Spending hours typing away at a keyboard has become the norm for most professionals. But long typing sessions can take a toll on your hands and wrists, sometimes leading to issues like repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). One common RSI is carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects around 3-5% of U.S. adults. With these risks in mind, ergonomic keyboards have grown in popularity, promising to reduce discomfort and improve efficiency. But do they really work? And which keyboard is best for daily use or coding?
I’ve been using an ergonomic keyboard for over three years, and I’ll share my experience along with answers to these questions.
What Is an Ergonomic Keyboard?
An ergonomic keyboard is designed to make typing more comfortable by reducing strain on your hands, wrists, and shoulders. Unlike traditional keyboards, which were originally designed based on typewriters, ergonomic keyboards come in different shapes—split, curved, or angled—to promote a more natural hand position. Many users say switching to an ergonomic keyboard has reduced or even eliminated their wrist and hand pain.
Do Ergonomic Keyboards Actually Help?
When I first bought an ergonomic keyboard, I was struggling with wrist and pinky pain from excessive typing. That summer, I had spent 50-hour weeks doing hands-on work while also taking programming classes. Even after quitting that job, my pain didn’t go away. The constant strain from typing, especially pressing the backspace key and coding symbols with my right pinky, made it worse.
That’s when I switched to the ZSA Moonlander—and within a month, my wrist and pinky pain were completely gone. So yes, for me, ergonomic keyboards made a huge difference.
Also Read: How can Posture Correction Improve Overall Ergonomics?
Which Ergonomic Keyboard Is Best?
The best ergonomic keyboard depends on your needs and typing habits. Here are some of the top choices:
- Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard – A curved, split keyboard that’s great for comfort while keeping a familiar feel.
- Kinesis Advantage2 – A premium keyboard with a split layout and concave key wells for maximum comfort—best for those willing to learn a new typing style.
- ZSA Moonlander – A customizable mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable switches, programmable keys, and RGB lighting.
- Ultimate Hacking Keyboard – Features interchangeable thumb modules, allowing you to combine your keyboard and mouse.
Choosing the right keyboard depends on what features matter most to you.
Do You Type Faster on a Split Keyboard?
Once you get used to a split keyboard, many people find their typing speed stays the same or even improves. But more importantly, they can type longer without discomfort. Less strain means longer, more productive work sessions.
Also Read: What Affordable Ergonomic Products are Best for Home Use?
What’s the Best Keyboard Size?
Standard keyboards have over 100 keys (called “100% keyboards”), but many ergonomic models use fewer—sometimes as few as 40.
Programmers often prefer compact keyboards, like 60% keyboards, because they’re smaller, save desk space, and reduce hand movement. However, full-sized keyboards include the function row, arrow keys, and numpad, which can be useful for certain tasks.
Ultimately, the best keyboard size depends on your workflow. Whether you go full-sized or compact, both options can get the job done in different ways.
