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The Ultimate Guide to Keyboard Layouts

The Ultimate Guide to Keyboard Layouts

Find your ideal keyboard layout for comfortable and efficient typing.

People are more particular about their keyboards today than ever before. The clearest evidence of this is the dawn of the mechanical keyboard hobby, leading to a range of mechanical keyboard switches and keycaps among many other components and accessories that enthusiasts can customize to their heart’s content. But if you aren’t willing to take a single element of your keyboard’s construction for granted, why should you feel any differently about keyboard layouts?

The different keyboard layout types refer to the way keys are positioned on the keyboard — both logically, by determining which keys correspond to which characters and functions, and physically, by dictating the position, size, and shape of the physical keys themselves. For example, QWERTY is a logical layout you’re likely already familiar with, but the physical layout you use likely depends on where you live. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of keyboard layouts.

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A refined design: The HHKB layout

As you might have guessed, we’re particular fans of the HHKB layout. Its design combines an intelligently revised logical layout based on QWERTY with an efficient 60% physical layout, packing all the features a power user needs to do their best work into a minimalist package.

Benefits of the HHKB layout

  • Compact design does more in less space.
  • Easy-to-learn variant of standard QWERTY.
  • Quick access to time-saving shortcuts.

Defining characteristics of the HHKB keyboard layout

Control

The standard QWERTY layout requires users to stretch their pinky to the lower-left corner to execute common commands such as Cut, Paste, and Undo using the Control key. HHKB’s logical layout moves this important key so it’s adjacent to the home row. Control replaces the seldom-used Caps Lock key, which is still easily accessible via Function layers.

Delete/Backspace

The HHKB layout also drops the Backspace/Delete key down one row to the spot formerly used by Backslash (which in turn moves to the upper right corner of the keyboard). This makes one of the most important functions of the keyboard — the ability to erase and replace typos — much more comfortable to access.

Simplified bottom row

The HHKB keyboard layout reduces uncomfortable finger stretching with a minimized bottom row as part of its improved physical design. Since the Control key already has a prominent spot higher up, the bottom row now only needs the two Alt keys, the Spacebar, and the customizable henkan and muhenkan (AKA left and right diamond) keys.

Read moreabout the HHKB layout in our full article, What Makes the HHKB Keyboard Layout Unique? 

Did You Know? The HHKB Snow Collection lets you enjoy the classic design of HHKB in its most refined color palette yet. Click here to learn more.

A venerable alternative: The Dvorak keyboard layout

QWERTY has long been the standard of typewriters and computer keyboards for English speakers around the world, yet one of its biggest alternatives has stood the test of time for nearly a century. The Dvorak keyboard layout was patented by Dr. August Dvorak and William L. Dealey in the 1930s, and it’s stayed largely consistent since then.

What makes Dvorak unique?

  • t was designed to reduce finger travel for a typical English-language typist.
  • It places all of the vowels on the left side of the home row, and the most common consonants on the right
  • Dvorak relocates some symbols as well as letters, such as moving the semicolon to the lower-left corner.
A graphic illustration of a matte yellow laptop with its screen open and legend-less keyboard exposed.

Potential pros and cons of the Dvorak keyboard layout

Pro – Improved Comfort

By reducing the need to move your fingers away from the home row, Dvorak increases the amount of time your fingers and wrists remain in their natural positions. This can promote greater typing comfort than QWERTY.

 

Pro – Increased speed

Many seasoned Dvorak typists report a small but noticeable increase in their typing speed as compared to their peak QWERTY speed. While it may not make a massive difference all at once, this efficiency can add up to better productivity over time.

 

Con – Long transition time

Since touch typing requires building up muscle memory, it may take a while before someone who is used to typing in QWERTY can get as fast and comfortable working in Dvorak. Expect to spend at least a few months in “training mode.”

 

Read more about Dvorak in our article, What Is the Dvorak Keyboard Layout? 

A modern favorite: The Colemak keyboard layout

Power users are an inquisitive sort, always experimenting to try to make a better new version of what came before. That was the drive behind Colemak, a layout first created by Shai Coleman in 2006 that took a new approach to presenting a more efficient alternative to QWERTY.

Colemak’s guiding principles

  • Place the most frequently used keys on the home row.
  • Minimize the amount of common words typed with only one hand.
  • Otherwise retain as many key placements from QWERTY as possible, for ease of learning.
A partial view of an orange laptop's keyboard on top of a flat turquoise background.

Important points to consider for the Colemak keyboard layout

  

Variants

Colemak has not remained static since it was first released in 2006. The Colemak Mod-DH variant has gained popularity by reducing uncomfortable index finger reaching, while the Soul keyboard layout applies the principles of symmetric typing to Colemak’s basic concept.

Setup

Colemak is included by default with current versions of Mac OS, but Windows PC users must either install a third-party keyboard configuration or build out a Colemak setup of their own with a keyboard remapping tool.

Learning

One of the best ways to learn Colemak is by simply printing off a diagram of the layout and keeping it on hand while you type. Otherwise, free online tools such as Colemak Club make it easy to build up proficiency over multiple training sessions.

Read more about Colemak in our article,  What Is the Colemak Keyboard Layout? 

Did You Know?  HHKB accessories, including handy travel bundles, make it easy to take your new favorite board with you everywhere. Click here to learn more. 

A new approach: The Workman keyboard layout

Much like Colemak, the Workman layout is a relatively recent creation. In fact, OJ Bucao used Colemak before devising Workman, a keyboard creation that intentionally diverged from several common practices among QWERTY alternatives.

The principles behind Workman

  • Minimize the need to move one’s fingers from side to side while typing.
  • Make commonly used letters easy to reach.
  • Account for each finger’s ability to reach up or fold down rather than prioritizing the home row.

Workman features and considerations

Efficiency

A third-party assessor rated Workman as requiring substantially less effort to type on than both QWERTY and Dvorak, though more effort than Colemak. That said, its unique take on principles of typing comfort may work better with your own preferences.

Support

Workman is not natively supported by Mac OS or Windows PCs, which means you will either have to download and install the official layout configuration or set up your own version manually.

Education

Third-party tools like Colemak Club include options for learning Workman. Additionally, online typing tests such as Monkeytype let you assess your progress and challenge yourself to improve speed and accuracy over time.

Read more about Workman in What Is the Workman Layout for Keyboards?

The regional standards: ANSI and ISO

Despite the vast differences between the keyboard keys layouts we’ve discussed so far, they’ve each been usable on the same keyboard with minimal customization. This is thanks to the efforts of the American National Standards Institute and the International Organization for Standardization, whose documents dictate the placement and shape of the keys themselves. .

A brief history of ANSI and ISO

  • Both types of keyboard layout follow years of non-standardized keyboard advancements.
  • The ANSI layout was first formalized in a 1988 document and is largely used in North America.
  • ISO layouts were first implemented in 1994 and are used across Europe and parts of South America, among other regions.
Close-up of a keyboard with low-profile black keys, illuminated by transparent legends and underkey lighting.

Main differences between ANSI and ISO keyboard layouts

Enter/Return

On ANSI keyboards, the Enter key is typically an extra-wide key with a standard height. On ISO keyboards, the Enter key resembles an upside-down “L”, with a wider top and narrow base.

Left Shift

Standard ANSI keyboards feature a Left Shift key that is roughly twice as wide as a standard key. However, ISO keyboards instead use a shorter Left Shift to make room for an extra key.

 

Right Alt

ANSI keyboards place functionally identical Alt keys on either side of the spacebar. In order to support more characters unique to each regional language, ISO keyboard layouts replace Right Alt with the Alt Graph (AltGr) key.

Read more about the ANSI and ISO keyboard layouts in our articles, What Is the ANSI Layout, What Is the ISO Keyboard Layout, and ANSI vs ISO: Which Keyboard Layout Is Best?

Did You Know? The full history of the HHKB brand started more than 30 years ago, with a computer science professor from the University of Tokyo. Click here to learn more.

Use a layout built to power user preferences

With all those keyboard layouts to consider, you may not be sure where to go next. But if you want an easy-to-learn and efficient layout combined with a space-saving design, the choice is clear. Find your next daily driver for many years of happy typing in the full range of high-end keyboards from HHKB.

Shop Happy Hacking Keyboard Now

Designed for those who type to live.

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