeric keypad on the right side. This keyboard is best for gamers who have plenty of desk space and want all the features that a gaming keyboard has to offer. The full-sized keyboard usually has 104 keys.

Benefits:

Offer all the features of a gaming keyboard
Numeric keypad can be useful for some games

Drawbacks:

Takes up a lot of desk space
Can be more expensive due to the size

Recommended:

Gamers who have plenty of desk space
Gamers who want all the features of a gaming keyboard
For typing and data entry

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The tenkeyless keyboard

The tenkeyless keyboard is missing the numeric keypad found on full-sized keyboards. This makes the keyboard smaller and more compact. This keyboard is a good choice for gamers who want a smaller keyboard but still want all the features of a gaming keyboard. The TKL Keyboard usually has 87 keys.

Benefits:

More compact than a full-sized keyboard
Still offers all the features of a gaming keyboard

Drawbacks:

No numeric keypad

Recommended:

Gamers who want a smaller keyboard
Gamers who don’t need a numeric keypad

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The mini keyboard

The mini keyboard is the smallest of the three options. Also called compact keyboard or 60% keyboard, this keyboard only has the essential keys for gaming. This keyboard is best for gamers who have limited desk space or want a portable keyboard to take with them to LAN parties. The 60 keyboard usually has 67 keys.

Benefits:

Very small and portable
Takes up minimal desk space

Drawbacks:

Missing some keys found on full-sized and tenkeyless keyboards

Recommended:

Gamers who have limited desk space
Gamers who want a portable keyboard
Gamers who only need the essential gaming keys

The best mini keyboards for sale in our shop.

Special-Keyboard: Gaming Keypad

There is one other keyboard size that is worth mentioning and that is the gaming keypad. The gaming keypad is perfect for the likes of MMOs and MOBAs where having a lot of keys within reach can be beneficial. Gaming keypads often have programmable buttons and come with a wrist rest.

Special Keyboard Size - Gaming-Keypad-Razer

Benefits:

Perfect for MMOs and MOBAs
Often have programmable buttons
Comes with a wrist rest

Drawbacks:

Special use-case
Missing some keys found on full-sized and tenkeyless keyboards

Recommended:

Gamers who play MMOs or MOBAs
Gamers who want programmable buttons
Gamers who only need the essential gaming keys

Keyboard size chart

Now that you know the three most common gaming keyboard sizes, you might be wondering how they compare to each other. Here is a keyboard size chart to give you an idea.

Keyboard type	Keys	Size	Weight
Full-Size Keyboard	104 Keys	approx. 31.5 x 15.75 in	approx. 4.41 lbs
TKL Keyboard	87 Keys	approx. 27.56 x 15.75 in	approx. 3.31 lbs
Mini Keybaord	61 Keys	approx. 23.62 x 11.81 in	approx. 2.20 lbs

What are the main differences?

The main difference between the three keyboard sizes is their footprint. A full-sized keyboard has the largest footprint while a compact keyboard has the smallest. The other main difference is that compact keyboards often have fewer keys than full-sized or tenkeyless keyboards. Gaming keypads are similar to compact keyboards but they often have extra buttons that can be programmed for Gaming.

What other keyboard-sizes are available?

These keyboard-sizes are less common but they are available if you want an even smaller or more compact keyboard.

1800 Compact
75% Keyboard
65% Keyboard
60% Keyboard
40% Keyboard

Which keyboard size is best for you?

Now that we’ve gone over the different sizes of gaming keyboards, which one is best for you? It really depends on your needs as a gamer. If you want all the features of a gaming keyboard and have plenty of desk space, then a full-sized keyboard is the best choice for you.

If you want a smaller keyboard that is still packed with features, then a tenkeyless keyboard is the way to go. And if you have limited desk space or want a very portable keyboard, then a compact keyboard is the best option.

No matter which size you choose, make sure it is comfortable for you to use and has all the features you need.

Which keyboard size do professional gamers prefer and why?

Most professional gamer prefer the TKL keyboard because it offers the perfect balance between size, weight and function. The numeric keypad is not necessary for most games and the compact form factor allows for easy transportation to tournaments. Now let´s find out which mouse grip style is the best for you.

Conclusion

So, which mechanical keyboard size is the best for you? If you are still unsure after reading this article, try out a few different sizes and see which one feels most comfortable. Each person’s hands are unique, so what might be the perfect size for someone else may not work as well for you. Gaming keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, so find the one that makes you feel like a gaming champion!

See you next time, Happy Fragging! 🙂

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References:

https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/gaming-keyboards.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_layout