Do you need a numpad for gaming? No — most gamers do not, and skipping it gives you more mouse space, a cleaner desk, and better shoulder alignment during long sessions. A numpad becomes useful only when you bind MMO rotations, fly in Arma or DCS, or run macros through AutoHotKey. I have been testing tenkeyless and 60% keyboards for years, and in this guide I will walk you through when the numpad helps, when it just sits there collecting dust, and how to pick the right layout for your games.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: Do You Actually Need a Numpad for Gaming?
No, most gamers do not need a numpad. Reviews and forum threads on r/gaming and r/pcmasterrace show the numpad is the most underused block on a full-size keyboard. The five reasons below cover roughly 90 percent of gaming setups.
- You get more mouse space. Dropping the numpad frees up the right side of your desk, so your mouse pad can extend further and your arm has room to swing at low DPI.
- Ergonomics improve. A centered keyboard keeps your shoulders square, which matters during 8-hour sessions and ranked grinds.
- Most games use QWERTY, not the numpad. FPS, battle royale, MOBAs, and platformers all bind movement to WASD and abilities to nearby keys.
- TKL keyboards travel better. Lighter chassis and no numpad block makes tenkeyless boards easier to pack for LAN parties and tournaments.
- Pro esports players overwhelmingly choose TKL. Walk any tournament floor and the desks are lined with boards without one.
What Is a Numpad and What Is TKL?
A numpad (numeric keypad) is the 17-key block of numbers and math operators on the right side of a full-size keyboard. A full-size keyboard, also called a 100% layout, includes the numpad, the function row, arrow keys, and the navigation cluster.
TKL (tenkeyless) is the same layout minus the numpad, sitting at roughly 80% of a full-size board. The size spectrum looks like this:
- 60%: No function row, no arrows, no numpad. Smallest mainstream layout.
- 65%: 60% plus arrow keys.
- 75%: 65% plus a function row.
- TKL (80%): Full-size minus the numpad.
- Full-size (100%): Everything, including the numpad.
Once you understand where the numpad sits in this spectrum, the choice becomes much clearer.
TKL vs Full-Size: Gaming Performance Breakdown
TKL wins for most competitive games because mouse space and shoulder alignment matter more than the 17 keys you almost never press. Full-size wins for productivity and certain genres where you bind heavily to the numpad.
| Factor | TKL (No Numpad) | Full-Size (With Numpad) |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse space | Excellent | Cramped |
| Ergonomics | Centered, shoulders square | Keyboard sits off-center |
| FPS advantage | High | Low |
| MMO/sim bindings | Limited | Excellent |
| Portability | Light, LAN friendly | Bulky |
| Productivity / spreadsheets | Tradeoff | Excellent |
| Price range | Wide variety | Wide variety |
If your gaming is mostly FPS, battle royale, MOBA, or single-player adventures, TKL is the safer choice. If you split time between games and heavy data work, the numpad still pulls its weight.
How a Numpad Affects Ergonomics and Mouse Space
The biggest hidden cost of a numpad is where it pushes your keyboard on the desk. With a full-size board, the typing block ends up off to the left of center so the numpad fits on the right. That shift forces your mouse hand further from the edge and crowds your mouse pad.
For low-sensitivity FPS players who swipe across a large mouse pad to do 180s, that crowding is a real problem. r/Valorant and r/csgo threads are full of users who switched to TKL just to reclaim that space. Reviews on forums.tomshardware.com echo the same point.
Shoulder alignment matters too. A centered TKL keeps both elbows at a natural angle. A full-size board, with the typing block pushed left, encourages your right shoulder to drift forward during long sessions. Over months, that asymmetry adds up.
When a Numpad IS Useful for Gaming
A numpad is genuinely helpful in four situations. If any of these match how you actually play, keep it.
- MMO rotations. World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, and Guild Wars 2 players often bind abilities to 1-9, but when those slots fill up, the numpad takes over. r/ffxiv and r/wow threads both show heavy numpad use for rotation-heavy classes.
- Simulation and flight games. Arma, DCS World, Elite Dangerous, and flight sims bind radios, lights, gear, and flaps to specific numpad keys. For these games, the numpad is essential.
- Strategy and RTS games. Total War, StarCraft II, and Civilization players bind control groups, unit commands, and camera positions. The extra keys matter.
- Macros via AutoHotKey or SharpKeys. r/buildapc users regularly remap numpad keys for media controls, app launching, OBS scenes, and productivity shortcuts.
Smaller Layouts: Why Some Gamers Go Even Smaller Than TKL
Some gamers prefer 60% or 65% keyboards because they remove the function row and arrows as well. The appeal is the same as TKL: more desk space, more mouse freedom, and a smaller board to pack.
The tradeoff is real, though. Without arrow keys, you either rebind them to WASD or layer them behind a function key. Reviews on r/MechanicalKeyboards show that touch typists adapt in a week, but spreadsheet users struggle because navigation keys go missing. If you split time between gaming and office work, TKL is usually the sweet spot.
What Do Pro Gamers Use?
Pro gamers overwhelmingly use TKL keyboards at tournaments. Walking the floor at any major esports event, you see rows of tenkeyless boards with no numpad in sight. The reasons are practical: tournament desks are small, mouse space is at a premium, and the rules usually require USB cables and fixed hardware.
Pros also standardize on 60% in some scenes, especially in fighting games where rapid inputs matter more than extra keys. In MOBAs and FPS, TKL is the default. Pro gamer keyboard choice trends toward TKL because every millimeter of mouse room counts at the highest level.
Standalone and Detachable Numpads: The Middle-Ground Solution
If you do not want to choose, a standalone or detachable numpad gives you both worlds. You run a TKL keyboard as your daily driver, and you snap on or plug in a separate numpad only when you need it for MMO, sim, or macro work.
Examples like the GMMK Numpad and similar 17-key modules connect over USB or Bluetooth. Reviewers on r/MechanicalKeyboards call this the best compromise: a clean TKL setup for competitive games, and full-size capability in seconds when the use case calls for it.
Do You Need a Numpad for Gaming? Decision Table by Genre
Here is the cheat sheet I use when friends ask whether to skip the numpad. Match your main genre to the row, then decide.
| Genre / Use Case | Need a Numpad? | Recommended Layout |
|---|---|---|
| FPS (Valorant, CS2, Apex) | No | TKL or 60% |
| Battle Royale | No | TKL |
| MOBA (LoL, Dota 2) | No | TKL or 75% |
| MMO (WoW, FFXIV, GW2) | Yes / Sometimes | Full-size or TKL + standalone numpad |
| Simulation (Arma, DCS, flight sim) | Yes | Full-size |
| Strategy / RTS | Sometimes | TKL works, full-size helps |
| Streaming + OBS scenes | No | TKL + macro pad |
| Productivity / spreadsheets | Yes | Full-size |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a numpad really needed for gaming?
No, most gamers do not need a numpad. FPS, battle royale, MOBA, and single-player games rarely use it. A numpad becomes useful only for MMO rotations, simulation games like Arma or DCS, strategy titles, or productivity work like spreadsheets and data entry. For 90 percent of gaming setups, a TKL or 60% keyboard is the better choice in 2026.
Which is better for gaming, TKL or full-size?
TKL is better for most competitive gaming. Dropping the numpad gives you more mouse space, a centered keyboard for better shoulder alignment, and a lighter board for LAN parties. Full-size is better only when you bind heavily to the numpad for MMO, RTS, or simulation games. If your play style is mostly FPS or battle royale, TKL wins almost every time.
What is the difference between a full-size keyboard and a tenkeyless keyboard?
A full-size keyboard (100% layout) includes the numpad, function row, arrow keys, and navigation cluster. A tenkeyless keyboard, also called TKL or 80% layout, is identical except it removes the 17-key numpad on the right. TKL boards save roughly 3 to 4 inches of width, which translates directly into more desk space for your mouse and mouse pad.
Why do gamers like 60% keyboards?
Gamers like 60% keyboards because the layout is even smaller than TKL, removing the function row and arrow keys for maximum desk space and mouse freedom. They also travel well for LAN parties and tournaments. The tradeoff is that arrows and F-keys move behind a layer key, which takes a week of muscle-memory adjustment, especially for spreadsheet users.
Are full-size keyboards better for gaming?
Full-size keyboards are not objectively better for gaming. They are better for productivity, MMO, and simulation games where the numpad matters. For FPS, MOBA, and battle royale, full-size boards actually hurt because they crowd your mouse space and shift your typing block off-center. TKL is the more popular gaming choice among casual and pro players alike.
Do pro gamers use keyboard or controller?
Pro gamers in PC esports use keyboards and mice almost exclusively, with TKL keyboards being the dominant choice at tournaments. Console esports players use controllers. Walk any major esports event and you will see rows of TKL boards because the extra mouse space, centered typing position, and tournament-grade hardware rules favor tenkeyless layouts.
Final Verdict on Whether You Need a Numpad for Gaming
Do you need a numpad for gaming? For most players, no. A TKL keyboard gives you the mouse space, ergonomics, and tournament-friendly form factor that competitive gaming demands. If you play MMO, simulation, or strategy games heavily, or use AutoHotKey for macros, the numpad earns its keep. For everyone else, the numpad is wasted desk space you can reclaim in 2026.