What Size is a Kensington Slot? Dimensions Guide 2026
A standard Kensington slot (Kensington Security Slot, also called K-Slot or K-Lock) measures 7 mm wide by 3 mm tall, stamped as a reinforced rectangle on the side or back of a laptop or tablet. The mini Kensington slot measures 5 mm by 2.5 mm. The nano Kensington slot measures 3.2 mm by 4.5 mm. Three sizes coexist because newer ultra-thin devices cannot host the original 7x3 mm opening.
The three Kensington slot sizes
| Slot type | Dimensions | Devices | Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (K-Slot) | 7 x 3 mm | Most business laptops, monitors, desktops, docking stations | 1992 |
| Mini (K-Slot Mini) | 5 x 2.5 mm | Ultrabooks, thin laptops (Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre) | 2015 |
| Nano (N17) | 3.2 x 4.5 mm | MacBook Air M-series, Surface Pro 9-11, ultra-thin tablets | 2019 |
How to identify which Kensington slot your device has
- Locate the slot: check the side, rear or base of the laptop or tablet for a small reinforced rectangle, usually marked with a padlock icon.
- Measure it with a ruler: standard is 7 mm wide; if the opening is visibly smaller, it is mini or nano.
- Check the device manual: Apple, Dell, HP and Lenovo all publish the exact slot type in their specification sheets.
- If unsure, ask us: email sales@elockstore.co.uk with your device model and we will confirm.
MacBook and iPad Kensington compatibility
Apple devices do not ship with Kensington slots. Instead, Maclocks offers Ledge lock adapters that convert the MacBook or iPad edge into a K-Slot compatible anchor:
- MacBook Air 13" M2/M3/M4: Maclocks MBALDG04 Ledge adapter
- MacBook Pro 14" M1 to M5: Maclocks MBPR14LDG01 Ledge adapter
- MacBook Pro 16" M1 to M4: Maclocks MBPR16LDG02 Ledge adapter
- iPad all generations: Maclocks Space or Apex Security Case with integrated K-Slot
Browse all MacBook Locks and iPad Cases & Enclosures.
Which cable lock fits which slot?
- Standard 7 x 3 mm slot: use the Maclocks CL15 T-Bar or CL15C retractable cable lock.
- Mini slot: use a Kensington MicroSaver 2.0 or Mini lock.
- Nano slot: use the N17 Nano cable lock (not interchangeable).
Need the right cable lock for your fleet?
We ship Maclocks CL15 T-Bar, retractable and keyed-alike cable locks to UK businesses in 3-5 days. Email sales@elockstore.co.uk with your device list. For EU orders, go to ElockStore.com.
Why do Kensington slots matter for business?
Since 1992, the Kensington Security Slot has been the de facto open standard for physical laptop security. It is ISO-27001 friendly, deterrent against opportunistic theft, and compatible across Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, Asus and most business-grade hardware. Only Apple resisted it - hence the need for Ledge adapters.