A beginner's guide to split keyboards

Whenever split keyboards come up, ulnar deviation is mentioned, and non-split keyboard users are depicted to be using the keyboard like this (image from the post):

https://www.justinmklam.com/posts/2026/02/beginners-guide-sp...

I don't know if it's just me, but I don't use the keyboard like that. I know the illustration is said to be exaggerated, but still. There is no need to squeeze your hands in front of the keyboard. Just naturally bring your hands in front of chest, the same as when you are reading a book or writing notes with a pen. No twisted wrists. No ulnar deviation. The idea that you can't do something with your hand in front of the center of your chest without hurting the wrists seem like a strange supposition.

Admittedly, I've never looked at a significant number of people typing on a non-split keyboard, so I don't have the data to refute the need of this invention. I just feel like the natural posture already doesn't have the problem of ulnar deviation.

Underdiscussed: The biggest difference these keyboards make: adding additional keys for the thumbs (replacing the unnecessarily large spacebar of traditional keyboards).

This allows the hands to do more with the keyboard while resting the hands on home row. -- For users comfortable adding a bit of complexity for the benefit of increased expressiveness (e.g. vim users), having extra thumb keys allows bringing the full functionality of the keyboard to within reach of the hands on home row.

For me, I think that these keyboards fix many silly design flaws of the traditional keyboard makes them interesting enough to be worth using.

I made a gallery of split keyboards a while ago: https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/

It is missing some newer designs, but it at least shows that not all split keyboards are tiny things with half the keys removed.

I've been using an ErgoDash for 6 years. I have one at home and another at work. If there had been a similar keyboard with real F-keys in 2019 I would have chosen that instead, but it's only a very minor annoyance.

If I was looking now I think I'd buy the Kinesis Advantage360 (I could keep using the layout I am now used to) or Kinesis Advantage2 (dished, but has fewer keys than I'm used to).

(If anyone keeps up-to-date with split keyboards etc and wants to take over the gallery site, just let me know. I'm happy with the keyboard I have, so I don't spend time researching more.)

I'm not sure why nobody mentions this, but for windows and linux, you can fiddle with a "split keyboard" by using two keyboards. You can put your right hand over the right part of the right keyboard, the left and over the left part of left keyboard, and ... type away. It just works, and usually it is free, almost everyone I know has a pile of keyboards somewhere.

Irritatingly, this doesn't work by default on the mac where the meta keys only affect the keys on the keyboard owning the depressed key (IE left shift and right keyboard l will not result in L).

It uses a bit more desk space, but is otherwise a pretty good way to test out "do I want a split keyboard?"

The issue with kinesis and all those nice small symmetrical keyboards is that not every alphabet is as short as English.

Russian, for example, has 33 letters.

So if you’re someone like that, you really want that ordinary macbook-like number of keys = larger non-symmetrical right half.

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As for the ortholinear keyboards, I spent a few months with the latest kinesis but sold it eventually: not that comfortable.

Just clench your fist and you will see that not all your fingers are moving in straight parallel lines. I don’t buy the ortho logic at all. I would argue that left half of the ordinary keyboard is even more ergonomic in this sense.

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Also don’t bother with dvorak, qwerty is 80/20 pareto stuff. Just isn’t worth it compared to returns.

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Tdlr; split, traditional layout https://uhk.io/ is my best purchase: use it for almost 5(?) years. Modded it for swappable switches, lubed, what have you.

Don’t waste money for uhk riser, not worth it. Small plastic built-in legs are more than enough.

Wooden palm rest is a must though.

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Previously was a big fan of microsoft split ergonomics (2nd gen and sculpt later)

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BTW if you use multiple OS, map the ctrl key on windows/linux to the same place where command is on mac. Shortcuts will be the same physical keys, also it is much more comfortable to have this pressed with a thumb instead of a pinky.

Though you would want to buy a rounded key cap (like a spacebar) of you use a mechanical keyboard — it is painful to press the keycap corner with a thumb if it is not rounded.

I guess I can’t fault the author for the omission, but I wish it had mentioned my daily driver.

I use the Model 100 from Keyboardio. I have two. https://shop.keyboard.io/products/model-100

When I travel I use either their version of the Atreus https://shop.keyboard.io/products/keyboardio-atreus or their version of the Preonic, which I think was only a crowdfunded model.

Keyboardio is run by a programmer who developed debilitating RSI and his wife. He tried a bunch of keyboards, then designed his own. Lots of people asked where to get one, so they refined it into a product and started the company. That was the Model 01, and I have two of those.

Having the function button located for the base of the thumb is really comfortable and useful. The swappable bases (flat linked, tented, and the separate stands) are nice to have. The link between the two halves of the models 01 and 100 uses an Ethernet cable. The stands use a standard camera tripod threaded connector, so building your own mount for a chair or armature is simple enough.

I had a warranty issue with one of my Model 01 boards. One keyswitch didn’t work reliably. Instead of sending the whole thing back, Jesse sent me four or five spare switches, some stickers, a personal note, and a page explaining I could desolder and solder the switch without voiding the warranty (as long as I didn’t damage anything in the process of course). The Model 100 is socketed.

The hardware design and the firmware are open source.

I am an owner of a Glove 80 and I cannot overstate how benefitial it was for me. It improved my typing speed and overall comfort. Also, it forced me to type correctly, using all my fingers and place them in the correct keys.

To this day I think this is one of the best pieces of hardware that I bought.

This article doesn’t mention my absolute favorite split keyboard : the Keyboardio Model 100. The killer feature for me is the palm keys that are very ergonomic, in my opinion, and I’ve never found another keyboard that offers them. The sculpted keycaps are also nice.

Does anyone know a google-able term for split keyboards that have doubled keys down the middle column (B/N, G/H, T/Y, 6/7)?

I see one instance on this page of a keyboard with double "B" key ("Alice layout"), but not the others.

I've been interested in trying a split keyboard, but I like to type those middle keys with either left or right hand depending on the moment, so all the split keyboards I've tried have ended up somewhat annoying, for that reason.

No mention of the Kinesis Advantage 360? I was lucky and scored two of them for free, one from the ergo center at my employer, and one from a generous coworker who didn't vibe with his.

There are a lot of keyboards I'd like to try, but I'm pretty happy with these.

I resent the idea of an absolute standard of ergonomics or typing technique. I often use my left thumb to key z/x/c/v/b. I often reach with my left index finger to key y/h/b. During certain chords, my hands often cross over the split.

I tried multiple split keyboards over the period of 2 years and never grew out of these habits. I always wished, at the least, that some of the middle keys were duplicated between the two halves.

Eventually I received some permission to accept my personal "kinetic signature" (so to speak). Then the chronic wrist pain that led me to try split keyboards in the first place vanished. So I went back to using a normal tenkeyless. This led me to believe that split keyboards were ideal for some people, but that other people (like myself) are predisposed to a sort of perfectionism that entails physical guarding and chronic pain.

I still wish I had a wireless split keyboard for times when I'm supine and need to type, though.

The only learning curve is if you don't type correctly to start with. :)

When I switched to a split keyboard 20 years ago, I realized that I used my right hand to type T and B. But it was a pretty quick transition when I kept slamming my index finger into the gap!

This is a summary of Reddit discussions and maker hacks, not of the actual market for ergonomic keyboards. Because the goal of those discussions and hacks is to be distinctive, the summary picture is fascinating but over-complicated.

Kinesis Advantage keyboards have been popular for decades and proven ergonomic benefit - mainly because the cup avoids wrist movement and the high-traffic keys are moved to the stronger thumb. Some users prefer the newer split Professional to avoid constraining arm position. These keyboards stopped my RSI cycle decades ago, and improved my speed by roughly half. (Also a US company, with fantastic support.)

I do not buy the whole ergonomic portion for most split keyboards. It feels like a justification after the fact.

That said I used to use a lily58 and for me it was great. I have a lot of papers, notes and books on my desk. A small easily movable keyboard meant that i could have something between the keyboard halves, writing and reading without issue

Maybe I am the odd man out here but I have a Kinesis 360 Pro and legitimately my wrists and hands hurt after using it, vs my 60% tkl that I just move around throughout the day.

Pretty good article.

Been using split ergo since original ergoxdox drop. Currently using lily58.

If someone wants to go down this rabbit hole (I did because I had pain from writing my first book), I think the Voyager is the best option.

One thing I hate about the lily58 is the lack of decent cases. The plates are too flexible. I have a 3D printed case from etsy and the keys continually pop out of it or get finicky about seating and registering a click.

However, these days I'm typing much less. Voice recognition is so good that I generally press a button to start recording, press it again to transcribe. Then press another button to paste, press it again to hit enter.

I switched to a split keyboard about four months ago and decided to change layouts at the same time. Adapting to the split itself wasn’t particularly difficult, but switching layouts definitely takes some getting used to. After all this time I’m still only at around 30–40 WPM, so it’s not something I’d recommend to everyone.

That said, I do believe the change will add a few more good years to my career, so I’m committed to seeing it through. I went with a relatively inexpensive keyboard and a modified Engram 2 layout. The reduced finger travel and more natural arm positioning have already made a noticeable difference.

Give it another year and I expect to reach an acceptable speed as well. All in all, I’m happy with the switch.

The split keyboards with more traditional 92+ keys including 0-9 and F keys are underrepresented in the guide

Wow, I wish I read this guide months ago when I was trying to research split keyboards. It would have been a lot easier to see what the options are. I eventually settled on the nocfree keyboard and have been relatively happy with it. It definitely helps by letting me split the keyboard very wide and open up the shoulders and back (slightly wider than shoulder distance). It feels like everything these days is trying to squish our shoulders/back into a hunched position. As someone with back issues, I have to mindful of my posture. Split keyboard + adjustable standing desk is great for the scapular area and the lower back for me

If split keyboards still don't cure what ails ya, try getting into the habit of not wresting your wrists while using a standard keyboard instead. I tried splits for about a decade, but all it did was move the RSI pain to somewhere else. I switched back to standard about five years ago, and worked on my typing posture instead. I used to go to the physical therapist every other week for my hands, but haven't been back in years.

Shameless plug but I'm a doctor who made an ergonomic split keyboard called the TAIKO-01 (https://taiko.taikohub.com).

It's split in two so you can position them at shoulder width. It's angled so your wrists are in more natural positioning (reduced pronation), and curved to prevent finger overstretching (finger joints have arc-shaped range of motion). It's injection molded and hot-swappable.

I've been working on this since 2022 and am getting close to launch. It's gotten very good feedback from beta testers.

This is indeed a deep rabbit hole. Creating your own can be pretty rewarding, but it's a massive time sink. I've made two so far, with a series of blog posts about one of them (https://bkienzle.com/posts/creating-a-custom-split-keyboard-...). This is my current daily driver: https://github.com/bkienzle3/zen_kb

Surprised Ergodox is not mentioned, that's the keyboard that started the movement. Very safe pick since firmware is open source and it can be both self-assembled and bought.

It has too many keys in thumb clusters and bottom row, but you can easily remove them.

I was looking into split ergos a while ago but was bummed by the audiophile-ness of the userbase when doing research. I don't have time or interest to learn new layouts or keymaps or whatever.

Any suggestions of simple split mechanical keyboards with standard (row staggered) layouts that aren't a small fortune?

I really love my moonlander, the added benefit of being able to customise it specifically to my own taste has been a total game changer.

It is hilarious when others try type on it, if they can manage to get their head around the split they still have no idea how to 'use' it due to my custom layers and bindings.

I am not a split keyboard person.

But I have one big question -- why aren't the "middle" keys replicated on both sides of the keyboard? That is, for example, why not have two 'g' and 'h' keys? There are always times when you have to adapt; when you're holding down a tricky combination of alt-ctrl-shift keys or something where on a flat keyboard one would just reach with the "wrong" hand to hit a middle key; why not just replicate them?

The reality is that you need to ask yourself wether you want a hobbyist' tool or a more common one for the same result.

Logitech's ergo k860 is affordable, has a palm rest (most mechanical keebs don't), and has an excellent ergonomical shape. And works right out of the box, with Bluetooth enabled.

The keys are membrane-based, which some may dislike because they are not mechanical - but it's actually more ergonomic, as they require much less pressure and travel length to achieve an input, meaning less wear on your fingers.

Make sure you can return the keyboard if you decide to try one out.

I found it wasn't for me (too big, uncomfortable, keys too far apart, harder to type without looking IIRC) and the company (in Canada) refused to issue a refund and I was SOL.

I have shoulder issues and use a Kinesis Freestyle 2. It lets me keep my shoulders square while I am typing. I would love to get a keyboard with a trackball, though. Moving from the keyboard to the mouse and back starts to irritate my right shoulder after a while (have had rotator cuff surgery on that one).

I wish I had that much typing to do that I could rationalize the expense of such a fancy keyboard :D

Also, unfortunately for the high price point it's too hard to actually try those out somewhere. Maybe works if you have friends, but I'm not going to spend hundreds on sth only to find out it doesn't work for me after half an hour. There's probably an option to send sth back, but even that is going to be a nightmare with small vendors.

I don't much understand the obsession with keyboards but I appreciate the post. It's much more than I expected for a beginner's guide. If I ever feel like trying one out, I will start from here.

I have both a ZSA Moonlander and Voyager. I've used the former for five years or so, and the latter as a travel keyboard for about a year. I'm super happy with them (obviously happy enough to buy a travel version).

I switched to Dvorak at the same time that I switched from row staggered keyboards (so five years ago), and I must say, if you're thinking about switching layouts like that, there is no better time than when switching to a wildly different keyboard. My Dvorak muscle memory is entirely tied to typing on a split, columnar keyboard, and my QWERTY muscle memory is entirely tied to row staggered keyboards. I have never used Dvorak on a row staggered keyboard, and I have never used QWERTY on my Moonlander or Voyager. I think that's helped with maintaining my ability to use standard QWERTY keyboards after not using them regularly for years.

Good coincidence, yesterday I switched to a split keyboard. I had been programming since 2011.

Main reason for my switch is that I felt that my shoulders have a wider stance than before. I don't know if it's because of an improvement in fitness (I do a lot of shoulder and back work), or maybe with age I lost a bit of shoulder internal rotation mobility.

Either way, the learning curve was like a few minutes for me. Guess it's a perk of experience and the habit of touch typing.

My wife bought for me MoErgo80 for Christmas and now I probably look like retard on Teams typing two sentences for 5mins. But it looks nice. Feels nice. Configurability is great. I configured most used Rider shortcut for formatting file via they editor and it is even easier then normally. But the learning curve is terrible. And it is even worse when you constantly changing the layout because you are not happy - and you have to learn it again. So it is a bit like being audiophile versus listening just for fun.

Neat article. I used to daily drive a ZSA Moonlander but it got unwieldy with desk space taking notes on my laptop as well. Recently tried it again, and some of my muscle memory is still here - though all the second layer shortcuts I've forgotten. In particular, what the lesser used keys on the thumb cluster map to.

If I was coming back to a smaller keyboard, I doubt I would even know where to find punctuation.

My two cents: The Keychron Q11 is a decent choice for a split keyboard which also has a traditional layout and therefore doesn't require any learning. If you don't like the distance, you _can_ push the pieces back together and they'll just resemble a traditional keyboard. And it's definitely the highest build quality of any keyboard I've used this far in my life.

It seems to have this issue (or maybe Macbooks do? I don't know..) where, waking my computer from sleep, the right side of the keyboard doesn't work. It's quickly fixed by unplugging and replugging the right side of the keyboard into the left, or unplugging and replugging the entire keyboard into the computer.. it's a shame that I have to do that sometimes, though.

I recommend protoarc split keyboards is you like split and FLAT. They’re so easy to travel with and charges via usbc. The best one I’ve had and I’ve had a number of split keyboards!

There really is no going back when you go split and tented. I've was on a Kenesis Freestyle for years, then upgraded to a Dygma Raise (V1) about three years ago. It's served me well, but I've been eyeing a CyBoard Imprint, which is like a Dactyl or Charbydis, but has hot swap-able switches (a rarity for curved key-well boards.) Can't give up my holy panda switches. :)

I built one of these and I really wanted to love it, but in the end gave up because I just couldn't get comfortable with 3+ layers. On the lookout for a reasonably aesthetic TKL split - at least until I give in and make my own.

So after almost 50 years of hacking, I'm starting to feel it in my hands. But I don't have any wrist problems -- no carpal tunnel. What I have is tendonitis in my fingers, primarily in my middle fingers and my right pinky (from slamming Enter several million times).

I've had steroid injections into the tendon sheaths of my fingers a couple of times, which hurts like a bugger when it's done but definitely improves things after a few days. It isn't a cure, though, and my hand doctor thinks I'm going to need surgery eventually.

I have to assume that a split keyboard won't help this. Is there anything that might, short of a voice interface?

Personally I prefer a keyboard with a gentle curve rather than an actual split - the old Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 was my favourite for many years, but mine have all failed with membrane issues now.

I'm probably going to end up building a custom board with the features I want (gentle curve, ISO layout, nice switches) since what I want doesn't seem to be available off-the-peg. (The X-Bows keyboards are quite nice, but ANSI-only - I've done enough programming to have learned that I'm not prepared to compromise on the position of "\"!)

Built a Corne with low profile switches last year and the small key count felt impossible until home row mods clicked. Once you train the muscle memory for mod-taps on ASDF/JKL;, you stop reaching for corners entirely and the 42-key layout starts feeling like enough. Honestly the split itself was less of a revelation than remapping my fingers to treat the home row as a modifier layer.

I tried to use a kinesis but my problem is that I don't touch type I learnt from scratch as a kid. and it's insanely difficult to adjust to only pressing certain keys with a certain hand/finger

One of the split keyboards pictured has only 46 keys. I use a bfo9000, a split keyboard with 54 keys per side. My layout is very similar to a standard layout, sacrificing some ergonomics for transferrable muscle memory.

I'm mildly interested in keyboard ergonomics and efficiency, but every time I read threads like this I can't really see me spending $200+ on a keyboard when there are quite functional versions at $10 (and I know that the vast majority of the world is typing on either those or a laptop keyboard). To me it reads too much like an audiophile discussion about whether the materials of the cable affect sound, or just people "playing" (similar to cyberdecks). Not just trying to be provocative here, but those prices just seem crazy and just Silicon Valley posturing. Is there a post here that is not partially signalling "I'm rich enough to splurge in an unreasonably expensive set of keys"? Or am I being too harsh? The most grounded take seems to be easterncalculus's "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47083354" where he mentions that the best approach is to rest and exercise a little bit instead of having led-colored chording keyboards.

Sorry, I'll go get my coffee now :)

Are there any keyboard stores where you can try a lot of these out?

I found it easy to adapt to the x-bows keyboard (column staggered and splayed). The thumb buttons and large ctrl, alt, space are great for emacs. My only complaint is that the braces are a bit far away.

Learning the new layout can be vastly accelerated by doing typing practice slowly, instead of trying to do 100wpm and crashing out. Doing it slowly makes the same brain connections, and you can exponentially ramp the speed up once you get slow reps in.

Same principle as slow practice for music instruments.

I recommend protoarc’s keyboards. They are the flattest and lightest and yet still ergonomic I’ve ever had and chargeable by USBC. It’s so easy to bring it with me even with a laptop in the backpack.