How To Install A Keyboard Tray On A Treadmill Desk
In this primer we cover everything you need to know about how to install a SteadyType keyboard tray on a treadmill desk.
Keyboard Tray Ergonomics
Placing your keyboard directly on your desk causes two big issues. You need to fix both to have correct keyboard tray ergonomics.
The first issue is height. Without a keyboard tray, most desktops are too high to type without strain. Essentially all under-desk keyboard trays will solve this issue.
The second issue is tilt. For your wrists to be correctly aligned, your keyboard should be at a negative tilt of around 15° when you’re sitting, up to 30° when standing, and even more when walking at a treadmill desk.
Keyboard trays are also vital for wrist health. The wrist is one of the most commonly stressed joints in office workers, often manifesting as carpal tunnel syndrome. All of the tendons that move the fingers run through the carpal tunnel, which is covered with the transverse carpal ligament.
When the wrist is straight with the forearm, these tendons run smoothly through the tunnel and function perfectly. However, if the wrist is put in an angled position to the forearm (too much flexion, extension or deviation) these tendons are stressed and can push up against the median nerve, causing pain and discomfort.
The traditional keyboard tray’s limitation of -15° (or at most -20°) of tilt is suboptimal for standing users, and severely so for treadmill desk users. Typing angles of -30° to -45° are far more neutral from a musculoskeletal standpoint, and not problematic since the tray cannot run into the user’s lap when they aren’t sitting in a chair.
Look for keyboard trays that have SteadyType (e.g. the iMovR SteadyType Exo) for ideal ergodynamics.
Check out these articles by our staff experts on keyboard tray ergonomics to make sure you understand what an ergonomic keyboard tray can, and should, do for you.
How To Install A Keyboard Tray On A Standing 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.
Stand Steady Clamp-On Ergonomic Keyboard Tray Review
The Stand Steady Clamp-On Ergonomic Keyboard Tray clamps onto your desk for an easy installation that will work with most standing desks.
Stand Up Desk Store Clamp-On Keyboard Tray Review
The Stand Up Desk Store Clamp-On Keyboard Tray is a bargain option with a quick assembly, poor quality and no ability to reach negative tilt.
Ergonomists Rate The Best Keyboard Trays
Ergonomic keyboard trays overcome the innate inadequacy of desks, allowing you to type in a way that’s more neutral for your upper body.
Humanscale Float Keyboard Tray Review
The HumanScale Float Keyboard Tray is purpose-built for standing desks, but users may miss some features lost in the name of space-saving.
Humanscale Keyboard Tray System Review
Other desks in this category might be “ergonomic” or “adequate," there’s really only one way to describe this Humanscale offering: “luxurious.”
Spoiled for Choice: Making Sense of the Humanscale Keyboard Tray Configurator
WorkWhileWalking's graphic guide to the options for the Humanscale Keyboard Tray. Pick and choose mechanism, keyboard tray, mouse tray, and palm rests.
3M AKT150LE Adjustable Keyboard Tray Review
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.
Fellowes Office Suites Underdesk Keyboard Drawer Reviews
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.
Fellowes Professional Series Sit / Stand Keyboard Tray Review
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...
Ergotron Neo-Flex Underdesk Keyboard Arm Review
The Ergotron Neo-Flex a relatively stripped down keyboard arm from an excellent manufacturer, lacking some amenities of more expensive alternatives.
3M AKT60LE Adjustable Keyboard Tray Review
With height adjustment, horizontal swivel and tilt, the AKT60LE is about as basic as functional adjustable keyboard trays get.
Seville Airlift 360 Keyboard Tray Review
From dimensions to features, the Seville Airlift 360 has numerous issues of consistency between what is advertised and what is sold.
iMovR SteadyType Exo Ergodynamic Keyboard Tray Review
Among trays we've tested, the SteadyType Exo is the most stable, easiest to install, and the best at achieving “negative” ergonomic angles.
iMovR SteadyType Slide Ergodynamic Keyboard Tray Review
The pinnacle of ergonomic keyboard tray design for standing desks and treadmill desks, the new SteadyType Slide combines all of iMovR's best patented ergodynamic features into a single product.
ISE Workrite Leader 5 Keyboard Tray Review
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.
iMovR Trackless Keyboard Tray Review
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.
Uncaged Ergonomics KT1 Keyboard Tray Review
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 Stowaway Keyboard Tray Review
The Stowaway keyboard tray is compatible with any standing desk, and is very adjustable to give users their ideal wrist ergonomics
iMovR Keyboard Tray Adapter Kit for Standing Desks Review
iMovR’s Keyboard Tray Standing Desk Adapter Kit offers an easy workaround to incompatibility between keyboard trays and standing desks.
Best Keyboard Tilt Risers
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.
Lenfech Compact Invisible Laptop Keyboard Tilt Riser Review
Instead of correcting for a bad typing angle that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, the Lenfech keyboard riser exacerbates it.
iMovR Elevon Ergonomic Keyboard Tray Review
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.
Source One Premium Keyboard Tilt Riser Review
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.
ESC Flip Keyboard Tilt Riser Review
By introducing extreme positive tilt angles, the ESC Flip Keyboard Stand does the exact opposite of what ergonomic keyboard trays are intended to do.
ESC Keyboard Tilt Riser Review
The ESC Keyboard Stand is only 6” wide, meaning essentially all keyboards will wobble and tip dramatically when you type anywhere but the middle.
Keyboard Tray Promo Codes
Buying an ergonomic keyboard tray? Check our list to see if there's a promo code to save you money before your make your purchase.
The Differences Between Ergonomics and Ergodynamics
Ergodynamics takes into account that everything about standing or walking while typing is different than when users were seated at a desk.