The 5 Best TKL Keyboards of 2025

The best TKL keyboard we recommend to most people is the Wooting 80HE, an outstanding, dedicated gaming keyboard. Admittedly, this keyboard has a unique layout, with fewer keys in the Navigation cluster compared to most traditional TKL designs. Also, you can only buy this keyboard from Wooting directly. All that being said, the 80HE offers the best latency performance of any keyboard we've tested to date and supports a maximum polling rate of 8000Hz. It also has outstanding build quality with tons of acoustic material inside the case and a gasket mount design that provides a slightly cushioned typing experience.

The standout feature is its Hall effect switches, which allow you to customize the actuation point of individual keys. There's a robust configuration software for switch adjustment, custom profiles, RGB lighting effects, macros, and more. You can choose to download the software as a desktop app or use the lightweight web-based client, which doesn't bog down your system resources like the software from some major gaming brands. The software includes advanced features like Mod Tap and Rapid Trigger, which let you customize the switch reset distance. This feature alone can offer a noticeable advantage in various scenarios, such as strafing in FPS games or achieving faster inputs in games that register keystrokes on release, like some rhythm titles.

If the 80HE has a weakness, it's the stiffness of its gasket mount system. This is an intentional design decision to ensure precise switch actuation, as a more flexible mount can disrupt accuracy. However, it does mean this keyboard feels stiffer compared to other gasket mount designs, such as our budget pick, the Keychron V3 Max.

At a mid-range price point, we recommend the Corsair K70 RGB TKL, a dedicated gaming option that frequently goes on sale, sometimes nearing the price of our budget pick below. You might also see it listed as the "Champion Series," a later variant with minor case updates, additional hotkeys (including a Windows lock key), and an extra switch option. If you're having trouble finding it from major retailers, you can check out Corsair's website directly.

There are some key differences between the K70 RGB TKL and our top pick, the Wooting 80HE. Starting with the minor ones, the Corsair has a scroll wheel and dedicated media keys, which the Wooting lacks. More significantly, the Corsair uses conventional switches that don't allow you to adjust actuation or reset points. That said, it still delivers outstanding latency performance with support for an effective 4000Hz polling rate. While this makes it slightly slower than the Wooting, the difference is small enough that you won't notice it in-game—unless you compete at an extremely high level.

As for switch options, this keyboard is available with Cherry MX Red or the more sensitive Cherry MX Speed mechanical switches. The Champion Series variant offers Cherry MX Speed or OPX Optical switches, which are even more lightweight and sensitive. All of these options deliver exceptional latency performance. The MX Speed and OPX switches have a slightly lower pre-travel distance, offering marginally better performance—but the difference is subtle. For more casual or everyday use, however, these switches may feel too sensitive, leading to accidental keystrokes if you're also planning to use the keyboard for regular typing tasks.

We bought and tested this keyboard family's larger (96%) model, pictured above. However, we recommend its smaller TKL variant, the Keychron V3 Max, as the best tenkeyless model to buy if you're on a budget. This model isn't a dedicated gaming keyboard like our two top picks, but it's an inexpensive wireless model that takes heavy inspiration from the more niche, custom keyboard market. It has a gasket mount design that produces a softer, slightly springy-feeling typing experience. It's also available to purchase with pre-lubed linear or tactile switch options and has a hot-swappable PCB if you want to change these switches out for others of your choosing. It even comes with a toolkit to disassemble your keyboard if you want to customize the hardware further.

Also of note are its multiple layers of sound-absorbing materials inside the case. These materials make it a significantly quieter pick than the other models on this list. They do a great job of minimizing rattling or pinging noises that mechanical keyboards are often susceptible to. Lastly, in terms of connectivity, it includes a 2.4GHz USB Type-C USB receiver that provides excellent performance suitable for gaming in all genres, as well as Bluetooth support that's well suited for work or everyday desktop use and allows you to pair with up to three devices simultaneously. Overall, this keyboard is a highly flexible option that takes many of the best ideas of more expensive custom keyboards and offers them in a budget package.

The Keychron C1 Pro is essentially a more basic, wired-only model similar to the Keychron V3 Max above. While it doesn't quite compare in terms of typing quality, it still has a few surprising features in common with the V3 Max and other more expensive custom keyboards, including pre-lubed switches, PBT keycaps, and south-facing LEDs that allow for greater compatibility with aftermarket keycap sets. You can also choose between several configurations at purchase, with choices between white-only or full RGB backlighting and the option to add a hot-swappable PCB that allows you to change out the stock switches easily.

Again, this keyboard is compatible with VIA configuration software that lets you record macros, create custom profiles, and adjust backlight settings, among other options. This keyboard is a surprisingly full-featured and well-built option that provides excellent value at an entry-level price point.

If you're in the market for the best TKL mechanical keyboard that offers the widest range of hardware customizability options, we recommend the NuPhy Gem80. This keyboard is currently only available directly from NuPhy's website. Also, it's only available as a barebones kit in either a wired or wireless configuration. All the internal components—including the PCB, sound-dampening material, and stabilizers—are in place straight out of the box. However, you'll have to buy and install your own switches and keycaps.

But that's just scratching the surface of the customizability. It also comes with an impressive selection of mounting hardware, including several gasket mount pieces so you can dial in how soft or springy your typing experience feels. It's also compatible with VIA for additional software-level customization. Lastly, while this isn't designed specifically for competitive gaming, it still has impressive raw performance, making it more than suitable for gaming in any genre and at any competitive level.

The only real downside to this keyboard, and the reason it doesn't snag our top spot in this article, is the added hassle of adding your own switches and keycaps, which isn't something everyone will be happy to tackle. It's also worth noting that the added cost of switches and keycaps means the total package of this keyboard is more expensive than other picks on this list, which come fully assembled.