The 12 Best Keyboards for 2025
There’s no such thing as one perfect keyboard for everyone. The kind of keyboard you should get depends on what you’ll use it for, your aesthetic preference, your computer or device, and your own anatomy. Here are a few important factors to consider when choosing a keyboard:
Size: Keyboard sizes fall into four main layouts: compact (60%, 68%, 75%), tenkeyless (80%), full-size, and ergonomic. The term “compact keyboard” encompasses a range of slightly different layouts, but all of them pack the keys tightly together like a laptop keyboard does. We love them because they take up less space on a desk and allow you to position your mouse closer to your keyboard, which can reduce strain on your body. Tenkeyless (TKL) layouts lack a number pad but have all of the other keys of a full-size keyboard. And full-size keyboards include everything—all of the letters, numbers, modifiers, function keys, and arrow keys, as well as a built-in number pad.
Ergonomic keyboards come in all sizes but have a split or curve down the middle so you can hold your hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders at a more natural angle than you would on a traditional flat keyboard. You probably don’t need an ergonomic keyboard unless you already experience pain or discomfort while typing.
Wired/wireless: Wireless keyboards are more portable and versatile than wired keyboards, and they reduce clutter on a desk. If you travel with your keyboard or use it with mobile devices such as tablets or phones, a wireless keyboard is the more convenient option. But wireless models are limited by their battery life. They’re also less ideal for gaming than wired keyboards because their wireless connections can introduce input delays, and they can struggle to register simultaneous keystrokes.
Operating system and device: All keyboards work with both Windows and Mac computers, but not all of them come with specific layouts for both. Consult the Mac section below for our picks with Mac-specific layouts that omit the Windows key and include an Option key. For any of our picks that lack a Mac layout, you can always swap the key functions in macOS.
