What Is A TKL Keyboard? - Das Keyboard Mechanical Keyboard Blog

There are more mechanical keyboard sizes and layouts today than ever before which is why you might not have heard of a TKL (tenkeyless) keyboard before. TKL keyboards have become more popular over the past few years as people have adapted to working from home and don’t have a large workspace. The compact size of the TKL makes it a great choice without having to sacrifice the more traditional layout vs. 60% keyboard and 65% keyboard sizes that have a more mashed-up layout. This is what makes a TKL keyboard an excellent form factor for those looking for a compact, portable, and easy-to-use keyboard with little to no learning curve.

What is a TKL Keyboard?

“TKL” stands for “tenkeyless,” although this term is not to be taken literally. TKL keyboards do not have exactly 10 fewer keys than a full-sized keyboard. Tenkeyless simply means the keyboard does not have a numeric pad. As a result of the removal of the numeric pad, TKL keyboards are smaller and more portable than full-sized keyboards. TKL keyboards may also be called 80% keyboards because they typically have 87 or 88 keys total, which is roughly 80% of the number of keys on a full-sized keyboard depending on the country.

The Differences Between a 65% and a TKL Keyboard?

While a TKL keyboard is smaller than a full-sized keyboard, it’s not as compact as a 65% keyboard. For people seeking a more compact option, 65% keyboards also become a consideration, although 65% keyboards don’t have the function (F1-F12) keys at the top of the keyboard, while TKLs do. With 65% keyboards, you will have all the letters, numbers, arrow keys, and a basic navigation cluster containing keys such as page up, page down, insert, and delete.

Just because 65% keyboards don’t have dedicated function keys doesn’t mean they can’t offer additional functionality. 65% keyboards replace the utility of TKL function keys with an “Fn” key at the bottom left or right. On some 65% keyboards, by pressing and holding the Fn key and the number rows you can execute functions.

The Difference Between a 75% Keyboard and TKL

The TKL is closest in size to a