So every keeb enthusiast and their moms swear by 65% layouts but as a newcomer to the wonderful world of mechs I simply don't get it.

What office use cases are there for these layouts? If you use one at the office, i'd love to hear!

Im just curious. Why are you using a 65% keyboard?

Or its the other way around and new popular releases 65% so you buy those? (qk65 for example). Is it just a trend? Cheaper to make?

I just scrolled through this subreddit checking pics and 9 out of the first 10 keyboard had a 65% layout.

I got my pc a month ago, and I've been using my brothers crappy blackstorm 75% keyboard. Im thinking of buying the AL66 but since there are no f keys how do i replace them, and what other shortcuts / binds do I need to know before i switch?

Thanks

I know, "better" is subjective. But if you can get the BEST keyboard out of the two layouts, which one would you go with?

I've never understood why there are still plenty of people who ask for 65% keyboards when 75% is only slightly bigger in width while it offers WAY more keys on the top and two keys on the side (or one key + knob). I'm really asking out of curiosity.

So my first mech keeb being on its way (the kbd67 lite r2), I was wondering if any of you have any tips or suggestions or perhaps some tidbits to share from your experience when mapping keys in general for any keyboard in the 65% category.

I plan to use F keys (F1, F2, etc.). Being someone who codes, I also plan to use the ~ and the `. I also use the "Del" key. With that in mind, I'm curious as to how you guys approach mapping keys to new layers when it comes to keys that don't fit on your main layer.

Do you have it so you hold down the FN toggler or just tap once to switch layers, then do you thing, then tap again to go back to main switch. Etc.

Thanks :)

Hey guys, u/koduh here! I am attempting to compile all the available information on 65% keyboards in one place! Though, I need your help, please suggest edits/changes where you see fit.

BIG UPDATE 2017-10-12: I have created a cleaner (& updated) version of this list on KeyboardCatalog.com

My History

My introduction to mechanical keyboards started in the Summer of 2014, my first keyboard was a Ducky Zero with Cherry MX Browns. Once I received that board I was hooked.

On my quest to find the perfect layout I stumbled upon this photo and fell in love. It was a custom made by Apollos (u/22kbd). I set out on a quest to find all the information I could on this elusive layout.

Here I am nearly a year later; I hand wired my first 65%, a Neutrino, jumped on the WhiteFox drop, worked out how to make Nantucket Selectric look good on a 65%, and pre-ordered the recently released Clueboard PCB v2.

My 65% obsession will continue, and my collection won't be complete for a while. This is the journey I have chosen.

  Imgur album for the pretty pictures.  

65% Keyboards

What are they and where do I get one?

65% Keyboards are mini layout keyboards with arrow keys. They typically have 66-68 keys in total.

60% Keyboards + Arrow Keys

These keyboards fit into the traditional 60% cases and have a slightly smaller footprint at the expense of less standard layouts.

Edits:

• Moved KBTalking PurePro to the 60% w/ Arrow Keys section.

I have been contemplating on getting a 65% mechanical keyboard but what's stopping is the lack of ~ and ` key. So how do you type these characters on a 65% or lower keyboard?

I know I should be posting this on the daily sticky post but I want to see more than one person give their opinions on the matters so, sorry to all the moderator.

With that being said, certain profile can make those key (I listed on the title) feel uneven to the rest of that row and it’s not good looking. What should you look for when buying a keycap so that those key lined up perfectly with each other?

Hello all, How are you all doing? When it comes to keyboard size I am fan of 60% mechanical keyboards. What is your preferred size/why? Ducky Mini 3 is my daily driver & use it for gaming.

my budget is $65

Hello guys, I'm looking for basically what the title says. Thanks in advance!

Before I dive in, here is a full album of layouts that I'm going to be talking about (though I'll also link the individual layouts specifically as I talk about them.

The keyboard community tends to refer to a lot of layouts by name, which is often in the form of a percentage (roughly based on the number of keys with 100% being a fullsize 104-key board), the some layouts have non-percentage names either instead of, or in addition to, a percentage.

First off we have some standard layouts that are pretty well agreed upon: the fullsize, the tenkeyless, the (not very common) compact 1800 layout also sometimes called a 980 layout, the 96-key layout (which would be roughly a 90% layout, though I've never heard it called that), 75%, 65% (sometimes called a 68-key layout), 60%, and 40%.

Then we have some variants on those layouts...

I think most people would agree that a Happy Hacking Keyboard is still a 60% keyboard even though it is a key short. I also don't think many would argue that a 60% with arrow keys is still a 60% despite having a few extra keys.

65% layouts get a little weird because there are three fairly unique layouts that get grouped together here. I like to break them down into compact 65%, extended 65%, and 66%. I think usually when people say "65%" they are talking about the "compact" 65% layout, but I've also heard it used really broadly to describe basically anything that is roughly the size of a 60% but with dedicated arrow keys. Skully calls the clueboard a "66%" even though it has fewer keys than a 65% but it at least differentiates them.

Things get even weirder in the <60% space. I doubt anyone would disagree that the JD40 is a 40% keyboard but what about the JD45? I tend to call that one a 45% board because it has ~4 extra keys but I hear it getting lumped into the 40% category a lot. Then there is the Minivan, which those watching closely will note is actually about 1/4u narrower than the JD45. Does that make a difference? Is it a different layout? Then there is the Planck which takes up the same amount of space as a JD40, but actually has significantly more keys. Based on key-count the planck would be something closer to a 50%... Is area what matters instead of raw key count? What about this weird extended minivan thing I mocked up (side note Evan pls make this happen). By key count this should be ~a 50%, but if the Planck is still a 40% then maybe this can be, too?

Finally we have this abomination that I doubt anyone would hesitate to call a 75% (if a particularly bizarre one). But then there is the Red scarf II Ver. B which to me is a really weird 75% layout, but others seem to think is a 65% + Fkeys.

Overall I think a percentage system falls apart really quickly and isn't a very good way of clasifying layouts. I'm not really sure what a better system would be but maybe by getting a conversation going about the failings of the current system we can come together to build a better one.

What's your journey like from first getting into mechanical keyboards to now, assuming you prefer a smaller layout and worked your way down from a full size board?

I was the 1% who insisted on keeping a numpad, then realized I could do without and have one external on standby and go TKL. I then thought TKL looked ugly and 75% was so nice and flush, didn't know what I was thinking going TKL. Went 75% and at the same time picked up a 65% for my laptop. Insisted on keeping the f keys for my main boards and as I'm planning my "endgame" builds via 75% I am now seeing how easy it is to just hold Fn + number to get my f keys. I don't use arrow keys anymore as I don't play Doom on Windows 95. 75% boards tend to be flush at the corners but 60% is truly the no BS symmetrical build in my opinion, unless I'm missing something and go running back to my 75%. I never thought I'd go for this small of a build, always figured they were trendy and not practical.

I went from Razer Blackwidow Ultimate to Keychron K8 Pro, K6, Akko 5075B, Leobog hi75, Rainy75, Bridge75, now ordering a Neo60 cu or core and might grab neo75 as well. Then, I'm done, I promise. Will probably donate my initial materials towards family and friends to introduce them to mechanical. Maybe I'll find salvation in split ergo style, who knows, I currently think they are niche but nothing is completely off the table anymore. Maybe I'll go back to some random membrane for snappiness, or torpe, or buckling if Unicomp brings back PICO. Maybe I have a problem. Maybe I should stop worrying so much about office tools and worry more about my work ☺️