The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Keyboards of 2024

The Logitech Signature K650 is our recommendation for the best budget keyboard for most people. You can connect this wireless keyboard via Bluetooth or with the included USB receiver. Depending on your daily usage, a pair of AA batteries can power this board for up to 36 months. This keyboard uses quiet rubber dome switches, making it a great choice that won't bother others in shared workspaces, dorm rooms, and home offices.

It has a sturdy plastic body, and unlike more expensive mechanical options, there aren't any exposed moving parts, which means it's more resistant to minor spills or food crumbs if you often find yourself eating or drinking in front of your computer. It also offers good built-in ergonomic features, including a built-in palm rest, low-profile keycaps, and feet that provide two incline settings. These features ensure you can type on this keyboard without angling your wrists too sharply, which can help keep you comfortable, especially when typing for long stretches.

It's a full-size keyboard board, so not only does it have all the keys you need, including a numpad, but there's plenty of space between keys. The keycaps also have rounded tops, making it easier to differentiate between keys by feel, which can help you type faster and avoid typos.

The best budget gaming keyboard we've tested is the Razer Huntsman Mini. This compact model uses optical switches, which feel just like conventional mechanical switches but use a beam of infrared light to register keystrokes. Coupled with this keyboard's outstanding latency performance, the result is a highly responsive-feeling gaming experience for gaming in any genre. The build quality is also impressive, and it feels very sturdy, even compared to some of the more premium options in Razer's catalog.

The Huntsman Mini also offers plenty of customizability using Razer's Synapse 3 software. You can program macros, adjust RGB backlighting effects, and save custom profiles to the onboard storage. Last but not least, one of this keyboard's defining features is its compact size. It takes up very little space on desks, leaving plenty of room for more dynamic mouse movements. Just remember that it gives up some of the keys found on standard full-size boards, including dedicated arrow keys and a numpad.

The best cheap wireless option available is the Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s. This wireless keyboard's standout advantage is its slim, compact design, making it easy to slip into bags or laptop cases for use on the go. It's also a great fit for smaller workspaces, leaving more space for your mouse and anything else you need on your desk. This keyboard uses AAA batteries and connects via Bluetooth, allowing you to pair up to three devices simultaneously and switch between devices using hotkeys. Using the configuration software, you can create custom profiles, remap shortcuts, and even create macros.

That said, its somewhat unusual circular-shaped keycaps and tighter key spacing can take a bit of getting used to at first. Also, this keyboard's compact layout means it gives up some of the keys found on standard full-size boards, including dedicated arrow keys and a numpad.

Many gaming keyboards come with steep price tags, so finding a great unit at a lower price can take time and effort. For a cheaper option, we recommend the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL. This keyboard has a compact TenKeyLess form factor, which means it lacks a traditional numpad but still has dedicated arrow keys and a function row. While our best budget gaming pick, the Razer Huntsman Mini, uses optical mechanical switches, this keyboard uses rubber dome switches. Rubber dome switches are significantly quieter, and they're a bit more resistant to minor spills and debris. That said, they don't quite offer the same high-end performance.

Speaking of which, the overall latency performance on this keyboard is higher than on more premium options, so it isn't a great fit for high-level competitive play. Still, it's more than suitable for casual gaming in any genre. It also has some surprising extra features normally found on more expensive options, including a volume wheel and the ability to set macros to any key. It also has RGB lighting with eight separate zones you can customize using the companion software. If you're interested in a full-size alternative with a numpad, there's a full-size version of this board called the SteelSeries Apex 3. The full-size version is typically a bit more expensive; however, it includes a wrist rest for added comfort.

If you're looking for an even cheaper office option, we recommend the Dell KB216. This is a straightforward, wired-only keyboard, and while its feature set is about as basic as you get, that's also its strength. It has a conventional full-size layout with good spacing between keys and key clusters. Like the more expensive options above, it also has a low-profile design, which means you don't have to angle your hands too sharply to reach all the keys and likely don't have to rely on using a wrist rest, even if you type for long stretches at a time. Best of all, it's very quiet, making it a great choice for a home or bullpen office setting where you may be sensitive to bothering those around you.
 
As a wired-only model, you also never have to worry about replacing batteries or recharging, though it does mean you have less freedom for positioning it around your desktop, and you can't connect it to multiple devices at once. Also, its materials feel cheaper compared to other options on this list, and the typing experience is on the mushier side. Even so, if you're on the hunt for an inexpensive keyboard that doesn't have features you won't use, this covers all your bases.

If you work off iPads, tablets, or even your mobile phone, we recommend the Logitech K480. It's a compact unit that's very similar in design to our best cheap pick, the Logitech Pebble Keys 2 K380s, but features a built-in device tray so you can prop your mobile devices up at a nice viewing angle while in use. The price of this keyboard can vary somewhat, but we think it's at its best value when its price falls to around the $35 USD mark. This keyboard connects with Bluetooth and pairs with up to three devices at once, and you can switch between devices using a small dial in the corner. It comes with two AAA batteries for power, which can last up to two years before you need to replace them.

This keyboard uses rubber dome switches, which provide good tactile feedback to help you avoid typos and missed keystrokes. They're also extremely quiet to use, so you won't bother anyone around you if you work in libraries, coffee shops, or co-working spaces. As with any cheap keyboard, there are a few downsides, like a lack of backlighting and a cramped typing experience compared to more expensive, full-size options. That said, it's still a decent-feeling board that's great if you need something to work with while you're on the go using mobile devices.