Layout Alternatives Beyond ANSI and ISO

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Once you’ve wrapped your head around ANSI vs ISO, it’s pretty normal to start noticing other layouts in photos and builds and think, “Wait, what is that?” There are a few alternatives that show up a lot in the hobby, and most of them exist for practical reasons like language input, comfort, or workflow (though there are definitely some weirder ones that can’t possibly be useful).

Before we go straight into the details, it helps to see a visual comparison of the “big three” physical standards. This Wikimedia diagram is a handy reference because it shows ANSI, ISO, and JIS side by side: Physical keyboard layouts comparison (ANSI / ISO / JIS).

JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)

[GB] GMK JIS | Japanese Industrial Standards 3 days left.
by u/shinjikun10 in MechanicalKeyboards

JIS is the layout you’ll usually see on keyboards intended for the Japanese market. It tends to add extra keys and changes the bottom row, often with a shorter spacebar to make room for Japanese input keys. If you want a quick explainer with pictures, this guide comparing ANSI vs ISO vs JIS is a straightforward overview.

If you type in Japanese, it makes a lot of sense. For everyone else, the main thing is compatibility. Keycap sets and plates are less standardized than ANSI, so it’s worth checking support before you buy into it.

HHKB layout

Don’t be fooled, this is no ordinary HHKB
by u/guyguilty in MechanicalKeyboards

HHKB is one of those layouts you see once and then start spotting everywhere. The big thing people notice is Control being moved to where Caps Lock usually sits, plus a more compact, programmer-friendly cluster that leans on layers.

The cleanest way to understand it is to just look at the actual layout images. The official HHKB layout page lets you click and enlarge the diagrams: HHKB layout overview.

If you live in your modifiers and shortcuts all day, HHKB can feel really efficient. It can also feel annoying at first if you rely heavily on dedicated arrow/nav keys. On Reddit, some users like the layout for programming because it “puts commonly used modifiers in easy reach,” while others say it requires a real adjustment especially coming from standard staggered boards.

Alice and ergonomic row-staggered layouts

My first alice keyboard. ABM066
by u/JOBDKNY05 in MechanicalKeyboards

Alice is usually the “first step” ergonomic layout people recommend because it keeps the familiar row-staggered typing feel, but angles the halves inward. It’s not a massive relearn, but it can make your wrists feel less cramped.

If you want to browse real examples (and see how many variations there are), this is an easy rabbit hole: Alice layout keyboard listings.

In Reddit discussions about split keyboards and ergonomics, many hobbyists describe Alice as “a bit easier to adapt to than a full split,” with one commenter noting that it’s “a good bridge for people who want some ergonomic benefit but don’t want to relearn everything.”

Ortholinear layouts

New Build. 40% Drop Planck Ortholinear.
by u/MangoCubez in MechanicalKeyboards

Ortholinear boards put keys in a grid instead of staggered rows. It looks simple, but the muscle memory adjustment is real. A lot of people like it once they settle in because the spacing feels consistent and layers start to feel “normal.”

Two useful references:

• The manufacturer home for the classic ortho boards: OLKB (Planck / Preonic)
• A clear community reference page showing common layouts: Planck on 40s.wiki

On r/ErgoMechKeyboards, a few users have mentioned that ortholinear layouts feel slow at first, with one popular post saying that “typing is definitely slower until muscle memory settles,” but that afterward it feels very efficient because of consistent vertical columns.

Column-staggered and split ergonomic layouts

One of the cleanest split ergos in existence. The ergo60 by u/adritoelagil.
by u/MangoIV in MechanicalKeyboards

This is where things get properly ergonomic. Column-staggered splits line keys up more closely with finger lengths, and the halves can be positioned where your hands naturally sit. A great “tour” article that shows examples like Moonlander, Dactyl, Lily58, Sofle, and Corne is here: Tour of split ergo keyboards.
If you want a specific example page with photos and a layout description, the Sofle keyboard site is also very clear.

On Reddit, the split ergonomic conversation is full of personal experiences ranging from “I regret not building mine sooner” to “Alice seemed like a good compromise at first, but eventually I wanted something fully split.” Many users who have tried splits and ortholinear boards tend to talk about the learning curve- slow at first but worth sticking with, while another noted that Alice was “compact and comfortable without the big mental shift.”

This is also where my own “oh wow, this works” moment happened outside of desk keyboards. On my Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold with the screen unfolded, the on-screen keyboard splits into two halves. It’s been insanely ergonomic for texting because each thumb stays closer to its side and I’m not stretching across the whole screen.

That split layout is basically the same idea as split mech boards, just on a phone. Gboard has been rolling out and refining a split keyboard layout for foldables (and later tablets), and a couple good write-ups with screenshots and settings notes are:

• Gboard split keyboard rolling out on Android tablets (originally for foldables)
• Gboard split layout details for foldables, including duplicated keys

Quick comparison

Layout type	Good reason to try it	Visual reference
JIS	Japanese input + extra keys	ANSI vs ISO vs JIS guide
HHKB	Shortcut-heavy workflow	HHKB layout images
Alice	Comfort with minimal relearn	Alice examples
Ortholinear	Grid consistency + layers	Planck layout reference
Split / column-staggered	Long typing comfort	Split ergo tour