The 7 Best Mechanical Keyboards for Accountants (2023)

Want to click & clack while you run month-end financials?

Mechanical keyboards can be a game-changer for your work experience, especially if you’re a CPA or Excel master. 😉

But if you pick the wrong keyboard, you could end up with loud noises that could annoy coworkers, or a stiff keyboard that causes wrist pain.

As a former accountant (I worked in audit for years!), I’m going to help you make an informed buying decision that’ll improve your accounting game—and give you an awesome keyboard experience 😎

Here are my top picks for the best mechanical keyboard for accountants:

Let’s get into the details so you can choose a keyboard based on YOUR specific needs…

How We Rank Our Keyboards for Accounting & Office Work

Here are the general factors we considered—which make the perfect mech for office work, accounting, etc.

Cost:

Obviously, we’ll look at the price tags of these keyboards

Number Pad:

99% of our recommendations will include the 10-key numpad. This is a must for accountants, though they DO sell separate numpads, which we’ll get into.

Noise:

Most of the keyboards on our list can be customized to your preferred noise level, mostly through different switches

Wireless:

Do you need your keyboard to be wireless? Or do you prefer the wired connection?

Switch and customization options:

Many of these keyboards have different switch options to choose from, as well as different case colors or even keycap colors!

Build Quality:

We’ll check to make sure the overall build quality is good and that there aren’t any obvious “cheap stuff.”

Ergonomic

If you work on a computer all day, it’s important to consider keyboard height, keycap height, and other ergonomic factors.

The Best Mechanical Keyboards for Accountants

I have personally typed on every single one of these keyboards, and can honestly recommend each one (categorized based on what features you care most about).

Das Keyboard 4 - Best Overall

PROS ✅

• Split keyboard so you can adjust positioning REALLY well
• extra-large detachable wrist rest
• switch options

CONS ❌

• Really expensive ($160-200)
• Doesn’t have a 10-key numberpad (BUT they sell a separate one)

It’s no secret that a “normal” keyboard doesn’t actually do much to help our developing wrist and finger pain—and many mechanical keyboards are actually TALLER than normal, possibly making pain worse.

Ergonomic keyboards are supposed to reduce typing fatigue by positioning the keys in the way that your hands naturally lie.

And my favorite type of ergonomic keyboard? The split keyboard!

The Kinesis Freestyle Edge is a keyboard quite literally split down the middle (with a cable connecting the two halves). This allows you to adjust the position to the way YOUR hands naturally code ;)’

The Edge has a few different switch options, as well as standard features like RGB, programmable keys, etc. But it doesn’t have a 10-key numberpad, so you’ll need to purchase a separate 10-key (see below for recommendations)!

Honestly, I haven’t been able to find an ergonomic mechanical keyboard with a 10-key. I don’t think they make them!

The great news is you can purchase 10-keys separately :)

Mechanical Numpad Sold Separately

Sure, accounting pretty much requires a 10-key numpad. But luckily there are a number of affordable options for purchasing one of these SEPARATELY, allowing you to use whatever size keyboard you want!

• Kinesis USB Numeric Keypad - This is by the same company that makes the ergonomic split keyboards above—and this keyboard comes with Cherry MX Brown switches! It also has a USB port on the side for a mouse, etc!
• Qisan Numeric Keypad - This is your budget option, under $30ish! It comes with Gateron blue switches (clicky)
• EPOMAKER hot-swappable numpad - This one has RGB backlighting and hot-swappable sockets (so you can put whatever switch you want to in there). Also, these sell these in a variety of colors!

Personally, I’m a massive fan of 60% keyboards--so I personally choose to use one full-time and pair it with a separate USB numpad.

Mechanical Keyboard Buying Guide (Specifically for Accountants)

If you’re going to purchase your first mechanical keyboard, here are the main factors you’ll want to consider:

Price

It can be easier to start talking yourself into fancier features for a keyboard that’s out of your price range! The truth is, you can still pick up an amazing keyboard for under $100 and it will serve you well. Set a budget and stick to it.

Noise

If you work in an office near other people, you’ll want to consider the noise of your keyboard! This comes down to several factors:

• Switches - You’ll probably want to avoid clicky switches, which are generally louder.
• Desk mat - consider using a desk mat under your keyboard. These look cool AND dampen sound
• The keyboard itself - every keyboard is different, but if you see any features relating to “sound dampening,” i.e. “silcone dampeners,” etc, those keyboards will resonate less and won’t be as loud!

Low-Profile and Ergonomics

Most “normal” membrane keyboards are thin, low-profile experiences—mostly because there aren’t mechanical switches taking up space under the keycaps!

If you suffer from finger or wrist pain, you might consider purchasing either a low-profile mechanical keyboard or ergonomic keyboard (where the keys aren’t laid out in straight rows). Of course, you can also try out wrist rests with any keyboard!

Switches

Many of the keyboards recommended above come with different switch options!

All switches fall under 3 broad categories:

• Linear (Red, Yellow, Black colors): The simplest type. Pressing them is a straight, smooth path from the top to the bottom. There’s no tactile or auditory feedback when you press them, and they require the least amount of force to actuate.
• Tactile (Brown, clear): These switches provide a tiny “bump” when you press them (generally around the actuation point). This “tactile feedback” helps your fingers feel when the key has actually been registered.
• Clicky (Blue, green): These are a sub-type of tactile switches. There’s the tiny bump, but with the addition of a small audible “click.” These are generally louder.

For most non-gaming activities, you’ll probably want to stick with tactile or clicky switches! That’s just my opinion though, so it’s worth trying out some linears if you want!

Keyboard Size (for the 10-Key Number Pad)

Of course accountants will likely want full-sized keyboards for the numpad, but there are tons of other fun sizes that save desk space and look cool.

Click here to see our full guide to keyboard sizes.

Bluetooth

Most mechanical keyboards will actually be wired (USB-C 2.0 usually), though you can certainly find rechargeable wireless ones (via both Bluetooth and USB dongle)

Design

Do you work in a professional setting where bright, flashy RGB backlighting might be frowned upon as unprofessional? We recommend sticking with the “normal” colors, black, grey, white, etc—but it’s also worth remembering that you can always turn the RGB backlighting OFF when you need to! (Refer to the instruction manual for your keyboard).

Conclusion: What’s the best mechanical keyboard for accountants?

We recommend choosing a full-sized keyboard (so you get the number pad), with a simple design and sturdy construction (which will have a better feel).

• If you’re on a budget, try the Tecware Phantom
• If you want a great silent option, try the Corsair Strafe MK.2
• If you want a low-profile option for ergonomics, try the Logitech G915!
• If you just want a professional-looking keyboard with loads of nice features, the Das Keyboard 4 is a popular pick!

But don’t forget that you can also purchase mechanical numberpads separately, and pair them with whatever keyboard you want!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are mechanical keyboards good for office work?

Yes! As long as you consider a few factors such as noise level, design, and ergonomics, a mechanical keyboard can improve your computer experience, including typing speed and accuracy. They’re also fun to customize and use!

Are mechanical keyboards good for Excel?

Mechanical keyboards can be great for work, including MS Excel and spreadsheet work. However, you’ll want to make sure to purchase a full-sized keyboard that includes the 10-key number pad (many mechanical keyboards are smaller sizes that don’t include the numpad).

Which mechanical keyboard is best for typing?

There are two factors that can make mechanical keyboards better for typing. First, you should consider getting a keyboard with tactile switches (as opposed to linear switches). These switches have a small “bump” that helps your fingers understand when the key has been activated. This leads to more accuracy and speed when typing. Second, you should consider the height on the mechanical keyboard. A low-profile keyboard could keep your hands and wrists more comfortable for typing (although you can always purchase a wrist rest separately).

Is a gaming keyboard good for work?

A gaming keyboard (mechanical keyboard) can work just fine at work, as long as you consider a few factors like design (will it appear unprofessional?) and noise level (is the keyboard loud enough to distract coworkers, etc?). That said, mechanical keyboards can lead to improved typing speed, accuracy, and comfort, making them great additions to your work setup.

What are the best switches for the office?

The best mechanical switches for office work depend on your specific work arrangement! If noise level is a concern, you might choose linear switches (like Red or Black switches, which are generally more muted). However, tactile switches are often easier to type on for long periods of time (like brown or clear switches).