Mechanical keyboards, compared, with UK prices
Filter built keyboards by size, switch and sound, put up to three side by side, or build one from parts and we'll check that they fit.
Featured keyboards
All 79 keyboards- Epomaker TH80 V2 Pro75%, Thocky, Wireless, Hot-swappable≈£58List price, converted
- Keychron C3 Pro 8KTKL, Clacky, Hot-swappable, Gasket mount£54.99List price
- Keychron K10 HE100%, Wireless, Hot-swappable£139.99List price
- Keychron K4 HE96%, Wireless, Hot-swappable£144.99List price
- Keychron Q6 HE100%, Wireless, Hot-swappable£239.99List price
- Cherry KC 200 MX100%, ISO available£90.40List price
What the sound words mean
Keyboard people describe sound with four words. Our tags are an editorial summary of what owners and reviewers report, not measurements. The previews are short recordings of one example board each.
Thocky
Recorded on one example boardLow and rounded, like tapping a marble on a wooden table.
Usually: Heavy cases, gasket mounts, foam and lubed linear switches.
Clacky
Recorded on one example boardHigher-pitched and sharp, with a bit of rattle.
Usually: Plastic cases, stiff plates and snappy switches.
Muted
Recorded on one example boardQuiet enough for an open-plan office or a shared flat.
Usually: Silent switches, lots of dampening and Topre-style boards.
Crispy
Recorded on one example boardLight and textured, somewhere between thock and clack.
Usually: Light tactile switches and thinner cases.
Compatibility checks
Custom builds usually go wrong in dull ways: a PCB that doesn't match the case's mounting points, 5-pin switches in a 3-pin socket, a keycap set without the right spacebar. The builder checks each part against the rest as you pick it.
- Case, PCB and plate share the same mounting standard
- Switch pins and footprint suit the PCB sockets
- Stabilisers match how the PCB and plate take them
- Keycap set covers your size and ISO or ANSI layout
- Magnetic boards only get switches the maker supports
| Part | Choice | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Case | 65% aluminium, gasket mount | Fits |
| PCB | Hot-swap, KBD67 standard | Fits |
| Plate | FR4, KBD67 | Fits |
| Switches | Magnetic Hall-effect | No |
| Keycaps | Cherry profile, ISO kit | Fits |
Magnetic switches need a Hall-effect PCB. This PCB takes ordinary MX switches.
How prices and links work
Some retailer links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you buy. Where-to-buy lists are marked Ad and sorted by price, cheapest first, never by commission.
Prices include VAT. Where we don't have a live retailer price yet, we show the maker's list price and say so. Shops outside the UK are flagged, as import VAT and duties may apply.
Each spec sheet links to its sources and says how confident we are in it. How we work, affiliate disclosure.