Form factor

Form factor describes how many keys a keyboard has and how they are arranged, most commonly described as full-size, tenkeyless (TKL), 75 percent, 65 percent, and 60 percent, with each step down removing a cluster of keys such as the number pad, function row, or arrow keys.

Smaller form factors free up desk space and can bring a mouse closer to the keyboard, which some people find more comfortable, but they push less-used keys onto function-key combinations instead of dedicated keys. Larger form factors keep every key accessible directly but take up more desk real estate and require more hand travel to reach a mouse.

Choosing a form factor is mostly about which keys you actually use daily. Someone who relies on a number pad for spreadsheet work will struggle on a 60 percent board, while someone who only types and browses may never miss the keys that a smaller layout removes. It is worth checking a size in person or against a desk mockup before committing, since photos alone can be misleading about how small a 60 percent board really is.