Mechanical Keyboards Guide

Interactive switch finder

Switch Finder by Feel

Use the switch finder to match mechanical keyboard switches by feel, weight, bump, sound, use, and budget, with specs and reasons for each match.

Set your preferences, then refine with the chips. You get ranked switches with a full spec card, a "why it matches", and a budget + premium pick. Dataset review date: May 2026; prices are estimates.

1. Feel
2. Actuation weight
3. Bump strength (for tactile/clicky)
4. Sound
5. Primary use
6. Budget (per 100 switches)

How the switch finder matches feel

The finder ranks 40 entries using six preferences. Start with the feel you want, then change one answer at a time to see which candidates move up. Every result includes its stored specifications and an explanation of the matches and compromises. A match percentage describes agreement with this scoring method; it is not a product review score or a probability that you will enjoy the switch.

PreferenceMaximum pointsWhat the finder uses
Feel32Linear, tactile, clicky, or silent classification
Actuation weight22Under 50 g, 50–62 g, or over 62 g
Bump strength14Subtle or pronounced bump labels
Sound16Quiet, thocky, clacky, or clicky labels
Primary use8Actuation distance and switch type
Budget8Stored value, mid, or premium price tier

Feel, weight, and bump are separate choices

Feel carries the most weight in the score. An exact type match receives the most points, while silent entries can receive partial credit for a matching linear or tactile character. Silent is a convenience category in this dataset; use the bump field to distinguish its entries. A different type can still appear when it matches your other preferences, so read the type on each result before buying.

The weight preference uses the stored actuation-force number, not bottom-out force. Both numbers appear on the result card so you can compare them separately. A neighboring weight band earns partial credit. Bump strength is handled separately again: it uses the dataset's subtle and pronounced labels, rather than inferring a bump from the force number. If those terms are unfamiliar, the switch decision guide explains how to narrow your choices.

Sound and use describe preferences

The sound options match descriptive labels stored with each entry. They are not decibel readings or a promise of the sound in your assembled keyboard. Use them to explore a shortlist, then consider the board and keycaps you will use. The keyboard sound guide covers those surrounding choices.

Gaming mode gives its highest use score to entries with a stored actuation distance of 1.5 mm or less, then favors linear entries among the rest. Typing mode gives linear, tactile, and silent entries more points than clicky entries. These are the finder's stated selection rules, not measured gaming results or typing-speed claims. Choose mixed use if that rule does not describe your priorities.

Read the compromises before choosing a sample

The preferences rank every entry rather than excluding all imperfect matches. “No preference” awards a fixed partial score on that axis; it does not remove the axis from the denominator. The first four results are the highest scores. The additional budget and premium suggestions are the highest-scoring entries in those tiers outside the first four, when available. Open “Why it matches” and the full ranking to inspect the tradeoffs.

Prices per 100 and the tier labels are stored estimates, not a live quote or a hard spending limit. Follow the entry's manufacturer or vendor link to verify the exact variant, specifications, pack size, and current price. Check socket compatibility separately. Before committing to a full set, use the switch-tester method to compare a small selection. The refinement buttons help you explore lighter, quieter, or cheaper candidates, and the share button keeps your selected preferences in the link.

All 40 switches we score

This dataset covers conventional contact switches. Confirm the exact switch's pin layout, height, and socket support against your keyboard manual before ordering. Magnetic (Hall effect) switches are deliberately absent: they only work in boards built with magnetic sensing, and their actuation point is a software setting rather than a fixed spec, so scoring them on the same axes would be misleading. If that is the category you are weighing, read Hall effect switches vs mechanical instead.

Switch Type Actuation Bottom-out Sound $/100
Cherry MX Red ↗ linear 45g 75g clacky $38
Cherry MX Black ↗ linear 60g 80g thocky $38
Cherry MX Brown ↗ tactile 45g 60g clacky $38
Cherry MX Blue ↗ clicky 50g 60g clicky $38
Cherry MX Speed Silver ↗ linear 45g 75g clacky $42
Cherry MX Silent Red ↗ silent 45g 70g quiet $48
Gateron G Pro Yellow ↗ linear 50g 65g thocky $28
Gateron Red ↗ linear 45g 60g clacky $22
Gateron Ink Black V2 ↗ linear 60g 70g thocky $65
Gateron Oil King ↗ linear 55g 65g thocky $60
Gateron Baby Kangaroo ↗ tactile 60g 70g thocky $60
Gateron CAP Golden Brown ↗ tactile 45g 55g thocky $40
Gateron G Pro Brown ↗ tactile 45g 55g thocky $28
Gazzew Boba U4T ↗ tactile 62g 68g thocky $38
Gazzew Boba U4 (Silent) ↗ silent 62g 68g quiet $38
Gazzew Boba LT (Silent Linear) ↗ silent 62g 68g quiet $38
Drop Holy Panda X ↗ tactile 60g 67g thocky $65
Glorious Panda ↗ tactile 67g 70g clacky $65
Akko CS Jelly Pink ↗ linear 45g 55g thocky $22
Akko CS Lavender Purple ↗ tactile 50g 58g thocky $22
Akko CS Crystal ↗ linear 43g 55g clacky $22
Kailh BOX White ↗ clicky 45g 55g clicky $30
Kailh BOX Jade ↗ clicky 50g 60g clicky $32
Kailh BOX Navy ↗ clicky 65g 75g clicky $32
Kailh Speed Copper ↗ tactile 50g 60g clacky $32
Kailh Pro Purple ↗ tactile 50g 70g clacky $30
ZealPC Zealios V2 (67g) ↗ tactile 67g 78g clacky $110
ZealPC Tealios V2 ↗ linear 67g 78g clacky $110
Durock / JWK Alpaca V2 ↗ linear 45g 62g thocky $50
Durock L7 ↗ linear 45g 63g thocky $55
Durock T1 ↗ tactile 67g 78g thocky $50
Durock Shrimp (Sunset) ↗ tactile 55g 67g thocky $52
Outemu Silent Lemon ↗ silent 45g 53g quiet $22
Haimu Whisper (Silent Linear) ↗ silent 42g 55g quiet $35
WS / Wuque Aki Clear ↗ linear 50g 62g clacky $45
KTT Strawberry ↗ linear 42g 50g thocky $24
C³ Tangerine (62g) ↗ linear 62g 67g clacky $60
Epomaker Flamingo ↗ linear 48g 58g thocky $30
NovelKeys Cream ↗ linear 55g 70g thocky $45
Sotto / JWK Mauve ↗ tactile 63g 67g thocky $55

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