Best of · Keyboards
Best 60 percent keyboards in 2026
No arrows, no function row, no numpad — 60% boards trade keys for desk space and demand you remap. What to buy, and who should not.
Our pick: A 60% Hall-effect board for gaming, a QMK-capable 60% for typing and remapping
Wooting
60HE
8.8≈$175-$200
The competitive 60%: magnetic switches, rapid trigger, and a shape the esports scene standardised on.
Pros
- • Adjustable actuation and rapid trigger in a very small body
- • Lowest measured input latency in its class
- • Leaves maximum desk space for mouse movement
Cons
- • No arrows or function row without layers
- • Expensive, and the analogue features need configuring
Razer
Huntsman V3 Pro Mini (65% class)
8.5≈$180-$200
The mainstream compact Hall-effect option — technically 65%, which keeps the arrow keys.
Pros
- • Hall-effect switches with rapid trigger
- • Arrow keys retained, unlike a true 60%
- • Familiar software for configuring layers
Cons
- • ABS keycaps on stock configurations
- • Slightly wider than a pure 60%
Various
QMK/VIA-capable 60% boards
8.6≈$90-$180
The remapper's choice: every key becomes whatever you want, with layers doing the work of the missing keys.
Pros
- • Full remapping through VIA without vendor software
- • Hot-swap switches and multiple layout options
- • Usually cheaper than the Hall-effect gaming boards
Cons
- • Requires you to build your own layer scheme
- • Learning curve if you have never used layers
A 60% keyboard is the most opinionated layout you can buy. It removes the arrows, the function row, and the numpad, and asks you to reach the missing keys through layers. In exchange it takes up barely more desk space than a sheet of paper, which for a low-sensitivity player is a real competitive consideration.
| Layout | What you keep | What you lose |
|---|---|---|
| 60% | Main cluster only | Arrows, function row, numpad |
| 65% | Main cluster plus arrows | Function row, numpad |
| 75% | Arrows and function keys | Numpad |
| TKL | Everything but the numpad | Numpad only |
The case for 60%
Desk space, mostly — and for gamers, that means the mouse can sit closer to the typing hand, which shortens the distance your left arm travels between the board and the mouse. The second case is remapping: once every key is assignable through VIA, the layout stops being fixed and becomes yours. Boards with QMK or VIA support make this practical rather than theoretical.
The honest warning
Give it a week. The first two days with a 60% board are genuinely irritating — you reach for arrows that are not there and hit the wrong key for the function layer. Most people adapt. Some do not, and then the board sits in a drawer. If your work involves spreadsheets or heavy text editing, 65% or 75% is the lower-risk choice with almost all the footprint benefit.
A 60% keyboard is a bet that you will remap it. Most people who place that bet win.
Device Radar
The verdict
Buy a 60% Hall-effect board if you play competitively and want every millimetre of desk space, or a QMK-capable 60% if you would rather remap than pay for analogue switches. If you are unsure about losing the arrow keys, move up to 65% — the footprint difference is small and the adjustment is easier.
Questions we get
What is a 60 percent keyboard?
A keyboard with roughly 60 percent of the keys of a full-size board: the main typing cluster only, with no arrow keys, no function row, and no numpad. The missing keys are reached through a function layer, which the keyboard's firmware handles. The payoff is a very small footprint that leaves room for mouse movement.
Are 60 percent keyboards good for gaming?
Yes, and they are popular in competitive scenes for a practical reason: the smaller body lets you place the mouse closer to your typing hand, and there is no numpad to reach across. Recent 60% Hall-effect boards combine that with adjustable actuation and rapid trigger, which is why they appear so often in esports setups.
Is 60 percent or 65 percent better?
65% keeps the arrow keys, which many people miss on a 60% board. If you use arrows constantly for spreadsheets, editing, or gaming, 65% or 75% is the safer choice. If you remap everything and want the smallest possible footprint, 60% is worth the adjustment, but give yourself a week before deciding it was a mistake.
Can I get arrow keys on a 60 percent keyboard?
Yes, through a function layer — typically holding a modifier turns a cluster of keys into arrows. It works well once learned, and many users end up preferring it because the hands never leave the home row. It requires firmware support, which is why boards with QMK or VIA are the better choice for a 60%.