Keyboard Tray Ergonomics

Ergodynamics takes into account that everything about standing or walking while typing is different than when users were seated at a desk.

Ergonomic keyboard trays overcome the innate inadequacy of desks, allowing you to type in a way that’s more neutral for your upper body.

In this primer we cover everything you need to know about how to install a SteadyType keyboard tray on a treadmill desk.

Adding a keyboard tray to a standing desk can be challenging, but we lay out multiple options for you to try in this primer.

Among trays we've tested, the SteadyType Exo is the most stable, easiest to install, and the best at achieving “negative” ergonomic angles.

iMovR's Trackless Keyboard Tray is an all-around solid option for an ergonomic keyboard tray, featuring 15 degrees of negative tilt and solid stability.

The Stowaway keyboard tray is compatible with any standing desk, and is very adjustable to give users their ideal wrist ergonomics

The HumanScale Float Keyboard Tray is purpose-built for standing desks, but users may miss some features lost in the name of space-saving.

Other desks in this category might be “ergonomic” or “adequate," there’s really only one way to describe this Humanscale offering: “luxurious.”

WorkWhileWalking's graphic guide to the options for the Humanscale Keyboard Tray. Pick and choose mechanism, keyboard tray, mouse tray, and palm rests.

You can find nicer trays, or most of the AKT150LE’s features in a lower-priced tray, but this is a solid product that covers the basics.

If you can’t afford a tray with tilt, then this Fellowes Keyboard Tray is a fine accessory for your workstation that helps to prevent strain on your elbows.

The Fellowes Professional Series Sit / Stand Keyboard Tray claims to be a standing desk converter in addition to a traditional tray—it might be, but only...

The Ergotron Neo-Flex a relatively stripped down keyboard arm from an excellent manufacturer, lacking some amenities of more expensive alternatives.

With height adjustment, horizontal swivel and tilt, the AKT60LE is about as basic as functional adjustable keyboard trays get.

From dimensions to features, the Seville Airlift 360 has numerous issues of consistency between what is advertised and what is sold.

The ISE Leader keyboard tray has all the perks we’ve seen with other systems, plus a couple extras. It also comes with a positional display.

The most ergonomically sound keyboard tray we've tested, iMovR's Elevon allows you to add SteadyType technology to any standing desk or treadmill desk.

Value comes at at cost. The KT1 from Uncaged Ergonomics delivers the most important traits of an ergonomic keyboard tray, but fails in other spots.

iMovR’s Keyboard Tray Standing Desk Adapter Kit offers an easy workaround to incompatibility between keyboard trays and standing desks.

Keyboard tilt risers, like the pop-up tabs of yore, put the keyboard or laptop at a positive tilt angle, placing more strain on wrists and forearm muscles.

Instead of correcting for a bad typing angle that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, the Lenfech keyboard riser exacerbates it.

Other than bad ergonomics, the Source One's poorly designed front lip will cut into your hands and prevent you from using the bottom row of your keyboard.

By introducing extreme positive tilt angles, the ESC Flip Keyboard Stand does the exact opposite of what ergonomic keyboard trays are intended to do.

The ESC Keyboard Stand is only 6” wide, meaning essentially all keyboards will wobble and tip dramatically when you type anywhere but the middle.