As you shop for new keycaps for your mechanical keyboard on Etsy, you’ll be able to choose from many different materials, profiles, and designs. Depending on how you plan to use your keycaps—work, play, or a little of both—and the overall look you’re trying to achieve.
Keycap materials
The best material for keycaps depends on how often you’ll be using that key and what feels best to your fingers.
- Rubber keycaps can be comfortable for frequent use. For taller keycap designs (like cute rubber duckies) that you might occasionally bump your finger against, rubber designs are a bit softer.
- Silicone keycaps are similar to rubber designs, but have a bit more flex to them. They can also help reduce the sound of typing by cushioning your fingers as you tap the keys.
- Ceramic keycaps are the choice for people who enjoy the sounds of typing on their computer because the firm, weighty material adds an extra “thock, thock” sound to their keystrokes.
- Jelly keycaps are often made from POM, an engineered thermoplastic that creates high stiffness and low friction, allowing you to quickly slide your fingers over the keycaps.
Keycap profiles
Keycap profiles refer to the size and shape of the full keycap set. The size and shape of the keycaps can influence their comfort, the typing feel, as well as the overall sound they produce. The keycaps for each row of the keyboard have a slightly different angle to them in each profile:
- OEM, or original equipment manufacturer, profiles are the most common keycap profile, are standard on most keyboards, and are shaped for typing comfort.
- Cherry keycaps are about half the height of OEM keys but feature the same sculpted profile. The walls of these keys can be a bit thinner overall, too.
- SA keycaps are tall and very sculpted and typically create a louder, traditional typing sound. They’re often not used for gaming because the taller height takes some getting used to.
- XDA keycaps are low-profile keys with a uniform sculpted top for all rows. This uniformity can sometimes make it difficult to get used to typing with these keycaps.
- DSA keycaps also feature a uniform top profile to the keys, but they’re the shortest profile available.
Keycap designs
Once you’ve decided on the material and profile you prefer, it’s time to pick a design. This often begins with the material the keycap is made from, as some materials are often solid and others can be decorative.
- Pudding keycaps are translucent and allow the light from the keyboard to shine through the keys. Depending on the color of the keycap, this light will appear colored, too.
- Clear keycaps put the mechanics of your mechanical keyboard on full display, and similar to pudding keycaps, they appear to light-up by revealing the light of the keyboard.
- Colored keycaps may feature a gradient or specific pattern when sold as a set, or you can mix and match specific colors and key combinations.
- Japanese keycaps are a popular design style that often features a 3D pagoda in front of an idyllic setting.
- Resin keycaps are made of clear or colored resin for a translucent appearance and often feature elements suspended in their design. Flowers, miniature characters, and different resin colors are all popular designs.