Shops in most European countries stock keyboards in the local layout: QWERTZ in Germany, AZERTY in France and Belgium, and so on. If you program, write in English, moved from abroad or share equipment in an international office, you may want an English QWERTY keyboard. There are two of them, and they are not interchangeable. This guide shows the differences and helps you pick.
US and UK layouts at a glance
| US layout (ANSI) | UK layout (ISO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Enter key | Wide, one row high | Tall, two rows high |
| Left Shift | Long | Short, with an extra key beside it |
| Shift + 2 | @ | " |
| Shift + 3 | # | £ |
| Key right of the space bar | Alt | AltGr |
| Number of keys (full size) | 104 | 105 |
Which one should you choose?
- Choose US if you write code. Brackets, the backslash and the pipe sit in the positions most programming guides and shortcuts assume. It is also the layout used on most laptops sold in the Netherlands.
- Choose UK if you learned to type in the UK or Ireland, or if you are used to a tall Enter key. The physical shape is the same as German, French, Italian and Spanish keyboards, so your fingers find Enter and Shift where they expect them.
- Match your other keyboard. If your laptop already has one of the two layouts, buy the same one for your desk. Switching between them every day is what causes typing mistakes.
How to type the euro sign
- UK layout, Windows: AltGr + 4.
- US layout, Windows: switch the input language to "United States-International", then press AltGr + 5.
- UK layout, Mac: Option + 2.
- US layout, Mac: Option + Shift + 2.
The "United States-International" setting also lets you type accented letters such as é, ü and ñ on a US keyboard, which is useful if you write in more than one language.
Tell your computer which layout you have
A keyboard does not report its layout to the computer. If the symbols on screen do not match the keys you press, the operating system is set to a different layout. Add the correct one under the language or keyboard settings in Windows, macOS or Linux and remove the one you do not use.
English-layout keyboards that ship from within the EU
Every keyboard below is offered in a US layout, a UK layout or both. Orders ship from our warehouse in Germany, so there is no customs paperwork for delivery inside the EU. Select the layout on the product page; it shows which ones are in stock.
Ergonomic split keyboards
- PERIBOARD-512: wired, full size. US and UK.
- PERIBOARD-612: wireless and Bluetooth, full size. US and UK.
- PERIBOARD-624: two separate wireless halves with adjustable tilt. UK.
- PERIBOARD-535 II and PERIBOARD-735: low-profile mechanical. US.
Compact and mini keyboards
- PERIBOARD-409 and PERIBOARD-422: wired mini keyboards. US and UK.
- PERIBOARD-332: mini with backlighting. US and UK. The PERIBOARD-332M is the Mac version.
- PERIBOARD-429: slim mini with backlighting. US and UK.
Keyboards with a touchpad or trackball
- PERIBOARD-525: mini keyboard with touchpad. US and UK.
- PERIBOARD-526 and PERIBOARD-427 H: mini keyboards with trackball. US and UK.
Keyboard and mouse sets
- PERIDUO-512: wired ergonomic keyboard with vertical mouse. US and UK.
- PERIDUO-712 and PERIDUO-212: mini keyboard and mouse, wireless or wired. US and UK.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a US keyboard on a computer set up in German or French?
Yes. The language of Windows or macOS and the keyboard layout are separate settings. Keep the system in your language and add the US or UK keyboard layout.
Is "QWERTY" the same as an English layout?
No. QWERTY only describes the first row of letters. Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Nordic keyboards are also QWERTY but place symbols and accented letters differently.
What is the difference between ANSI and ISO?
They describe the physical shape. ANSI keyboards have a wide Enter key and a long left Shift; ISO keyboards have a tall Enter key and one extra key next to a shorter left Shift. The US layout is ANSI; the UK layout and most European national layouts are ISO.
Are keycaps interchangeable between the two?
Mostly not. The Enter and left Shift keys have different shapes, so a US keycap set does not fit a UK keyboard.
