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60% keyboard: what it is, pros, shortcuts, who it suits
A 60% keyboard keeps only the main typing block: letters, numbers, symbols and modifiers, usually 61 keys across five rows. It drops the F1-F12 row, the arrow keys, the navigation cluster and the numpad, and brings those functions back through a second layer you reach by holding Fn. It suits you if you write, code or game without touching the numpad every day and want more free desk; less so if your job is entering figures all day.
What "60%" actually means
The percentage is a rough measure of how many keys of a 104-key full-size board survive. An ANSI 60% has 61 keys, about 59% of the total, according to Das Keyboard's guide. ISO versions can reach 62 or 63 because of the L-shaped Enter and the extra key next to left Shift.
Physically, a 60% is around 29 × 11 cm. The real difference is not the board's own width but what it frees up: with no numpad or arrow cluster, your mouse sits much closer to your hands, and a small desk gains space you will notice.
One detail that surprises newcomers: Esc takes the spot where a full-size board has the grave accent key (` and ~). That character moves to the Fn layer.
Size comparison
Here is how the 60% stacks up against other common formats. Key counts are approximate, since every maker tweaks its layout.
| Format | Approx. keys | F1-F12 | Arrows | Home, End, PgUp... | Numpad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full size (100%) | 104-108 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TKL (80%) | 87-88 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 75% | 80-86 | Yes | Yes | Some | No |
| 65% | 66-69 | Fn layer | Yes | Some | No |
| 60% | 58-65 | Fn layer | Fn layer | Fn layer | No |
The big step is between 65% and 60%: losing physical arrows is what changes daily use the most. If you lean on them constantly (text editing, spreadsheets, some strategy games), think it over.
How the Fn layer works
A layer is a second keymap stacked on top of the base one. In QMK, the most widespread firmware on customisable boards, there are three basic ways to use it:
- Momentary: the layer is active only while you hold Fn. This is the usual setup.
- Toggle: one press turns it on, another turns it off. Handy for long stretches of arrow use.
- Dual role: the same key sends a character when tapped and activates the layer when held.
Keys with nothing assigned on the Fn layer are "transparent": they keep doing their normal job. That is why you can hold Fn and still press Ctrl without anything breaking.
Common 60% shortcuts
There is no standard: every maker defines its own Fn layer. These are the most repeated combinations, each with a documented example.
| Missing function | Frequent combo | Documented example |
|---|---|---|
| F1 to F12 | Fn + 1 through Fn + = | MonsGeek FUN60 |
| Delete | Fn + Backspace | MonsGeek FUN60 |
| ` and ~ | Fn + Esc | Keychron K12 |
| Arrows | Fn + I, J, K, L | Setup recommended by Tom's Guide |
Don't assume anything. On the Keychron K12, for instance, Fn + 1 lowers screen brightness instead of sending F1. Before memorising combos, save or print the shortcut table from your model's manual and keep it close for the first week.
Three habits that shorten the learning curve
- Learn just three shortcuts first: arrows, Delete and the grave accent. They are the ones you miss most; the rest come with use.
- Lean on your editor's shortcuts: many apps have their own shortcuts to jump to the start or end of a line or document. Learn them and you rely less on arrows and the Fn navigation keys.
- Check where Fn sits: if your board lets you move it to Caps Lock, Tom's Guide calls that close to essential, because you reach the arrows without leaving the home row.
Pros and limits, plainly
Pros
- Takes less desk and leaves more room for the mouse.
- Light and compact, so it moves easily between home, office and travel.
- Fewer keys means fewer parts when you swap or customise keycaps.
Limits
- No numpad. If you enter lots of figures, an external numpad or a bigger format will serve you better.
- A learning curve with the Fn layer, mostly for arrows.
- Shortcuts that use F keys (F2 to rename, F5 to reload, F12 for developer tools) now need two keys.
Is it for you? A quick rule
Look at how you use your keyboard on a normal day:
- Design and creative work: a good fit. Many design-app shortcuts (picking tools, undo, zoom) combine letters and modifiers, which stay where they are on a 60%.
- Development: works well once you get used to the grave accent and arrows on the Fn layer.
- Gaming: WASD, numbers and modifiers are all there, and the extra mouse room helps in shooters.
- Accounting or data work: if you spend hours in spreadsheets with figures and arrows, a 65%, 75% or TKL will cause less friction.
The TESSEN 60%
The TESSEN keyboard is a 61-key ANSI 60%, with the layout described above. It ships with lubed Gateron KS-3 Milky Pro Yellow linear switches, lubed Gateron stabilisers and internal foam, and the hot-swap PCB takes 3- and 5-pin MX switches if you want to try others later. It connects over the included coiled USB-C cable, a 2.4 GHz receiver or Bluetooth 5.0, which suits a format built to travel.
With 61 keys, colouring it key by key is manageable: in the 3D configurator you pick the colour of each PBT doubleshot keycap from eight options, rotate the model and save your design with a Design ID. Prices start at €119.99 including VAT. For shipping, returns or warranty questions, everything is in the FAQ.