Best Budget Mechanical Keyboards 2022

The best gaming keyboards are mechanical, and mechanical keyboards don't often come cheap. Mechanical keyboards from well-known brands usually cost over $100, especially if they're wireless.

Meanwhile, Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts are willing to pay much more for limited-run, luxury custom kits — check out one of our keyboard reviewers' endgame keyboards, the Rama Works U80-A.

But not everyone wants to (or can afford to) spend hundreds on a keyboard, especially when they have other peripherals to buy. Luckily, there are plenty of budget-friendly mechanical keyboards on the market that will give you a satisfying, clicky typing experience for less than $100 — or even less than $80. And if you end up with a keyboard that's less-than-perfect, these mechanical keyboard mods can help improve what you've got.

Before we get to our best budget mechanical keyboards picks, here are some things to consider while you're shopping around:

Black Friday Mechanical Keyboard Deals

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Black Friday deals season is here and that means you'll find a load of great sales on mechanical keyboards of all kinds. We're tracking all the savings on our best Black Friday deals page, but our favorite deal right now is below.

(opens in new tab) Logitech G413 TKL SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: now $49 at Amazon (opens in new tab) (was $69)

The Logitech G413 TKL SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is a wired device with backlit keys. As the name suggests, it has a tenkeyless form factor so there is no numeric pad. The keys are mechanical with tactile switches.

Quick Shopping Tips

Choose your form factor: Keyboards come in several sizes, but the first distinction is full-size, which has a dedicated number pad, or tenkeyless (TKL) which doesn't. (There are some smaller keyboards that have number pads but these are exceptions — the majority of keyboards with number pads are full-size.) While number pads can be useful for data entry or just as extra keys that can be customized, many people just can't spare the desk space.

Choose your switch type: All mechanical switches aren't created equal. Different switch types feature varying actuation points, travel distances, and types of feedback. There are three main categories of mechanical switches you should know:

Linear switches are easy to press because there’s no tactile bump along the way to bottoming out. Many gamers prefer linear switches because they can be pressed, repeatedly, quickly, and they tend to be quiet. These are often Red or Black.

Tactile switches feature a noticeable bump that offers clear feedback before bottoming out and — in many cases — increase the required actuation force. Many typists prefer tactile keyboards because they make it easier to feel each keypress. Common examples include Brown and Clear switches.

Clicky switches are tactile switches but also make noise when they hit the tactile bump in the keypress. These are preferred by people who a) work alone and love the sound of typing, b) assume the people around them love the sound of typing, or c) don't really care about the people around them. These are often Blue, Green, or White.

There are a range of options within each category, but manufacturers are often kind enough to break down their switches into those categories (and they're often color-coded as well).

Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard You Can Buy Today

A long list of gaming features and good switches make this the best budget mechanical keyboard. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

1. Cooler Master CK552 Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard Specifications Switches: Gateron Red, Blue or Brown Backlight: Per-key RGB Type: Full-sized Size: 18.1 x 5.3 x 1.6 inches (460 x 135 x 41mm) Weight: 1.9 pounds (850g) Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Newegg (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Beautiful RGB backlighting + Solid aluminum top plate + Variety of available switch types Reasons to avoid - Red switches can be easy to mis-press

The Cooler Master CK552 is the best budget mechanical keyboard for most users. It’s a full-sized gaming keyboard with RGB backlighting, an aluminum top plate, and a 5.9-foot (1.8m) USB 2.0 cable. It comes with Gateron switches in Red (linear), Blue, (clicky), or Brown (tactile).

Our review unit came equipped with Gateron Red switches that proved responsive during gaming — so much so that our review occasionally pressed keys they didn't mean to. This also means it stumbled a bit during heavy typing sessions. Choosing a different switch type might help, but the other switch options are more difficult to find online at this time.

Good for gamers and enthusiasts, the CK552 features onboard memory that can store up to four profiles and on-the-fly controls that make it easy to record macros and control the backlighting. It's also compatible with the Cooler Master Portal utility, which offers more granular controls over many of the same areas but isn’t as robust as rivals, such as Razer Synapse. Still, this dual approach should appeal to people who don't like to install a bunch of software and those who want greater control over their peripherals.

With Cherry switches, a tough build and low price, you can't go wrong. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

2. HyperX Alloy FPS Pro Best Budget TKL Mechanical Keyboard Specifications Switches: Cherry MX Red or Blue Backlight: Red Type: Full-sized Size: 14.1 x 5.1 x 1.4 inches (358 x 130 x 36mm) Weight: 1.8 pounds (816g) Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Compact shape, detachable cable make for easy transport + Cherry MX switches are slightly better than rivals + Solid steel construction should withstand heated gaming sessions Reasons to avoid - Red-only backlighting - Keycaps show noticeable shine after limited use

The HyperX Alloy FPS Pro (currently going for $70 (opens in new tab)) was made with eSports in mind, making one of the best budget mechanical keyboards for gamers. It features a compact TKL design, a detachable USB cable and solid steel construction that should allow it to travel well. Those features alone would allow it to stand out from other keyboards on this list, but HyperX didn't stop at the Alloy FPS Pro's portability.

The Alloy FPS Pro is available with Cherry MX-branded linear Red or clicky Blue Switches, and that also helps it stand out from other budget mechanical keyboards. There's nothing wrong with most manufacturers' switches, but Cherry's are still seen as the best of the best — at least in the mainstream consumer market.

HyperX also decked out the Alloy FPS Pro with n-key rollover and 100% anti-ghosting as well as red backlighting with a variety of effects. All of these features combined led to some of the best and most comfortable gaming sessions our reviewer had during the course of preparing this round-up. The Alloy FPS Pro was responsive, fit perfectly with the rest of my setup and felt like the natural choice for gaming.

It would be nice to see RGB backlighting and dedicated media keys, but from a pure gaming standpoint, it's hard to beat the Alloy FPS Pro at this price point.

Logitech's K845 Mechanical keyboard is well-built and now includes backlighting. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

3. Logitech K845 Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard for Productivity Specifications Switches: TTC/Cherry MX Tactile/Linear Backlight: White Type: Full-sized Size: 17.13 x 5.0 x 1.38 inches (435 x 127 x 35 mm) Weight: 1.72 pounds (780g) Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) View at Newegg (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Under $60 starting price + Minimalist design suitable for any desk + Newer model has (white) backlighting Reasons to avoid - No RGB - Not as solid and substantial as higher-priced options

Logitech's K845 replaces our previous budget productivity pick, the K840. It costs about $10 more, but adds white backlighting to the keys, which you can configure in one of five patterns, and adjust to three levels of brightness (plus off). For a street price of $59.99, you get a full-sized mechanical layout with an aluminum top plate and your choice of red (linear), blue (clicky tactile) or brown (tactile) switches made by TTC. For $20 more, you can opt for one of the 845ch models, which use Cherry switches (red or blue). The company sent us an 845 with TTC blue switches, and we found them a satisfying substitute over the Cherry MX Blue switches in our Das Keyboard daily driver.

The Logitech K845 also sports an aluminum top plate that both looks good and delivers a more premium feel than you might expect from a keyboard in this price range. That said, if you're used to pricier keyboards with lots of heft, the 1.72-pound weight and plastic shell don't exactly scream 'high-quality keyboard.' Still, the switches are rated to 50 million clicks, and the molded keycaps mean you don't have to worry about the labels fading — though we're not a huge fan of the chunky font.

There are no dedicated macro or media keys, included software, or detachable cable. And the white backlight isn't as snazzy as RGB. But we also wouldn't expect all that in this price range. The flip-up plastic feet at the back do feel a bit more substantial and durable, though, than many other keyboards we've tested with higher price points. If you're after a simple, no-fuss entry level mechanical clacker for productivity purposes (and perhaps some occasional gaming), the Logitech K845 is a great option — especially if you see it on sale for below its $59.99 MSRP.

Whether working or playing, this keyboard's layout works. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

4. Havit KB487L Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard for Work and Play Specifications Switches: Outemu Red Backlight: None Type: Tenkeyless Size: 15.7 x 7 x 1.9 inches (398 x 177 x 48mm) Weight: 2.3 pounds (1kg) Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Attractive design with distinctive keycaps + Unique layout that bridges the TKL and full form factors + Responsive linear switches that are great for gaming Reasons to avoid - Lack of switch options - Unique layout won’t be for everyone

The Havit KB487L doesn't fit neatly into any other category, but it's such an interesting keyboard that we had to include it here. It's a standard TKL shape, but instead of having the usual cluster of shortcut keys along the right-hand side, it has a number pad. This leads to a ‘have your cake and eat it too’ design that offers the space-saving advantages of a TKL keyboard but doesn't actually consign spreadsheet lovers to using the number row. Our reviewer, who rarely uses the shortcut cluster or number pad, didn’t notice the difference during everyday use — but it’s almost certain to throw off anyone who’s used to a more traditional layout.

Havit also equipped the KB487L with durable PBT keycaps that feel nice and boast a unique black, white, and orange color scheme that allow the KB487L to stand out among the sea of monochromatically faced keyboards currently available. This doesn't look or feel like a budget mechanical keyboard.

Luckily the KB487L’s beauty is more than skin deep. Our reviewer didn’t notice any mis-pressed keys throughout multiple days of playing Valorant or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and those games make it pretty easy to tell when you’re doing something wrong with the keyboard, namely by making what should have clearly been a headshot fly off somewhere between the lost cities of Atlantis and Narnia. It may not be your preferred experience, but it's better than most linear switch-equipped options.

Gamers who also type a lot will appreciate this MSI keyboard. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

5. MSI Vigor GK50 Elite Best Budget Mechanical Keyboard for Typing Specifications Switches: Kailh Blue (clicky) or Kailh Box White (clicky) Backlight: Per-key RGB Type: Full-size Size: 17.1 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches (435x135x38 mm) Weight: 1.8 pounds (800.5g) Today's Best Deals View at Newegg (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Sturdy metal top plate + Keycaps fight off grease Reasons to avoid - Clicky switches can get tiring when gaming - Questionable cord durability

The MSI Vigor GK50 Elite (along with the low-profile version also on this page) is a great keyboard for typing. It's a cheaper alternative (opens in new tab) to other favored typing clackers, like the Hexgears Impulse (currently $100 (opens in new tab)). Like the Impulse, the Vigor GK50 Elite offers the excellent Kailh Box White switches. You can also get this keyboard with Kailh Blue switches, so it'll be loud and clicky no matter what.

While the plastic keycaps here aren’t fancy, they did a great job of fighting off fingerprint smudges during our testing. MSI also included a premium top plate, but skimped a bit on the cable, which is rubber that doesn’t have much reinforcement for durability. But this is still a well-priced, albeit simple, keyboard with a premium typing experience.

Gamers will miss out on lavish premium features, like bonus macro keys or onboard memory. Additionally, the Vigor GK50 Elite is only available with clicky, tactile switches that can be exhausting to hit rapidly and repeatedly.

Read: MSI Vigor GK50 Elite review

Aukey's KMG14 is a win for frequent typists who prioritize desk space. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

6. Aukey KMG14 Best Budget TKL Mechanical Keyboard for Typing Specifications Switches: Outemu Blue or Red Backlight: RGB Type: Tenkeyless Size: 14.1 x 5.4 x 1.4 inches (357 x 138 x 36mm) Weight: 2.3 pounds (1.1kg) Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Satisfying--but not deafening--clicky switches + Ergonomic design well-suited to touch typing + RGB backlighting Reasons to avoid - Still a bit loud for intense gameplay - Heavy for a TKL board - Not as durable as other options

The Aukey KMG14 ($50) (opens in new tab)was the only clicky budget mechanical keyboard I tested that didn't make me want to "accidentally" spill something on top of it. The clicks are still pronounced, sure, but they’re closer to the pleasant pinging end of the spectrum than the "unbearable clacking" end. Pretty much everything else about the keyboard was also a welcome surprise, given its price.

Aukey equipped the KMG14 with RGB backlighting and full n-key rollover. It also used double-shot ABS keycaps, which is surprising given how cheap this mechanical keyboard is. Still, the KMG14 comes with a keycap puller to make it easier to swap out the keycaps with something a little snazzier, which was a nice touch and something I wish some other manufacturers had thought to include with their more-unfortunate-looking keycaps.

While this is marketed as a gaming keyboard, I’m recommending it for typing, simply because the clicks proved to be distracting to me and my teammates while I played games like Valorant and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. There are no tactile or linear switch options here that would be less distracting. People who prefer single-player games--or who don't mind grieving their teammates every time they press a key--will find a fine gaming keyboard here as well.

Get short, but comfy, switches for cheap. (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

7. MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile Best Low-Profile Budget Mechanical Keyboard Specifications Switches: Kailh Choc Backlight: RGB Type: Full-size Size: 17.1 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches (435 x 141 x 34mm) Weight: 1.5 pounds (700g) Today's Best Deals View at Newegg (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Typewriter-like typing + Braided cable + Good price Reasons to avoid - Software won't download - Stiff spacebar key can be annoying when gaming - No wrist rest

Mechanical keyboards with low-profile switches can come at a premium, but the MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile (along with the full-sized switch version on this page) offers one of the best budget mechanical keyboard experiences and is on sale right now for about $45 (opens in new tab). It competes well against pricey keyboards and particularly excels in typing. Its low profile Kailh Choc switches bring back memories of typewriters with its shamelessly loud clicks. We also liked the fast response, which made our fingers want to get moving even faster.

It’s not the perfect keyboard. In fact, we found the stiffer shift key to be a hindrance and the stiffer spacebar to affect our ability to use it rapidly while gaming. On top of this, the accompanying software doesn’t download properly at the moment, so RGB and other customization is limited.

However, this clacker has the speedy switches that gamers need with a design they like, plus a typing experience that made us feel nostalgic and eager to get to work.

Read: MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile review

Finding Savings on the Best Budget Mechanical Keyboards

Whether you're shopping for the one of the best budget mechanical keyboards or a different model, you may find savings by checking out our lists of the latest Newegg promo codes or Best Buy promo codes.

MORE: Best Gaming Keyboards

MORE: Best Wireless Keyboards

MechanicalKeyboards

Reddit Mechanical Keyboard Buying Guide

WHAT KEYBOARD SHOULD I BUY! meme (Source)

For OTHER guides see The Keyboard Overviews Wiki

WHY get a mechanical keyboard?

See this discussion

Dre_PhD answers What are common misconceptions

For WHERE to buy

See the shopping section of our Wiki's index, "Where to BUY and SELL keyboards and keys"

For FAVORITE KEYBOARD MANUFACTURERS Poll results see the Poll Wiki

The most common question in this subreddit is “What keyboard should I buy?” Well, we’re here to help you answer that WITHOUT biased responses.*

Okay cool. What do you need to know? If you're a beginner, you're probably used to using something like this, or maybe even this.

So whether you want MORE GAMING POWER, something a little more comfortable, or perhaps some vintage feels, I'm sure you'll be happy with at least your increased efficiency.

These are likely the things you care about most, and will be covered here:

Feels - how the keyboard makes YOU feel. The sound, look, and tactility.

- how the keyboard makes YOU feel. The sound, look, and tactility. Features - what different keyboards can do, and how many keys it takes to get the job done.

- what different keyboards can do, and how many keys it takes to get the job done. Cost (With examples and buyer's guide)

Basic terminology

Hang on, before we dive in, you'll need to know the terminology of the thing you're buying.

Keyswitch: It's the mechanism that detects the presses, creates the sound, and provides the feels. Keyboards are usually categorized by the type of switch it has. For example, rubber dome keyboards use a membrane switch, while mechanical keyboards have... mechanical switches in them. You don't actually touch switches while typing. Your fingers are pushing on a plastic cover called a...

Keycap: A piece of plastic stuck on top of each switch. It's what you actually see and touch. Keycaps usually have letters on them to help you know what the switch underneath will trigger. Sometimes it can be hard to tell where the cap ends and the switch begins, in which case we use the term...

Key! The term for a key switch and key cap put together. When you put a bunch of keys together in a case, you get a...

switch and cap put together. When you put a bunch of keys together in a case, you get a... Keyboard! A bunch of switches held together by a case and covered by a set of keycaps.

Feels

How a keyboard feels is arguably the most important thing when choosing a board, and this is what most people have questions about, so let's start here. There are many different kinds of keyboard switches. All of them can be considered "mechanical" because but they all feel different, and some are embraced as "mechanical" more than others:

Cherry MX

There are three kinds of switches that Cherry sells:

A tactile switch has a “bump” when it is pressed. When you push a tactile switch, you push with the most force up until you reach the actuation point of the switch how hard you have to press the key to register it), after which the switch will depress fully with very little resistance. In theory, this lets the user know exactly when the key has been actuated. Note that the actuation point is never at the bottom of the switch, meaning actuation will always happen before the switch is fully pressed down.

A clicky switch is similar to a tactile switch, except it produces some sort of sound when it activates. This kind of switch can be annoying to some, due to the click being quite loud for fast typers or gamers. Some prefer the “soft click” of the Cherry MX Whites, which still offers a click but is less distinct.

A linear switch doesn’t have a “bump”. Simply put, the deeper you press down a button, the harder it pushed back against your finger. Think of it as pushing down a spring.

One thing to note is that tactile switches and clicky switches feel almost completely different when pressed. This is because the clicky mechanism has a "snap-back" point (which is what creates the click sound), while the tactile switches are more of a smooth bump. So, if you really like clicky switches, tactile switches might not cut it for you.

Cherry offers each kind of switch in varying degrees of stiffness how hard you have to press down before it activates.). This table below shows some of the variants.

The Table of Cherry MX Feels

Linear: No physical feedback Tactile: Quiet bump feedback Clicky: Loud bump feedback Medium(45/50g) Red (45g) Brown (small bump) Blue Slightly Stiff(55-65g) Nature White (55g) / Black (65g) Clear N/A Very Stiff(80g) Dark Grey Light Grey Green and White

ALPS Feels

Both complicated blue ALPS and Filco brown have a distinct sound and a two-part key feel. The Cherry Browns have a lower activation feel than an ALPS blue, and are also a little quieter. Cherrys seem to have a lower impact than the ALPS, but with a slightly softer landing upon bottoming out. ALPS will feel crisper than rubber domes. They've been called more wobbly than Cherry MX, and have very limited keycap availability.

The colors of ALPS keys are indicative of their tactility and pressure, but they are too numerous for a table, and the colors are not always consistent with their feels. For a more detailed guide, try Ripster's Key Switch Science Guide

For SOUND samples see here

Features

While there are a wide variety of mechanical keyboards available, some features will significantly limit your choice. Among the features that will limit your selection are:

Backlighting

Integrated USB hub/audio ports

Macro Keys

Media Keys

Wireless

In addition, if you’re interested in ever replacing all the keys of your keyboard down the road for a custom look, some models are better than others.

Keyboard Size and Layout

For an in-depth understanding of WHAT IS A 60/70-/75/90/100% Keyboard see The Tenkeyless Keyboard Wiki.

The sections below will give a general overview.

Size

The size of your keyboard will affect your ergonomics, how much space on your desk gets used, and the keyboard's functionality. Here is a good image of the different layouts of most consumer available keyboards.

Standard (with numpad and arrow/navigation keys)

Tenkeyless (no numpad, but with arrow/navigation keys)

Compact (no numpad or arrow/navigation keys)

Some keyboards are available in either standard or tenkeyless versions.

You can also get "75%" keyboards, which fall in between 60% and TKL boards, which look like this.

Layout

The most common layouts are ANSI and ISO. Most Americans, Canadians, and some parts of Europe use ANSI, while other parts of Europe use ISO. Which one you get will usually depend on your country and the language you will use.

Another subtle difference in layouts is key size. While a keyboard might follow ANSI or ISO rules, some keyboard manufacturers make their own rules. A common difference in keyboard key sizes can be seen here:

See the difference?

A normal key has a width of 1x, or about the size of a letter key.

The most common sizes for the CTRL/ALT/WINDOWS (also known as modifier) keys is 1.25x/1.25x/1.25x respectively. If you plan to buy keycaps for your keyboard, this is the most universal. Some other keyboards have 1.5x/1x/1.5x. This layout is more difficult to buy keysets for.

Backlight

This is all user preference. When using your computer in the dark, it's nice to be able to see your keyboard. If you're a touch-typist, meaning you don't look at the keys when typing, then this feature might be much less important to you.

Some keyboards have programmable lighting, meaning you can control which lights are on at what time, or have flashy lighting modes. These are typically more expensive.

Cost

How much are you willing to spend on your keyboard? In general, unless you’re willing to dig for used keyboards on eBay/local thrift stores, you will need to spend at least $70 for a good mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches. Most mid-range keyboards are in the $100-150 range. Anything over that can be considered expensive.

Okay, so how much do you want to spend?

I'm a starving student living in my parents' basement. I have no money, but I want the feels.

Here are some keyboards in the $0-100 range (in Alphabetical Order):

Keyboard Name Size Switches Description Hexgears GK705 / Hexgears GK707 Tenkeyless/Fullsize Kailh (Box White/Red/Brown) One of the cheapest hotswappable keyboards that will accept any MX compatible switch, offering single colour backlighting. r/mk review. Coolermaster CK530 / CK550 Tenkeyless/Full-Sized Gateron (Red, Brown, Blue) Cooler Master's latest mid-range offering, with RGB, Gateron switches and updated software with better macro support. Ducky One / One 2 Tenkeyless/Full-Sized Cherry MX (Brown, Blue, Black, Red) Ducky's TKL/full-size, starting at $85 with no backlighting, doubleshot PBT keycaps, and on keyboard macros. The One's Micro-USB port is replaced by USB-C on the One 2, along with a new case design. Durgod K320 Tenkeyless Cherry MX (Brown, Blue, Black, Red, Clear, White, Silent Black, Silent Red) Durgod's TKL, starting at $99 with no backlighting, doubleshot PBT keycaps, and software for remaps and macros. Uses USB-C connectivity. Price will sometimes go up to $109 but usually stays at $99. Durgod K310 is the more expensive 104 key version. MagicForce 68 Compact Cherry MX / Cherry MX compatible A very popular budget keyboard from China. It is small and lightweight and well worth the price. Easily available on many common retailers including ebay and special versions on MassDrop. MagicForce 82 TKL Cherry MX / Cherry MX compatible New Magicforce keyboard from 2017, 82 keys layout, more convinent than Magicforce 68. The non-standard bottom row on this keyboard can make it difficult to find replacement keycaps. IBM Model F (USED) Compact, Full-Sized Buckling Spring Made in the mid 1980s, the IBM Model F keyboard was, and still is, one of the best-feeling mechanical keyboards in existence. If you can’t afford a new keyboard, you might try going used - and there’s really one keyboard that is bulletproof, no matter how old it is. The king of keyboards, the Model F, will last a lifetime. Weighing in at about 6lbs (almost 3kg), this is a solid buy, and a historic and vintage feel that must be used to be appreciated. Typically, the Model F is praised for its loud clicks/clacks, its heavy touch, and its strong feedback. Great for typing, okay for gaming, and very loud. Great places to check are on Ebay or on /r/mechmarket. Less common models can be hard to find though. IBM Model M Compact, Full-Sized Buckling Spring The Model M was a cost-cutting effort which gradually replaced the Model F and it is still in production to this date. It is widely assumed that the older IBM models had a better build quality than later models made by Lexmark or Unicomp. Plugable 87-key/104-key TenKeyLess, Fullsize Outemu Blue (Cherry MX compatible) A new offering in the entry-level segment, featuring adjustable white LED backlighting and doubleshot ABS keycaps, starting at $43 for the 87-key Compact and $50 for the fullsize. Redragon K552 Tenkeyless/Full-Sized Outemu Blue A fairly popular and cheap entry level board with a few backlighting options, only offered with blue switches. Rosewill RK-9000V2 Full-Sized Cherry MX (Red, Brown, Blue, Black) Super cheap, well built full-size board. Standard layout for easy customization, and removable cable for easy transport. Almost always can be found for less than $100, sometimes as low as $50-60. Unicomp Ultra Classic White Full-Sized Buckling Spring If you want a buckling spring keyboard that’s been built in this century, this is it. The Unicomp Classic is a clone of the IBM Model M. The Classic is essentially a Model M with Windows keys; the Ultra Classic is the same keyboard with a slightly smaller shell but the same mechanical components. Versions with integrated pointing devices like pointing sticks or trackballs are available for $20-30 more. A very worthwhile keyboard and feel-goody keyboard, but not very pretty or easily modified. Velocifire - various models Fullsize, TKL, compact Outemu One of the rare budget brands offering mostly brown switches. Wired and wireless models.

I'm willing to spend a fair amount for my feels.

Here are some keyboards in the $101-150 range (in Alphabetical Order):

I'm willing to spend a lot for my feels.

Here are some keyboards in the $150 to $199 range. Most keyboard companies try to keep their prices below $150, but there are a few (in Alphabetical Order):

Type Size Switches Description Ducky Shine 7 Full-Sized Cherry MX (Brown, Blue, Black, Red, Silent Red, Silver) Ducky's flagship model, with RGB and a zinc alloy faceplate paired with their doubleshot PBT keycaps. Filco Majestouch 2 Full-Sized/Tenkeyless Cherry MX (Blue, Red, Brown, Black) Well built but dated, Filco offers solid build quality, though their pad-printed ABS keycaps leave something to be desired against other modern options. iKBC MF108 / iKBC MF87 Tenkeyless/Full-Sized Cherry MX (Black, Blue, Brown, Red, Silent Red) Comes with RGB and doubleshot PBT keycaps, but the star of the show is the premium machined aluminum case that turns it into a tank of a keyboard. Topre Type Heaven Full-Sized Topre 45g The "Poor-man's Topre," The Type Heaven is a dream to type on. If you want a Topre keyboard, but don't want to break the bank (too much), this is your guy. If you can't drop >$200 for a Realforce 104 or 87, then this is your guy. Comes with ABS keycaps instead of the PBT like other models. Varmilo VA68M Compact Cherry MX (Blue, Brown, Red, Black, Gray, Green, White) Varmilo offer high quality keyboards for mech market. VA68M has aluminum case and led support, and customizable options. Start from around $150. WASD CODE Tenkeyless/Full-Sized Cherry MX (Clear, Brown, Green, and Blue) A minimal keyboard with a selection of either Cherry MX Clear or Cherry MX Green switches. This keyboard also includes a White LED Backlight on each switch, a non-branded black plastic casing, and other features. The Clear, Brown, and Blue versions start at around $150 dollars, while the Cherry MX Green version starts at around $170 dollars.

Are you ready for The Topre Life?

Want a Topre, Korean Custom, or want to build one from scratch?

Type Switches Description Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro Topre (45g) The HHKB was designed by Prof. Wada as a minimalist keyboard for Unix systems. The brand is owned by PFU (Fujitsu subsidiary). Several generations and variants of the HHKB have been made since the 1990s, each made by a different manufacturer: original HHKB from Fujitsu, HHKB Lite from Chicony and HHKB Pro from Topre. All of them use rubber domes, but only HHKB Pro comes with electrocapacitive actuation technology. Unlike Topre Realforce, HHKB Pro does not have a metal backplate, which makes it very light and unique sounding. The Pro 2 was offered in regular, silent, and bluetooth models. The current Pro Classic is essentially a Pro 2 with a USB-C port, while the new Hybrid models also offer bluetooth and key remapping software. Leopold FC660C Topre 45g A small 66-key capacitive switch version of the famed Topre Realforce and PFU Happy Hacking Keyboard. Priced at $230. Leopold FC980C Topre 45g The capacitive switch version of Leopold's FC980M. Priced at $260. Balls to the wall custom MKB Cherry MX/Gateron/Kailh/ALPS of choice The be all and end all of your personal Mechanical Keyboard quests. From the ergonomic ErgoDox to the hallowed KMAC2, you can buy pre-manufactured kits and assemble them yourself. Ranging from the 40%er to the 96-key, the limit here is your budget. If that isn't enough for you, check out the Minimal Animal build and make your own design. The price ranges from an average USD ~100 to whatever your wallet is capable of paying for. Kustoms Cherry MX, ALPS, Gateron Small, limited run, high-end keyboards made in Korea. These are often true endgame boards. Most feature an appealing solid aluminium case with some having an insert to further increase the board's heft. Can only be purchased in small group buys or second-hand on /r/mechmarket or GH Classifieds, for example. Some Kustom brands are Duck, LifeZone (LZ), On The Desk (OTD), KMAC, and TGR. These will sell normally from $350-800 with some rare ones hitting over $1000 or even higher.

My wrists hurt (RSI)

Seek medical help. An ergonomic keyboard may help, though.

RSI is no joke. Some of us came to the Keeb Life because it was a way to get out of the pain of typing for years and years, yet our work revolves around it.

It is established that a split keyboard may help with maintaining a neutral wrist posture, while typing. Unfortunately, such design has never become a widespread standard, thus ergonomic keyboards tend to be on the more expensive side. They are niche products and often very complex from engineering perspective. Consequently, prices range from $150 to $500+ depending on model.

The most popular ergonomic keyboards are Microsoft Natural/Sculpt product line and clones; those are de facto standard keyboards, except with a small gap in the middle and contoured ("tented") surface. As of 2020, there is only one very similar keyboard that features mechanical-contact switches: Cloud Nine C989M. However, there are multiple more compact options with 60% to 75% layouts.

Another group of ergonomic keyboards uses a completely different key arrangement—symmetrical, often with staggered columns instead of rows—thus requires relearning to type (it takes several days to weeks to become fluent). The benefit is much more natural finger posture. Decide for yourself, if you're okay with a steeper learning curve.

The table below lists some of the most common or established options; models with a standard layout are higher in the list and ordered by price. It is not exhaustive, though.

If you are interested in more resources, many less common ergonomic keyboards are listed in Geekhack Ergonomics forum, Xah Lee's website, awesome-split-keyboards at GitHub or its fork. There is an useful layout-comparison overlay tool. For more help, see subreddits like /r/ErgoMechKeyboards, /r/ergodox, /r/kinesisadvantage, /r/olkb or /r/RSI.

Mechanical Keyboards

Top comment

"There is a lot of key travel, so if you are used to a gaming laptop or a standard keyboard, the mechanical keys can take a while to get used to. ...A Quality Keyboard With A Few Limitations...And if that’s the case look no further you have that keyboard right here. Now let’s talk about the keyboard itself: Mechanical Sound: 10 RGB Lighting: 10 Functionality: 10 Size: 7 Responsiveness: 10 The only thing you really have to take into consideration is its price point - $179 dollars for this TO ME seems a bit steep. "