Should I have the Feet on my keyboard in or out?

What do you think? Feet in or out?

An often-heard question is: “should I fold the feet of my keyboard in or out?” To answer this question, we must first go back in time. Since the early 1980s, keyboards are required to have feet. The ISO standard (ISO 9241‐410) states that the height of the back of a keyboard has to be adjustable.

The ISO standard also states that:

The back of a keyboard has to be adjustable; the angle has to be between 0 and 15°, although an angle of 5-12° is recommended.
The height of a keyboard at the level of the middle row of keys cannot be more than 3 centimetres.

Back then, this requirement was introduced because employees were used to typing on raised keys, as with the typewriters of old. Since then, all keyboards come with little feet. The ISO standard requires that all keyboards have feet. When should you use these? Are the rules regarding their use or is it a matter of personal preference?

Pros and cons

Let’s start with the benefit of folding out a keyboard’s feet. It is important to distinguish between people who can type “blindly” and those who cannot do that and type with two fingers instead. For the latter, the benefit of folding out their keyboard's feet is that they can see the keys better. At the same time, there is a downside to folding out the feet. When you do so, you may bend your wrists too far backwards as you type. This posture is tiring and puts more strain on your wrist joints. The question therefore is whether the benefit of typing with your keyboard's feet folded out outweighs the downside of doing so. People who can type without looking at their keyboard do not need the feet all.

Our recommendation

Keep the feet of your keyboard folded in to avoid unnecessary strain on your wrists. Make sure your keyboard is not too thick. The correct way to type is with your wrists in a neutral and relaxed position. If you find it more comfortable to type with the feet folded out, make sure the angle of your keyboard does not exceed 12°. Folding the feet in or out is not a crucial aspect of creating a good ergonomic workstation. It partly depends on your personal preference or what you are used to.

Would you like to know more about our keyboards or find out which keyboard is right for you?

Perhaps also interesting?

A better posture with a compact keyboard

An ergonomic workspace improves the productivity of computer-based workers. The ideal workspace can easily be created with just a few small adjustments. We develop high-quality ergonomic keyboards for healthier workspaces. Our keyboards alleviate the strain on the user’s lower arms, which helps prevent injuries.

Featured: compact keyboard

Research by Microsoft shows that an active computer user covers 32 km with his or her fingers daily. Therefore, the keyboard is an important part of the computer. This means that choosing the right keyboard is vital.

Multi-pairing: One keyboard, numerous devices

It is easy to switch between different devices with the use of multi-pairing. Switch easily between PC, tablet or smartphone at the touch of a button. Would you like to know more about how it works and what the benefits are?

Spotlight on the keyboard: what to know when buying one

We still spend half of our computer time using our mouse, but we are increasingly being encouraged to make more use of the shortcut keys. What should you be aware of when buying a keyboard?

AltMOUSE: for less use of the mouse

Reducing mouse use has two major advantages. It reduces physical stress and increases productivity. The challenge, however, is memorizing and actually using the shortcut keys.

16 tips for an ideal workplace

An ergonomic workplace facilitates the comfort and productivity of VDU users. All it takes is a few changes to create the ideal workplace.