Keyboard Switches

The quest for the ultimate typing experience starts with a mechanical keyboard. The mechanical switches in these keyboards provide a superior typing experience, but there are many different types available from a wide range of manufacturers. Keyboards are very personal devices, and everyone has their own ideas about the best keyboard switches.

This guide will help you decide which switch type is best for your needs. I'll highlight the most popular switch types and explain the different switch properties and their impact on your keyboard. I've also included some tips on how to get your hands on some physical test switches, info on popular switch brands, and answers to a few common questions. 

What Are Keyboard Switches?

Keyboard switches are the components underneath each key on a keyboard that register your keystrokes. There are many different types of keyboard switches, including mechanical, membrane, and optical switches. 

All keyboard switches have four basic components: a housing, an electrical circuit, a spring, and a stem. The electrical circuit stays open until you press the key. The spring wraps around the stem, and the whole assembly fits into the housing. 

As you press down on a key, the spring compresses. The stem closes the electrical circuit and registers the key input. When you release the key, the spring pushes the stem back to the default position, re-opening the electrical circuit and stopping the key input. 

Why Do Keyboard Switches Matter for Typing?

Keyboard switches are responsible for the feel of each key on your keyboard. Switch type can affect your typing speed and accuracy, but it can also impact comfort and ergonomics over an extended typing session. 

Types of Keyboard Switches

Mechanical Switches

Mechanical switches are the most popular option in high-use keyboards for gamers, typists, programmers, and anyone else who spends most of their time at the computer. 

The most common types are linear, tactile, and clicky switches. Each type has unique properties, and different models from different manufacturers have minor variations.

Linear Switches

Linear switches have no tactile feedback during the keypress, and they make very little noise. 

The lack of tactile feedback gives them a fast response time, which is perfect for gaming. Some people feel they are not as well-suited to word processing, coding, or other tasks where precision is more important than speed, but some typists enjoy linear switches. 

If you're used to another switch type, it may take some time to adapt to the lack of tactile feedback in linear switches. 

Some popular linear switch models are Cherry MX Red, Gateron Ink Black V2, Razer Yellow, Gateron Yellow, Kailh Box Red, and Durock L7.

Tactile Switches

Tactile switches have a slight bump during the keypress at the actuation point when the keyboard registers the input. They also make a quiet click noise, but it's quieter than a clicky switch. 

Tactile switches offer a good balance between speed and tactile feedback, which makes them popular for general-purpose use. They are not considered as fast as linear switches, but they take less force to operate than clicky switches.

Some popular tactile switch models are Cherry MX Brown, Gazzew Boba U4T, Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro, Gateron Brown, Kailh Box Brown, and Durock T1.

Clicky Switches

Clicky switches have a distinct tactile bump during the keypress and create a loud click sound. This satisfying combination makes some people love them - but others hate the sound. You may not want to use these in a shared workspace! 

Clicky switches give the strongest tactile feedback of the three main options, but they also usually need the most force to press. 

Some popular clicky switch models are Cherry MX Blue, Kailh Box Jade, Razer Green, Gateron Blue, Kailh Box White, and Durock Shrimp.

Optical Switches

Optical switches are the latest innovation in keyboard switches. They are similar to a mechanical switch, but they use a light beam and sensor to register the keypress. During each keypress, a small gap in the stem allows an infrared light beam to strike the sensor, which registers the input. 

Optical switches are faster than the best mechanical switches, although the difference may be too small for most people to detect. Because they have fewer moving parts, they also last longer than most mechanical switches. Most optical switches are rated for 100 million keypresses, while most mechanical switches are only rated for 50 million.

Membrane Switches

Membrane switches are found in laptops and consumer keyboards for the home and office. Dome switch, scissor switch, and butterfly switch keyboards all use some form of membrane switch. 

These designs use a large soft membrane with flexible electrical contacts underneath the entire keyboard. As you press each key, the membrane deforms to complete the electrical circuit and register the input.

Membrane keyboards are very cheap to make and much lighter than mechanical keyboards. Each membrane keypress is quiet, similar to a linear or quiet tactile switch. Most models have very limited tactile feedback with short key travel distances, which can slow your typing speed and increase your error rate.

With extra care, it's possible to get good results while typing on a membrane keyboard, but they still tend to have shorter lifespans. Because all the membrane switches on a keyboard are a single connected unit, you cannot replace or repair them. If a single key stops working, it's often cheaper to replace the entire keyboard than to repair it. 

How to Choose the Best Keyboard Switches for Your Needs

Consider the following five properties to help simplify your search and narrow down your focus. 

Actuation Force

This is the amount of force you must apply to the switch before it registers the key input. It is measured in grams of force (gf), and a heavier measurement means more force is required. 

Switches with a light actuation force are easy to press and create limited tactile feedback, which can slightly improve keypress speed. Many gamers love light switches, while many typists avoid them. 

Switches with a heavy actuation force have much more noticeable tactile feedback. Some users argue that this provides better accuracy, while others find it slows them down. 

Unless you have a specific requirement, you should consider switches with a mid-range actuation force. 

Actuation Distance

This is the distance you must depress the key before the keyboard registers the input. Actuation distances are measured in millimeters, starting from the key's default rest point. A higher measurement means that you must press the key further before the input is registered.

A higher actuation distance helps prevent accidental keypresses, but they may slow your typing speed. Lower actuation distances are great for fast-paced gaming, but this also makes it easier to press keys by accident.

Some of the latest high-end keyboards have switches with actuation points you can adjust with software. This allows you to experiment with different actuation distances without changing the physical switches. 

Travel Distance

This is the total distance between a key's default resting point and the fully depressed point where it 'bottoms out' and cannot move down any further. It is measured in millimeters, and a longer measurement means the key can move further before stopping. 

Travel distance is longer than the actuation distance because the key input is registered before the physical key reaches its lowest point. Higher travel distances mean that your keys will have a higher total height, while low travel switches have a lower profile. 

Long travel distances allow for more flexibility in the placement of the actuation point. The extra travel distance can also help prevent typos because each individual keypress is more distinct. Typists usually enjoy longer travel distances for precision, while many gamers prefer shorter distances for faster action. 

Like actuation distance and actuation force, it's a good idea to start in the mid-range unless you have a specific need in mind. 

Noise Level

Most keyboard switches generate noise when pressed. Depending on the switch characteristics, this ranges from a barely audible whisper to a loud, distinct click. There is no universal noise level measurement for keyboard switches, so we have to rely on general comparisons.

Linear switches are nearly silent, clicky switches are very loud, and tactile switches rank somewhere between the other two. Within each switch type, there are different models that are louder or quieter. 

Keyboard switch noise can cause a surprisingly strong response in some people. Some love the satisfying noise, while others find it infuriating and distracting. According to various internet rumors, some offices have banned the use of clicky switches in shared workspaces to prevent disruption. 

Durability

Mechanical switch durability is measured using the average number of keystrokes before failure. Most mechanical switches are rated for at least 50 million keystrokes, but there are high-end models that are rated for 100 million keystrokes. Optical switches have a higher base durability rating, usually starting at 100 million keystrokes. 

Those are impressive numbers, but they don't convey much practical information about how long they will actually last. 

The actual lifespan will depend on your personal usage patterns, but here's a quick example: if you have a switch rated for 50 million keypresses and you press it 25,000 times per day, every day of the year, it should still last for over five years. 

(25,000 presses x 365 days x 5 years = 45,625,000 presses). 

Most people will never use any single key that much in a day—this entire guide only contains about 15,000 characters. 

Best Keyboard Switches for Different Users

Remember that many users will have different preferences, so you should treat these recommendations as a common starting point, not a final decision. 

What Are the Best Keyboard Switches for Gamers?

Most gamers prefer fast switches to keep up with fast-paced action, which means linear switches with a light actuation force, short actuation distance, and short travel distance. The best key switches for gaming are Cherry MX Speed Silver, Razer Yellow, and Kailh Speed Silver. 

If you play games where precision matters more than speed, you may want to try the recommendations for typists listed below. 

Which Keyboard Switches Are Best for Typists?

Most typists prefer slower, heavy switches with solid tactile feedback for enhanced precision. Although typists often have unique preferences, tactile switches with heavier actuation forces and longer travel distances are common. The best switches for typing are Gazzew Boba U4T, Cherry MX Brown, and WS Heavy Tactile. 

Tactile switches are a popular choice, but some typists prefer the extra audio feedback from clicky switches. Some typists even prefer the speed of linear switches, but they require expert precision. 

What Keyboard Switches Suit General Users?

If you're not a gamer, a typist, or a software developer, you may be happy with a standard membrane keyboard. Their main advantage is that they are cheaper than mechanical keyboards, but budget mechanical models are not much more expensive. 

If you're certain you want to use mechanical switches but don't want to waste time comparing and contrasting 15 different switch models, consider Gazzew Boba U4T or Cherry MX Brown tactile switches for general use. 

Best Keyboard Switches for Quiet Environments

Keyboards can be loud, but switch manufacturers have also created switches designed for quiet environments. These linear switches are not totally silent, but they're perfect for use in quiet environments. Start your search with Kailh Silent Pink and Wuque Studio Morandis, or if you have an optical switch housing, try Gateron KS-15 optical switches. 

How to Test Keyboard Switches Before Buying

Switch Testers

Switch testers are small devices used to compare different switch types. They contain space for several different switch types, usually somewhere between 4 and 9, depending on the model. 

Some switch testers are general purpose and arrive empty, while others are pre-loaded by switch manufacturers to give you an overview of their product lines. These models may have up to 30 switches or more. 

Switch sample kits are also available from many manufacturers. These kits bundle together a single switch from multiple different product lines for use with switch testers (or with hot-swappable keyboards).

Once you've narrowed your switch selection down to a few choices, get a sample model of each switch type and compare how each one feels when you press it. Pay close attention to the amount of force required, travel distance, actuation point, and noise level. 

Retail Store Demos

If you don't have a switch tester, you can visit your local consumer electronics or computer store to test their gaming keyboards. You may not be able to test specialty switch types like this, but it can be a good way to understand the differences between linear, tactile, and clicky switches.

If the store is focused on gaming, you might be able to test a wider variety of switch options. Some computer stores even have their own switch testers prepared for use, but this is still rare. 

Online Reviews and Videos

If you can't get a physical copy of the switch you're considering, check out online reviews and videos from people who have actually tested it. Try to look for information from reputable review sites that share their testing methods, not from affiliate marketers or influencers. 

Popular Keyboard Switch Brands

Cherry

Cherry is the original mechanical keyboard switch manufacturer. It started selling mechanical switches in the 1980s, and the Cherry brand is still quite popular today, although corporate ownership has changed hands several times. Cherry switches are high-end products with top-tier quality and prices to match. 

Cherry's most popular switches are the widely known and respected Cherry MX line, which includes Cherry MX Red, Cherry MX Brown, Cherry MX Blue, and Cherry MX Speed Silver switches.

Gateron

Gateron started out by creating and selling Cherry switch clones, but it has expanded its range to newer original models. It provides a good balance of price and quality across a wide product line. 

Gateron's most popular switches are Gateron Red, Gateron Blue, Gateron Brown, Gateron Yellow, and Gateron Ink Black V2. 

Kailh

Kailh switches are produced by Kaihua Electronics Company Limited, a Chinese company that has been manufacturing switches since the 1990s. While the brand name isn't well-known outside the mechanical keyboard community, its switches are used in many Logitech and SteelSeries products. 

Some of Kailh's popular switches are Kailh Red, Kailh Blue, Kailh Brown, and the Kailh Box Series. 

Durock

Durock is a more confusing switch brand since it is manufactured by JWK, a separate company. The two companies are often listed together as JWK/Durock, but the switches they make are reliable and competitively priced. 

Some popular Durock switches are Durock L7 and Durock T1. 

Razer

Razer is a popular gaming peripheral company that has started manufacturing its own line of switches. As you would expect, Razer focuses on the gaming market, and they have a limited product line that offers linear, tactile, and clicky switches. 

Instead of selling multiple models, they revise the design of each switch type and give it a generation number, such as 'Gen 3'. Razer Green clicky switches and Razer Yellow linear switches are the most popular, but they also make Razer Orange tactile switches. 

What Are the Best Keyboard Switches? | FAQs

Can I Mix And Match Different Types Of Keyboard Switches On The Same Keyboard?

Yes, you can mix and match different mechanical switch types on the same keyboard. Some people use different switches for the alpha and function keys or a silent switch for the spacebar, while others create custom switch blends for specific games. 

Remember that you can only mix and match mechanical switches, and you cannot combine mechanical and optical switches. Always check the manufacturer's directions for the switches and the keyboard housing. 

What Are The Most Affordable Keyboard Switches For Beginners?

Switch prices can vary widely, but there are some excellent, affordable options for beginners. If you don't want to sort through 40 different switch types, choose Gateron Yellow linear switches or Durock T1 tactile switches. 

Can I Use Any Switch With Any Keyboard?

No, you cannot use any switch with any keyboard. Some mechanical keyboards support hot-swappable switches that can be removed by hand, but others solder the switches in place during construction. Soldered switches can be removed, but only with special tools. 

How Long Do Keyboard Switches Usually Last?

Most mechanical keyboard switches are rated for 50 million keystrokes, while some high-end models are rated for 100 million keystrokes. In practical terms, a switch rated for 50 million keystrokes should last for decades of regular use before showing signs of wear and tear.