Author: Tristan Webb | 5 min read | July 26, 2026
Does Size Matter?
When it comes to keyboard size it varies depending on the desk space you have and other factors such as your personal preference, aesthetics and also what you do for work. Each keyboard does what a keyboard is supposed to do however some include more features than others.
Today we will dive into which keyboard size is beneficial and for what instance and which keyboard size might suit you best.
The Various Sizes
Full Size Keyboards: These are usually known as 100% keyboards. They include all 104-108 keys. It comes with a dedicated numpad, arrow keys, function keys and sometimes Macro keys to switch between user profiles.. However, some models mainly gaming keyboards come with dedicated media keys which simply just change the volume of your audio.
These are usually required for office work and programming, and I will have to say editing also. Having a full-size keyboard gives users ideal functionality and comfort for all environments especially if you grab one with a decent wrist rest and not a heavy key step.
These keyboards can be found in various designs depending on brand but come usually as mechanical or membrane plus also sometime wireless.
The problem with full size keyboards however is if you are travelling. These can be rather heavy and if you are taking let’s say a carryon bag. They will take up a lot of that weight in the bag. Not to mention these keyboards can be rather large and take up a lot of space. Not ideal for transport and also if you have a small desk.
75% Keyboards: The difference between a full-size keyboard and a 75% is quite major as you can see in the image above. It is an even more condensed version of what a TKL is or a ten key less keyboard is and completely removes the numpad. It keeps the function row keys, arrow keys and other extra navigation keys plus it should usually have dedicated media switches.
Now when it comes to these keyboards, they are fantastic for personal use and probably not entirely best for office work. They can be used yes but I wouldn’t go any size down after this. They are great space savers and compact where you can basically pack them anywhere without problem of space. I recommend these if you are usually a competitive gamer as you usually do not need the numpad except for MMO games or maybe even strategy games. However generally they are great if you have small space.
Now while great I mentioned above I would not highly recommend them for office usage as you are short of the numpad which can be solved yes but using the number keys however it can be quite a convenience to have the numpad especially if you are punching in numbers and putting up docs most of the day.
60% Keyboards: Here we are at the 60 percent keyboards. Ever seen a keyboard that size? They can be pretty nifty. These keyboards are becoming more apparent these days and widely used amongst gamers solely because of the amount of desk space it can free up. If you have a small desk and are in need of space well fear not because you’re going to have plenty.
While I can highly recommend these keyboards to gamers who play a lot of competitive shooters like Rainbow Six Siege or Apex Legends for example, I would not really recommend them for office usage. Yes, they are fantastic for space and are usually light weight and can be packed in a back quite well however I do not recommend you use these in office work environments.
This is really because this keyboard removes majority of keys like the numpad, function keys and even arrow keys. Now yes as you can see on the image above you can use those keys as an option, but you have to hit FN every time you want to use those keys rendering you a lot slower to actuate a key. This compared to a full-size keyboard for office work is simply not a great recommendation.
Note: I myself as a writer, editor and gamer use two different keyboards a full-size and a 60% keyboard. I use a full-sized keyboard for my writing and editing purposes and I use the 60% keyboard for my competitive gaming or casual gaming.
Summary
Okay so now you know which keyboard variations there are. Let’s sum up which keyboard type would suit you best for your needs.
Full Sized Keyboards: Use these full-sized keyboards if you are either using them for office work, coding or development in general as you will most likely need the numpad and the extra accessories it comes with. As a gamer I would still recommend these keyboards if you are into strategy games, MMO or milsim games as you will be needing that numpad for comms.
75% Keyboards: Use this if you are tight on office space or space at home as they are a good in between but do not go any lower in size than this as you will have problems in work environments. However, if you are a gamer who needs to save on space I can recommend them especially if you are into the competitive game with a casual MMO or strategy game here and there.
60% Keyboards: These keyboards will be perfect if you are a competitive player and need that large space especially for those FPS games where flicks are important and you really require that extra mouse space. Plus, they are great for if you have a small desk. Sometimes having a keyboard and mouse takes up majority of space so go for these if you are on a small desk. However, do not buy these if you are coding or working in office you will just underperform.
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