When you’re shopping for a new keyboard, it’s important to choose the right size. The right size for your keyboard is the one that will fit comfortably on your hand. You should also choose a keyboard that is easy to use and has a variety of functions. To find the right size, measure your hand from the tips of your fingers to the base of your palm. Make sure the keyboard will fit comfortably in this area and that there are no spaces between the keys. Next, look at how many keys are on each side of the keyboard. This will help you determine which side will be best for you. If you have a laptop or other device with multiple screens, it may be helpful to buy a keyboard with multiple sides so that each screen can be used with one keystroke. Finally, make sure that the keyboard has an appropriate number of backlight colors and lighting options. You’ll want to choose a color that is comfortable for you and makes writing or working in darkrooms or other dark environments easier.
Hold It Up to Your Chest
You’re shopping for a new keyboard and curious if it’ll be comfortable long term. Hold it up to your chest.
No really. This isn’t some elementary school-grade prank where you hold a keyboard up to your chest and get punched while somebody yells something mildly insulting. It’s a really simple way to compare the size of the keyboard to the width of your shoulders.
In fact, it’s how I cured my shoulder pain with a new keyboard without even realizing the ratio of the keyboard to my body. The issue I had was mechanically simple, even if it took me a bit to figure it out. My keyboard was too wide, so I had to cock my arm out at a more severe angle to use the mouse. I did it for years, and millions of people with too-big keyboards are still doing it.
My shoulder pain disappeared almost instantly when I replaced my massive full-size 100% keyboard with a more compact 80% tenkeyless keyboard. But it wasn’t until I was on a conference call with some of my fellow writers here at How-To Geek— who were talking about that issue and how to pick out the right keyboard—that I realized there was a ratio at play.
My old pain-inducing keyboard was wide enough that, when held up to my chest, it covered my entire chest and a good portion of the front of my arms. No wonder I always had to move my arm out a weird angle to use the mouse, the keyboard was almost as wide as I was. But the new tenkeyless keyboard that solved my shoulder pain? It fits neatly between my arms.
So if you’re struggling with shoulder and arm pain related to your computer use, before you run out and buy a premium “ergonomic” keyboard (many of which are absolutely massive) or dabble with really niche designs like split-keyboards, consider simply upgrading to a keyboard that lines up, quite literally, with your body.
