When exploring ergonomic keyboards, one of the hardest parts is figuring out how good a keyboard really is. Some boards are split, some are columnar, some are portable - but until now, there hasn’t been a simple way to capture all of those features in a single score.

That’s why I created the Ergonomic Keyboard Index (EKI): a clear, 20-point scale that measures how ergonomic, practical, and buildable a keyboard is. Instead of long spec sheets or scattered impressions, the EKI gives you a single number that shows at a glance how well a keyboard supports comfort and usability.

From now on, every time I publish a keyboard review, I’ll assign it an EKI score. I’ll also maintain a dedicated comparison page, which I link here in the future - where all reviewed keyboards are gathered in one place, sorted and easy to compare. Think of it as a living reference: whenever a new review goes live, the comparison page will be updated with the latest scores.

My goal is simple: to make it easier for you (and me) to quickly answer the question: “How ergonomic and good is this keyboard, really?”

Ergonomic Keyboard Index

The Ergonomic Keyboard Index (EKI) is a scoring system (0–20 points) that helps compare ergonomic keyboards based on comfort, portability, and buildability.
A higher score means the keyboard offers more ergonomic benefits and practical usability.

Core Ergonomics (max 12 points)

These features have the biggest impact on long-term comfort and health.

  • Programmability (0–1)

    • Fully programmable (1)
    • Limited layers only (0.5)
    • Not programmable (0)

  • Palm Stability (0–2)

    • All keys accessible without palm movement (2)
    • Partly (1)
    • No (0)

  • Columnar Layout (0–2)

    • Full columnar (2)
    • Partial stagger improvement (1)
    • Standard stagger (0)

  • Column Staggering Quality (0–1)

    • Natural stagger tuned to finger lengths (1)
    • None (0)

  • Concavity (0–1)

    • Deep concavity (1)
    • Flat (0)

  • Thumb Wells (0–1)

    • Strong thumb cluster (1)
    • None (0)

  • Split Design (0–2)

    • True split with adjustable angle/width (2)
    • Semi-split (1)
    • Fixed/not split (0)

  • Tenting Support (0–1)

    • Adjustable tenting (1)
    • Fixed tenting (0.5)
    • Flat (0)

  • Switch Profile (0–1)

    • High-profile mechanical (1)
    • Laptop flat (0)

Practicality & Portability (max 5 points)

Ergonomics matter most at the desk, but portability and adaptability make a board more useful in everyday life.

  • Compactness (0–2)

    • Very compact but still ergonomic (2)
    • Moderate (1)
    • Large/bulky (0)

  • Portability / Backpack Readiness (0–1)

    • Can carry safely without a case (1)
    • Requires case or fragile (0)

  • Wrist-Rest Independence (0–1)

    • Comfortable typing without wrist rests (1)
    • Needs wrist rests (0)

  • Hot-Swap Switch Support (0–1)

    • Hot-swap supported (1)
    • Solder-only (0)

Buildability (max 3 points)

For DIY and repair enthusiasts: how easy is the keyboard to build or maintain?

  • Through-Hole PCB (3) – Beginner-friendly DIY; large pads, easy to solder/fix
  • SMD PCB (2) – Harder to solder, but still possible with good tools
  • Handwired (1) – Possible but time-consuming; high effort for DIY
  • Prebuilt Only (0) – No build option available