The best ergonomic keyboards of 2024

Far from just incorporating another health-and-safety buzzword, the best ergonomic keyboard is the one that actually delivers on its promises. But it's slightly more than just being comfortable to use – some of the best keyboards this side of £300 might initially be comfy, but end up being not very ergonomic. So, just what is an ergonomic keyboard?

Put simply, the best ergonomic keyboard is designed to fit around your physical needs – not the other way around. By aligning the keys (or even the whole board) a certain way, it puts it more in line with what your body naturally positions itself as, therefore reducing strain. You'll have no doubt noticed after prolonged sessions in front of a computer, your wrist starts to hurt, the tendons in the back of your hand start to feel strained and before you know it, you're fighting bad ergonomics just to write coherently. But that's all about to change.

Best ergonomic keyboard of 2024 at a glance:

• Best overall: Logitech Wave – View at Amazon
• Best budget: Arteck Universal Wave Keyboard – View at Amazon
• Best build: Keychron Q8 Alice – View at Amazon
• Best split-layout: KINESIS Freestyle2 – View at Amazon

As with all things ergonomic, the key is to identify your needs first. You may be a light keyboard user who is looking for basic built-in wrist or palm support. Maybe you work from home and the long hours crunched in front of your laptop from the kitchen counter made your arms feel like lead. If you're a busy writer or programmer, you may want a split-layout to touch-type on for hours on end. Someone who's used to using one of the best gaming keyboards may well want to upgrade to a customisable model with mechanical keys that are well-spaced for accuracy and comfort. Whatever camp you're in, the main goal of every ergonomic keyboard is to be comfortable, easy to use and as free from strain or fatigue as possible.

We've put together a guide at the end of the article to help you discover the right type of ergonomic keyboard to suit you. And, of course, our experts have trawled the ocean of keyboards out there, avoided shoals of uncomfortable pretenders, and reeled in the best ergonomic keyboard models for you. Let's dive in.

The best ergonomic keyboards of 2024:

All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

Best ergonomic keyboard of 2024: Buyer's guide

When considering ergonomics, the benefits of the best wireless keyboards are also often overlooked. Remember, the fact that a keyboard is wireless can simplify your desktop is an ergonomic plus. By choosing wireless, you can also increase the distance between your keyboard (and mouse) and your PC - which could make for a more comfortable seating and typing position.

Ergonomic keyboard designs

But, back to keyboard comfort. Some of the most common basic types of ergonomic keyboards can be summarised by their most prominent design feature. Here's a quick guide:

Alice layout

The closest cousin of the ergonomic keyboard, whilst still being a somewhat standard keyboard. This is a specific key layout designed to reduce the reach of your fingers, and promoting a more efficient hand placement. This layout is common among people who write fast, as it reduces strain while not being too big of a departure from what they're used to.

Split keyboards
You'll also notice that some of these keyboards are literally in two pieces. That means that you have more control over the placement of each hand. Others have a split layout, but reside in one single (sometimes curved) unit: a Fixed Split keyboard. They are, however, difficult to use for non-touch typists and there's a learning curve before you'll get up to speed. However, fans of this type of keyboard all say that once they've adjusted to them, they'll never go back.

Contoured keyboards
Although many contoured keyboards share the unusual half-and-half arrangement of single-unit split keyboards, the difference here is that the keyboard has a contoured profile - a raised middle section to facilitate a more natural hand placement. This angle is often called 'tenting'.

Wave keyboards
Usually found on both contoured and non-contoured keyboards, the wave is the gently curved layout of the keys from right to left. Rather than split, these flow in a way that still creates ergonomic angles for your wrists and hands.

Vertical column layout keyboards
These are less well-known, and often listed alongside more avant-garde alternative keyboard concepts. The main feature of the vertical column layout is just that. The theory is that having the keys aligned in columns is more intuitive and a better fit for some, as opposed to the horizontally staggered standard key layout.

How to pick the best ergonomic keyboard

There is no hard and fast rule for this, as there’s no substitute for actually trying them out for yourself. But, let's look at narrowing down the features that will suit various kinds of users:

Writers

Many typists tend to gravitate towards split keyboards as this type really relies on being a proficient touch-typist. Also, key spacing and size (and, occasionally, lack of tactile marks) can be an issue, so do your research. The main thing here is to look after your wrist and palm comfort. If your chosen keyboard doesn't come with them, look for the best keyboard wrist rests to keep RSI at bay.

Casual users

Unfortunately for some - whether they’re light gamers or just occasional internet browsers - pain and discomfort can kick in in mere minutes. Although ergonomics is all about increased comfort and reducing strain, you don't have to be a heavy user for hours a day to suffer from RSI and the like. All of the various designs of ergonomic keyboards are of potential benefit to the casual user. The final choice is down to you and what you find most comfortable.

Gamers

A gamer is one of the most intense keyboard users out there. The control schemes vary from game to game too, so it's important to look at the keyboard layout.

If you know you prefer to use a numpad over ASDF and so on, a tenkeyless model won't be the best ergonomic choice for you. But, aside from having programmable RGB lighting and other functional customisations, gaming keyboards often use mechanical keys as they have shorter travel to activate. They're also very accurate. All of these features can work to decrease hand and wrist strain.

Designers

Creatives have a combination of needs from the categories above. They're heavy keyboard users with an eye for aesthetics and comfort. They're probably the one group here who naturally gravitate towards the most exciting and radical ergonomic keyboards available based on design alone. And that's a cautionary tale - just because a keyboard looks like it's been borrowed from an episode of Star Trek or The Expanse doesn't mean it's going to be comfortable or intuitive in the long run. So, keep your ergonomic needs simple and go with a popular design that lots of users recommend.

FAQs: your questions answered

Are ergonomic keyboards worth it?

Some of the best ergonomic desk setups will feature keyboards like those listed above. This is purely because anyone who takes their posture and health seriously will probably have learnt the hard way. If you've had twinges of pain or discomfort already, a change of keyboard could prevent more persistent conditions from developing. How much worth you put on this is down to you. Many lucky users just never need to consider one - but for the rest of us, there's no better option.

What's the best ergonomic keyboard for carpal tunnel?

If you suffer from any medical condition caused by repetitive strain or posture, you should consult a doctor for professional recommendations on treatment and prevention. But, if you've already gone down that path, or are familiar with your condition, you may already have an idea of which style of ergonomic keyboard is best for you. We've selected what we think are the best products to suit a wide range of users and needs. So – if you can – try before you buy to ensure the right fit for you.

Where should your keyboard be on your desk?

There's not much point in buying the best ergonomic keyboard and placing it so that it's strain to use it. As a rule of thumb, place your keyboard directly in front of your normal seating position. Your desk and chair height should work to make the bend in your arm a right angle. This means you're not overusing arm and shoulder muscles to adjust your typing position. Your wrists should ideally sit comfortably at the same level as the keys.

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Chris Duffill is a Senior Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.

He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.

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