Best of · Ergonomics · 5 picks
Best Ergonomic Keyboard: I Tried Every Type for 1 Year
Mechanical, low-profile, curved split and tented split keyboards, tested for a year for wrist and finger pain. The one I use most isn't the 'most ergonomic' one.
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I’ve had wrist, forearm and especially finger pain from typing for a couple of years. So I spent a year and some money testing every type of keyboard, from standard mechanical to tented split. This isn’t a review of individual keyboards so much as what each form factor did for me. Everyone’s different, so use this as a starting point.
The surprise
The keyboard and mouse go together. My split keyboard was so wide that my mouse ended up far to the right, and since I edit photos and video, I use the mouse more than the keyboard. No matter how ergonomic the keyboard was, it made my mouse posture worse.
So I went with a smaller low-profile mechanical keyboard as my daily one, and I switch to the split keyboard when I know I’ll be typing a lot. Same idea as my mice: switching between a few setups works better than picking one “perfect” one. See the ergonomic mouse guide.
Quick tips
- Get a wrist rest or a soft desk pad, especially with full-height keyboards.
- Low-profile keys need less pressure and travel, which helped my finger fatigue.
- Put a separate number pad on the left if you need one, so the main keyboard stays short.
Best ergonomic keyboard for most people
Logitech Ergo K860
Ticks almost every box ergonomists list. The curve keeps my hands neutral and it took only 1–2 days to get used to. I switch between it and normal keyboards with no trouble. Its one flaw is length: it pushes your mouse far to the right.
Best tented split (budget)
Perixx Periboard-624B Split Keyboard
A true split with about 20° of tenting, the cheapest tenting keyboard I could find. Ergonomically it was the best for me and it made me sit up straighter. But my productivity dropped and I didn't love the key feel.
What I actually use most
Macally Low-Profile Mechanical Keyboard
A compact low-profile mechanical keyboard. Short key travel and a small footprint, so my mouse sits closer. I use a mouse more than a keyboard, so that mattered more than a split layout.
Best low-profile
Apple Magic Keyboard
Some of my favorite keys. Low travel and low height, so a soft desk pad is all I need as a wrist rest. Over time, though, the flat layout strained my outer forearm.
Skip it
Logitech Wave Keys
Meant as a step toward split keyboards, but I found minimal improvement. If you're considering it, just get a full split keyboard.
Questions people ask
What is the most ergonomic keyboard type?
By expert guidelines, a split keyboard, ideally tented. For me a tented split reduced wrist and forearm pain the most, but it hurt my productivity.
Are mechanical keyboards bad for your wrists?
Full-height ones were the worst for me: more key travel and pressure, and they push your wrists into extension. A low-profile mechanical keyboard with a wrist rest fixes most of that.
Does keyboard size matter for ergonomics?
Yes, and I ignored it at first. A long keyboard pushes your mouse too far right, which ruins your mouse posture. If you use a mouse a lot, a shorter keyboard can matter more than a split one.