How Many Keys Are on a Keyboard?
A standard full-size US computer keyboard has 104 keys. Laptops have fewer, usually between about 78 and 86, because they leave out the number pad and squeeze the navigation keys.
Don't worry, you only need about 50 keys for typing. We'll learn them two at a time!
LettersNumber rowTyping helpersModifiersFunction keysNavigationArrowsNumber pad
Key counts by keyboard type
| Keyboard | About how many keys | What is left out |
|---|---|---|
| Full-size US (Windows) | 104 | Nothing: letters, numbers, F1–F12, navigation keys, arrows and a number pad |
| Full-size UK and many European (ISO) | 105 | Adds one extra key next to the left Shift |
| Tenkeyless ("TKL") | 87 (US) | No number pad |
| Windows laptop | about 78–86 | Usually no number pad; Home, End and Page keys may share keys with Fn |
| MacBook (US) | 78, including 12 function keys and 4 arrows | No number pad, Home, End, Page Up/Down, Insert or Print Screen |
| Chromebook | about 80 (varies by model) | No Caps Lock key, no F1–F12 row (it has special top-row keys instead) |
| Compact "60%" keyboard | 61 | No F-keys, arrows, navigation keys or number pad |
The original IBM PC keyboard from 1981 had 83 keys. The 101-key "enhanced" layout from IBM in the mid-1980s added separate arrow keys and F11 and F12, and Windows keyboards later added the two Windows keys and a Menu key to reach 104.
What do all those keys do?
The drawing above colors the keys by their job. Most keyboards share the same groups: letter keys, number keys, function keys, modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt), navigation keys and sometimes a number pad. Read more in Parts of a Keyboard.
How many keys do you need to learn?
For typing schoolwork, kids mostly need about 50 keys: 26 letters, 10 numbers, the space bar, Shift, Enter, Backspace and the main punctuation keys. That is exactly what our 60 typing lessons cover, starting with just two keys: F and J.
Fun fact
A piano has 88 keys. A full-size computer keyboard has 16 more than that!
FAQ
How many keys are on a standard keyboard?
A full-size US Windows keyboard has 104 keys. UK and many European keyboards have 105.
How many keys are on a laptop keyboard?
Usually about 78 to 86, depending on the model. Laptops usually leave out the number pad.
How many keys does a MacBook have?
US MacBook keyboards have 78 keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys.
How many letter keys are on a keyboard?
26, one for each letter of the English alphabet.