The 9 Best 60 Percent Keyboards in 2023

When it comes to keyboards, many typists assume the bigger, the better. And while a large, ergonomic keyboard may work best for those spending hours doing office work, smaller keyboards are preferable for many other uses, like gaming or using a small workspace.

Usually mechanical keyboards, 60 percent keyboards lack a number pad, F keys, the navigation key cluster, and arrow keys (a 65 percent keyboard has alphanumeric keys, modifiers, and arrow keys). For those with limited desk space, the benefits of a small form factor may outweigh the lack of functionality. Many gamers prefer 60 percent keyboards because the smaller size allows the user greater freedom to adjust the position of their keyboard, which can reduce fatigue during long gaming sessions.

Like most gaming keyboards these days, 60 percent keyboards are often backlit with colored lights. Some models offer more lighting options than others, such as RGB lighting with the ability to choose between more than 16 million colors, as well as the ability to customize light patterns that can work in sync with games or music.

For more great keyboards, check out our picks for the gaming keyboards, and RGB keyboards.

The Best 60% Keyboards

What Is a Mechanical Keyboard?

To understand the difference between a mechanical keyboard and a regular desktop or laptop keyboard, you must first understand how each works.

A regular desktop keyboard has a rubber dome inside. When you tap on the key of a regular keyboard, it hits the rubber dome and triggers a press. The rubber leads to a mushy feel. A mechanical keyboard, on the other hand, uses switches that actuate before the point of bottoming out. Since they use a switch, mechanical keyboards offer a more precise and consistent feel when you tap on the keys. Laptop keyboards often use scissor switches, which link each keycap to a plunger that depresses the rubber dome, and don’t offer much travel (a.k.a. the space between your finger and the actual button below the key).

However, mechanical keyboards tend to be noisy. If you work in an open office or other shared space, you may want to choose a quieter, rubber-dome keyboard.

What to Consider

Most 60 percent keyboards are mechanical, so it’s a matter of choosing between the kind of switches you prefer. Your switch choice is a personal and subjective decision, but different types of switches provide different feels when you type on them.

First, consider why you want a smaller keyboard. Most keyboards intended for gaming have linear switches (sometimes called Red switches) that are easy to push. Linear switches are helpful for gaming when speed counts, but they can be too sensitive for typing documents. Cherry MX switches, engineered in Germany, are the best and among the most expensive option for mechanical keyboards. The are popular because they don’t take much force to actuate and are silent and fast.

The vast majority of 60 percent of keyboards use a wired connection, so what you gain in space with a smaller device footprint, you lose in desktop clutter. For gaming applications, wired connections are considered faster and more reliable than wireless. But some keyboards on this list, like the Newmen GM610, offer a choice of wired or wireless connectivity, so you can go cord-free.

How We Selected

I’m a technology journalist who regularly reviews keyboards and other gadgets. In addition, I am a longtime keyboard fanatic who’s always on the hunt for the latest and greatest way to get text into my computer. My work as a journalist has appeared in The New York Times, Reuters, the Los Angeles Times, and many other publications. I spent more than a dozen hours looking through user reviews and manufacturer specifications to find a variety of 60 percent keyboards that fit a range of budgets and uses.