Best TKL (Tenkeyless) Mechanical Keyboards (2026)
Updated How we research
Cherry MX 8.2 TKL Wireless, Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz & Wired Mode, incl. Metal Case for Safe Transport, MX RED Switches, Black
CHERRY MX 8.2 TKL Wireless is a tenkeyless board with an aluminum housing, MX Red switches and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired modes. It comes with a metal carrying case, aimed at a premium TKL pick.
Keychron K8 80% Layout Bluetooth Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, Tenkeyless 87 Keys/USB C/White Backlit/Gateron G Pro Red Switch/N-Key Rollover, TKL Gaming Keyboard for Mac Windows
Keychron K8 is a wireless 87-key tenkeyless keyboard with Gateron G Pro Red switches, white backlight and Bluetooth for up to 3 devices. Works on Mac and Windows with a 4000 mAh battery.
A tenkeyless, or TKL, keyboard removes the number pad while keeping the function row, arrow keys, and navigation cluster intact. That trim saves desk space and pulls your mouse closer to center, which many people find more comfortable over long sessions. When comparing TKL boards, weigh switch options, hot-swap support, case material, and connectivity. Check the stabilizers on the longer keys like Shift and Space, since good stabilizers reduce rattle and make typing feel more solid and consistent. TKL boards suit gamers who want more room for wide mouse sweeps, along with typists who rarely use a numpad but still rely on dedicated arrow and navigation keys. They strike a middle ground between the full-size grid and the tighter compact layouts, so you keep familiar key placement without the extra width. If you enter numeric data often, a full-size board or a separate macropad may fit better, but for most desk setups a TKL is the balanced, practical choice.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.6 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:Cherry MX 8.2 TKL Wireless, Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz & Wired Mode, incl. Metal Case for Safe Transport, MX RED Switches, Black. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:Keychron K8 80% Layout Bluetooth Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, Tenkeyless 87 Keys/USB C/White Backlit/Gateron G Pro Red Switch/N-Key Rollover, TKL Gaming Keyboard for Mac Windows. Value score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Solid build:Redragon K552P Mechanical Gaming Keyboard TKL with 18 Backlight Modes, Hot-Swappable Red Switches, 87-Key Compact Ergonomic Design, N-Key Rollover & Software Programmable Macro - RGB, Black. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.0/10.
- Feature-rich:AULA F87 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, TKL Gaming Keyboard 75%, 87 Keys. Features score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Cherry MX 8.2 TKL Wireless, Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz & Wired Mode, incl. Metal Case for Safe Transport, MX RED Switches, Black8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Keychron K8 80% Layout Bluetooth Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, Tenkeyless 87 Keys/USB C/White Backlit/Gateron G Pro Red Switch/N-Key Rollover, TKL Gaming Keyboard for Mac Windows8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Redragon K552P Mechanical Gaming Keyboard TKL with 18 Backlight Modes, Hot-Swappable Red Switches, 87-Key Compact Ergonomic Design, N-Key Rollover & Software Programmable Macro - RGB, Black8.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.G.SKILL USB KM360 Professional Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard, Cherry MX Red, ABS Dual Injection Keycap, (White)7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.AULA F87 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, TKL Gaming Keyboard 75%, 87 Keys7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Keychron C1 87 Key TKL Wired Mechanical Keyboard for Mac Windows, 80% Layout Gateron Brown Switch White LED Backlit Double-Shot ABS Keycaps, USB-C Gaming Keyboard for Gamer/Typists/Office7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.DROP CTRL Mechanical Keyboard Tenkeyless TKL 87 Key Hot-Swap (Barebones, Black)7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1CHERRY MX 8.2 TKL Wireless is a tenkeyless board with an aluminum housing, MX Red switches and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired modes. It comes with a metal carrying case, aimed at a premium TKL pick.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 6/10
- + Triple-mode connectivity with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz RF or cable, and charging while you play.
- + CHERRY MX Red linear switches rated for more than 100 million actuations per key.
- + Aluminum housing, 16 million color RGB and a metal case for transport are included.
- - Priced well above most TKL boards in this guide, and the switch type is linear Red only.
- - The listing shows several variants with very different prices, so check the exact version in the cart.
#2Keychron K8 is a wireless 87-key tenkeyless keyboard with Gateron G Pro Red switches, white backlight and Bluetooth for up to 3 devices. Works on Mac and Windows with a 4000 mAh battery.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Bluetooth 5.1 for up to 3 devices, plus wired USB-C, with a listed battery life of up to 200 hours with backlight off.
- + 87-key layout keeps the arrow keys and navigation cluster, with extra keycaps for Mac and Windows.
- + Gateron G Pro Red linear switches rated for 50 million keystrokes.
- - White backlight only, so there is no RGB lighting on this version.
- - Wireless mode is 6KRO, with full N-key rollover only when wired.
#3Redragon K552P is a compact 87-key TKL gaming keyboard with a metal frame, hot-swappable sockets and 18 RGB modes. A low-cost hot-swap TKL for people who want to try different switches.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Hot-swappable sockets let you change switches without soldering.
- + Metal frame, spill-resistant design and double-shot PBT keycaps that resist fading.
- + 18 backlight modes, N-key rollover and macro programming through Redragon software.
- - The listing mentions both red and blue switches, so check which version you are ordering.
- - Gaming styling and software are aimed at gamers, and it is wired only.
#4G.SKILL KM360 is a tenkeyless keyboard with Cherry MX Red switches, ABS double-injection keycaps, an aluminum top plate and a detachable USB-C cable. A genuine Cherry switch option at a mid-range price.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cherry MX Red switches rated for over 50 million keypresses, mounted on an aluminum top plate.
- + Detachable USB Type-C cable and a tenkeyless layout that is easy to pack.
- + ABS dual-injection keycaps with white LED backlight and N-key rollover.
- - White backlight only, so there is no RGB, and the switches are linear Reds rather than a tactile Brown.
- - Wired only with no wireless mode, so it suits a fixed desk setup better than travel.
#5AULA F87 is a wireless 87-key TKL keyboard with tri-mode connection, hot-swappable sockets and pre-lubed LEOBOG Graywood V3 switches. A budget-friendly wireless board for a creamy sound.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Tri-mode connection with Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz and Type-C, connecting up to 3 devices.
- + Hot-swappable for 3-pin and 5-pin switches, with pre-lubricated LEOBOG Graywood V3 switches fitted.
- + PBT keycaps, five layer construction and 15 RGB effects with side light bands.
- - The listing calls it a 75% keyboard in one place and TKL in another, so check the layout photos before buying.
- - No aluminum body is mentioned, so it is less premium than the aluminum board it replaces.
#6Keychron C1 is a wired 87-key tenkeyless keyboard with Gateron G Pro Brown switches, white LED backlight and double-shot ABS keycaps. A simple USB-C board for home and office typing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Gateron G Pro Brown tactile switches rated for 50 million keystrokes, a quiet bump for office use.
- + Detachable USB-C cable and an inclined frame, with extra keycaps for Mac and Windows.
- + Double-shot ABS keycaps let the white backlight shine through the legends.
- - Wired only, so the Bluetooth of the original Keychron K8 pick is not carried over.
- - White backlight only, with no RGB effects.
#7Drop's CTRL barebones is a black 87-key tenkeyless hot-swap chassis, meant for builders who already own switches and keycaps.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Barebones format avoids paying for stock switches you plan to replace anyway
- + Hot-swap sockets make it quick to assemble and change switches later
- + Tenkeyless frame gives a full navigation cluster in a narrower footprint
- - Not usable out of the box, since switches and keycaps are sold separately
- - Wired only, so it lacks the Bluetooth convenience of many newer boards
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Priced well above most TKL boards in this guide, and the switch type is linear Red only. (Cherry MX 8.2 TKL Wireless, Tenkeyless...)
- White backlight only, so there is no RGB lighting on this version. (Keychron K8 80% Layout Bluetooth Wireless...)
- The listing mentions both red and blue switches, so check which version you are ordering. (Redragon K552P Mechanical Gaming Keyboard TKL...)
- White backlight only, so there is no RGB, and the switches are linear Reds rather than a tactile Brown. (G.SKILL USB KM360 Professional Tenkeyless...)
- The listing calls it a 75% keyboard in one place and TKL in another, so check the layout photos before buying. (AULA F87 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, TKL...)
- Wired only, so the Bluetooth of the original Keychron K8 pick is not carried over. (Keychron C1 87 Key TKL Wired Mechanical...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among tkl (tenkeyless) mechanical keyboards (2026)?
Cherry MX 8.2 TKL Wireless, Tenkeyless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz & Wired Mode, incl. Metal Case for Safe Transport, MX RED Switches, Black is our top overall pick. CHERRY MX 8.2 TKL Wireless is a tenkeyless board with an aluminum housing, MX Red switches and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz and wired modes. It comes with a metal carrying case, aimed at a premium TKL pick. It earns our score of 8.4/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Keychron K8 80% Layout Bluetooth Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, Tenkeyless 87 Keys/USB C/White Backlit/Gateron G Pro Red Switch/N-Key Rollover, TKL Gaming Keyboard for Mac Windows is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Keychron K8 is a wireless 87-key tenkeyless keyboard with Gateron G Pro Red switches, white backlight and Bluetooth for up to 3 devices. Works on Mac and Windows with a 4000 mAh battery.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
MechKeeb Lab independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
More questions readers ask
What is a tenkeyless keyboard?
A tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard is a full keyboard without the number pad, usually 87 keys. It gives more room for the mouse while keeping function and navigation keys.
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