The Thai Keyboard: Kedmanee & Pattachote Layouts
A complete reference for the two standard Thai keyboard layouts — Kedmanee and Pattachote — with full base and Shift-layer maps, finger zones, and how to enable Thai input on every device.
Thai is typed on one of two standard keyboard layouts. Both map the 44 consonants, the vowels, the four tone marks, and Thai digits onto a familiar QWERTY-shaped board — but they arrange them very differently. This page shows both in full, explains how they differ, and walks through enabling Thai input on any device.
The Kedmanee layout
Each key shows its base character on top and its Shift character below. The coloured top border marks which finger presses the key:
- Left pinky
- Left ring
- Left middle
- Left index
- Right index
- Right middle
- Right ring
- Right pinky
- Thumb
Kedmanee (เกษมณี) is the default Thai layout on virtually every operating system and the one almost all Thai speakers learn. High-frequency characters sit on or near the home row, and the Shift layer holds Thai digits, rarer consonants, and punctuation. The map above is the Kedmanee board; the coloured zones show which finger owns each key.
The Pattachote layout
Pattachote (ปัตตโชติ) is an alternative layout designed to balance the workload between hands and reduce finger travel, a little like Dvorak for English. It is far less common but still supported system-wide. ThaiTyper teaches both, so you can compare them and pick the one that suits you.
Reading the finger zones
Each key is coloured by the finger that should press it. Your eight fingers rest on the home row, and every other key is reached from there and returned. Learning the zones — not the letters — is what lets you eventually type without looking.
Enabling Thai input on your device
ThaiTyper maps your physical keystrokes to Thai in the browser, so you can practise without changing any system setting. To type Thai everywhere else, add a Thai input source:
- Windows: Settings → Time & language → Language & region → add Thai, then switch with Win + Space.
- macOS: System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → + → Thai, then switch with Control + Space.
- Linux (GNOME): Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → + → Thai.
- ChromeOS: Settings → Advanced → Languages and inputs → Inputs → add Thai keyboard.
- iOS / Android: Settings → keyboard / language → add Thai.