The 6 Best Keyboards for Excel in 2026 (Picked by an Excel MVP)

If you spend your days in spreadsheets, your keyboard is the tool you touch most. A good one makes Excel faster. A bad one slows down every shortcut. ⌨️

Maybe you’re tired of your laptop’s cramped keyboard. Maybe you type numbers all day and want a proper number pad. Or maybe your wrists are telling you it’s time for something better.

I’m a Microsoft MVP in Excel, and I use keyboard shortcuts for almost everything. So in this guide I’ll start with what actually matters in a keyboard for Excel. Then I’ll give you 6 keyboards for Excel that are on sale in the US right now, each with a clear job.

Quick picks (October 2026)

• Best overall: Logitech MX Keys S. Full-size with a number pad, quiet low-profile keys, smart backlighting, USB-C charging and 3-device switching. About $120.
• Best budget: Logitech Signature K650. Full-size layout, built-in palm rest and up to 36 months on a set of AA batteries. About $60.
• Best ergonomic: Logitech ERGO K860. Split, curved keyboard with a pillowed wrist rest and a full number pad. About $120 to $150.
• Best budget ergonomic: Logitech Wave Keys. Wave-shaped keys, a memory foam palm rest and a number pad, with no split to get used to. About $70.
• Best mechanical (with programmable macros): Keychron V6 Ultra 8K. Full-size mechanical keyboard where every key can be remapped or turned into a macro. About $120.
• Best for Mac: Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad. Mac layout, Touch ID and a full number pad. $179.

The short answer: for Excel, buy a full-size keyboard with a number pad, proper arrow keys and a full row of F-keys. If you work on more than one computer, get one that switches between devices with a key press. If you have wrist or shoulder pain, go ergonomic.

Prices change all the time, so always check the live price before you buy. 😉

Table of Contents

What Matters in a Keyboard for Excel

Most “best keyboard” lists are written for gamers or writers. Excel users need different things. Here’s what I’d look for.

1. A number pad (full-size vs. tenkeyless)

If you type numbers, a number pad is the single biggest upgrade. Typing figures on the number row means looking down and stretching your fingers. On a number pad, your hand stays in one place.

That’s why every pick in this guide has one. A “tenkeyless” (TKL) or 75% keyboard drops the number pad to save desk space. That’s fine for writing, but not for accounting, budgeting or data entry. If desk space is tight, a 96% or 98% layout squeezes the number pad in closer to the main keys.

2. Arrow keys, F-keys and navigation keys

Excel is a keyboard program. You’ll use Ctrl+Arrow to jump to the edge of your data, F2 to edit a cell and F4 to toggle between absolute and relative references (here’s my full list of Excel shortcuts).

So look for full-size arrow keys in an inverted-T, and a separate row of F-keys. Also check that the F-keys don’t default to media functions. If F4 changes your volume instead of adding $ signs, read how to fix F4 not working in Excel.

3. Low-profile or mechanical keys

This is mostly personal taste. Low-profile keys (like the MX Keys S) feel close to a good laptop keyboard and are quiet, which your coworkers will appreciate in an open office. Mechanical keys have longer travel and clearer feedback, and many people prefer them for long typing sessions. They’re usually louder, though.

4. Macro keys and remapping

Programmable keys can run a whole sequence of keystrokes with one press. That’s useful for things you do 50 times a day, like Paste Values. Logitech does this with its Logi Options+ app, and Keychron keyboards let you remap any key in a web app.

Just don’t confuse keyboard macros with Excel macros. If you need real automation inside your workbook, record an Excel macro instead.

5. Mac vs. Windows layout

Excel for Mac uses the Cmd key for most shortcuts, and Excel for Windows uses Ctrl. Most keyboards work on both systems, but many are labeled for only one of them. If you’re on a Mac, get a Mac layout (or a keyboard that ships with both sets of keycaps) so the labels match what you press. More on the differences in Excel on Mac vs. Windows.

6. Wireless and multi-device

If you switch between a work laptop and a home PC, or a laptop and a tablet, a keyboard with Easy-Switch keys saves you from re-pairing all the time. A USB receiver (like Logitech’s Logi Bolt) is also nice to have as an alternative to Bluetooth.

7. Ergonomics

If you spend 6 to 8 hours a day typing, comfort matters. A built-in palm rest helps, and a split or wave-shaped keyboard keeps your wrists straighter. It does take some getting used to.

Best Overall: Logitech MX Keys S

The Logitech MX Keys S is the keyboard I’d recommend to most Excel users 👑

It’s a full-size keyboard with a number pad, so nothing is missing. The low-profile keys are quiet and precise, with a slight dish in each key that helps your fingers find the center.

The backlighting turns on when your hands get close and adjusts to the light in the room. And if you work on more than one computer, you can pair it with up to 3 devices and switch between them with one key.

Why it’s great for Excel (and what to watch out for)

• Layout: Full-size with a number pad, full arrow keys and a complete F-key row.
• Connection: Bluetooth or the included Logi Bolt USB receiver. Easy-Switch for up to 3 devices.
• Battery: Rechargeable over USB-C. Logitech rates it at up to 10 days with backlighting, or up to 5 months with the backlight off.
• Macros: Smart Actions in Logi Options+ let you run several actions with one keystroke (on recent Windows and macOS).
• Works with: Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS and iPadOS. There’s also an MX Keys S for Mac with Mac key labels.
• Watch out for: No palm rest in the box, and it’s flat, so it’s not an ergonomic keyboard.
• Price: $119.99 at Logitech’s US store in October 2026 (regular price $129.99).

Best Budget: Logitech Signature K650

The Logitech Signature K650 is the keyboard I’d pick for spreadsheets on a budget 💰

You get a full-size layout with a number pad, deep-cushioned keys and a soft-touch palm rest built into the frame. That’s a lot of comfort for around $60.

It runs on AA batteries that Logitech says last up to 36 months, so you can basically forget about charging. It’s also spill-resistant, which matters more than you’d think next to a cup of coffee ☕

Why it’s great for Excel (and what to watch out for)

• Layout: Full-size with a number pad and handy keys for screenshots and mic mute.
• Comfort: Integrated palm rest (it can’t be removed).
• Connection: Bluetooth or the included Logi Bolt USB receiver.
• Battery: 2 AA batteries included, rated for up to 36 months.
• Watch out for: It pairs with one device at a time, and there’s no backlight.
• Price: $59.99 at Logitech’s US store in October 2026.

Best Ergonomic: Logitech ERGO K860

If your wrists, forearms or shoulders hurt after a long day in Excel, look at the Logitech ERGO K860 😌

It’s a split, curved keyboard that keeps your hands in a more natural position. The pillowed wrist rest (memory foam under a fabric top) supports your forearms, and the keyboard can tilt away from you, which helps if you use a standing desk.

The split layout takes some time to get used to. But you still get a full number pad on the right, so it works for number-heavy spreadsheet work.

Why it’s great for Excel (and what to watch out for)

• Layout: Split and curved, with a full number pad.
• Comfort: Built-in pillowed wrist rest. Tilt legs of 0°, -4° and -7°.
• Connection: Bluetooth or the included Unifying USB receiver. Easy-Switch for up to 3 devices.
• Battery: 2 AAA batteries, up to 24 months.
• Watch out for: It’s big (about 18 inches wide), there’s no backlight, and the wrist rest can’t be removed.
• Price: $119.99 on sale at Logitech’s US store in October 2026 (regular price $149.99).

Best Budget Ergonomic: Logitech Wave Keys

Want something more comfortable than a flat keyboard, but not ready for a split one? The Logitech Wave Keys is the easy middle ground 🌊

The keys follow a gentle wave shape, and there’s a cushioned palm rest with 3 layers of memory foam. But the keys are where you expect them, so there’s almost no learning curve.

It’s a compact layout that still has a number pad, and at $69.99 it costs a lot less than the K860.

Why it’s great for Excel (and what to watch out for)

• Layout: Compact layout with a number pad. Keys are dual-printed for Windows and Mac.
• Comfort: Built-in memory foam palm rest (not removable).
• Connection: Bluetooth or the included Logi Bolt USB receiver. Easy-Switch for up to 3 devices.
• Battery: 2 AAA batteries, rated for up to 36 months.
• Watch out for: No backlight, and the compact layout puts the navigation keys closer together than on a classic full-size keyboard.
• Price: $69.99 at Logitech’s US store in October 2026.

Best Mechanical (With Programmable Macros): Keychron V6 Ultra 8K

If you like the feel of a mechanical keyboard, or you want to put your own shortcuts on keys, look at the Keychron V6 Ultra 8K ⚙️

It’s a full-size (100%) mechanical keyboard with a number pad and a knob in the top-right corner. Keychron released it in early 2026 as the newer version of its popular V6 Max.

The big feature for Excel users: you can remap any key and create macros in Keychron’s Launcher web app. And it comes with both Mac and Windows keycaps, with a switch to flip between the two systems.

Why it’s great for Excel (and what to watch out for)

• Layout: 100% full-size with a number pad and a knob.
• Macros: Remap any key or record macros in the Keychron Launcher web app. Works on Windows, macOS and Linux.
• Connection: 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3 (up to 3 devices) or a USB-C cable.
• Battery: 4000 mAh, up to 660 hours with the backlight off (Keychron’s rating).
• Switches: Hot-swappable, sold with red (linear), brown (tactile) or banana switches.
• Watch out for: It’s heavy (about 1.1 kg) and taller than a low-profile keyboard, so you may want a wrist rest. Mechanical keys are also louder than the Logitech picks.
• Price: $119.99 at Keychron’s store in October 2026.

Best for Mac: Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad

If you use Excel on a Mac, the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad is the simplest choice 🍏

You get a Mac layout with Cmd and Option keys where your fingers expect them, full-size arrow keys, a number pad (Apple itself calls it “ideal for spreadsheets”) and Touch ID for logins.

It’s thin and light, and it charges over USB-C. Apple says one charge lasts about a month or more.

Why it’s great for Excel (and what to watch out for)

• Layout: Extended Mac layout with a number pad, document navigation keys and full-size arrow keys.
• Touch ID: Works with Macs with Apple silicon running macOS 15.1 or later.
• Connection: Bluetooth, or USB-C cable for pairing and charging.
• Watch out for: No backlight, no multi-device switching, and the keys are very flat. If you want backlighting and 3-device switching, the Logitech MX Keys S for Mac is a good alternative.
• Price: $179 (white keys) at Apple’s US store in October 2026.

Conclusion

The right keyboard won’t write your formulas for you. But it will make every shortcut, every number and every long day in Excel a bit easier 😏

If you’re not sure, get the Logitech MX Keys S. It does everything well.

On a budget? The Signature K650 gives you a full-size layout and a palm rest for around $60. Wrists hurting? Go for the ERGO K860, or the Wave Keys if you want an easier transition.

Alright, so you got the keyboard. Now what? 🤔

Complete your setup with the best mouse for Excel, a monitor that shows more cells or a laptop that can handle big workbooks.

Already set? Check out our free Excel training! 💪

FAQ: Keyboards for Excel

What is the best keyboard for Excel?

For most people, the Logitech MX Keys S. It’s full-size with a number pad, quiet, backlit and switches between 3 devices. The most important thing for Excel is the layout: a number pad, full arrow keys and a full row of F-keys.

What’s the best budget keyboard for spreadsheets?

The Logitech Signature K650 at around $60. It has a full-size layout with a number pad, a built-in palm rest and long battery life. If you also want an ergonomic shape, the Logitech Wave Keys costs about $70.

What’s the best ergonomic keyboard for spreadsheet work?

The Logitech ERGO K860 if you’re ready for a split keyboard, and the Logitech Wave Keys if you want something more familiar. Both have a number pad and a cushioned palm rest.

Do I need a number pad for Excel?

If you enter numbers regularly, yes. It’s much faster than the number row. If you prefer a smaller keyboard or work on a laptop, a separate USB or Bluetooth number pad does the same job.

What’s the best keyboard for accountants, finance and financial modeling?

Go full-size with a number pad, and make sure the F-keys work as F-keys (F2 and F4 are used constantly in modeling). The MX Keys S is a safe choice. If you live on keyboard shortcuts and like mechanical keys, the Keychron V6 Ultra 8K lets you put your most-used sequences on single keys.

What’s the best keyboard for data entry?

A full-size keyboard with a comfortable number pad and a palm rest. The Signature K650 is a great value pick, and the Wave Keys is a good choice if you type for hours.

Are mechanical keyboards better for Excel?

Not necessarily. Mechanical keys give clearer feedback and many people like them for long typing sessions. Low-profile keys are quieter and feel closer to a laptop. Layout matters more than switch type.

Are keyboards with macro keys useful in Excel?

They can be. A macro key can run a sequence like Alt, H, V, V (Paste Values) with one press. But for automation inside your workbook, an Excel macro or VBA is the better tool.

What’s the best keyboard for Excel on a Mac or MacBook?

The Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad or the Logitech MX Keys S for Mac. Both have a Mac layout and a number pad. Pick the Logitech if you want backlighting and multi-device switching.

Is a Bluetooth keyboard good for Excel?

Yes. Bluetooth is fine for Excel work. If Bluetooth drops out in a busy office, a USB receiver is the backup, and all the Logitech picks in this guide come with one.

Which keyboards have quiet, low-travel keys?

The Logitech MX Keys S and Apple’s Magic Keyboard both have quiet, low-profile keys. They’re the best choices for open offices and video calls.

Which keyboard has a detachable palm rest?

None of the picks in this guide. The K650, ERGO K860 and Wave Keys all have built-in palm rests. If you want a removable one, pair a flat keyboard like the MX Keys S with a separate wrist rest.