Your first keyboard

Start with a ready-made keyboard or put together your own!

A few simple choices will get you there.

Prefer to try it first?

01 / YOUR STARTING POINT

How much would you like to build?

All three are good ways into the hobby. Pick the one that feels right for you today.

Ready to type

Prebuilt

Already assembled with switches and keycaps. Choose a design you like and start typing!

Shop prebuilts

A gentler project

Prebuilt, then modify

Start with a prebuilt keyboard and change things a little at a time. Choose a hotswap model if you want to replace its switches later.

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The full experience

Custom kit

Choose a keyboard kit, switches and keycaps, then put them together yourself!

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The joy of building it yourself

Like a LEGO set, putting it together is part of the fun.

We do not offer an assembly service, but our guides and tools can help you get started.

Hotswap means no soldering

Compatible switches plug into sockets on the circuit board, also called the PCB. You can replace them using a switch puller.

Look for hotswap in the listing!

02 / MEET THE PARTS

A keyboard, piece by piece.

Tap a number or a part name. You will see what it does, what to check, and where to find it.

Exploded illustration of a compact keyboard: keycaps above clear switches, an aluminium case and circuit board below, a spacebar stabilizer in front, and a brush and lubricant tub beside it.
Illustration of a typical mechanical keyboard. Parts and kit contents vary by model.

1 / The foundation

Keyboard kit

The case is the outer body. Inside, the PCB is the circuit board that reads your keypresses, and the plate holds the switches in place. A kit usually bundles these together.

Check the box contents first. Switches, keycaps and stabilizers may be sold separately. A prebuilt usually already has them fitted.

What needs to fit?

The PCB, case and plate must be made to work together. Buying a complete keyboard kit simplifies this. Choose the correct connection type too: wired, wireless or both, as listed for that model.

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2 / The feel under your fingers

Switches

One switch sits under each keycap. Linear is a smooth press; tactile adds a bump you can feel; clicky adds a deliberate click. Silent versions reduce noise and can be linear or tactile.

Buy enough for every key. An 87-key TKL needs 87 switches. In packs of 10, choose 9 packs for 90 switches. Check each listing’s pack size.

What about Hall Effect and switch specs?

Hall Effect (HE) keyboards sense a magnet moving inside the switch. This can let you change how far you press before a key registers, depending on the board. It describes the sensing technology, not a separate feel.

HE boards need explicitly compatible magnetic switches. Standard MX mechanical switches, optical switches and HE switches are not interchangeable just because they fit. Check the exact model’s compatibility list.

Actuation force is the pressure when a key registers. Bottom-out force is the pressure at the end of the press. Higher gram values generally mean a heavier press. Total travel is the full distance a switch moves, not how early it registers.

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3 / The colour and shape

Keycaps

These are the tops your fingers touch. They change the look and the shape of each key. A keycap set can include extra sizes for different keyboards.

Check the set’s layout diagram. It needs the right Shift, Enter and spacebar sizes for your board, plus a compatible switch stem.

Profile, plastic and the letters on top

Profile means the shape and height of the keycaps. ABS and PBT are two common plastics; finish and sound also depend on the design.

The letters are called legends. Double-shot moulds the legend from a second plastic. Dye-sublimation uses heat to put dye into the plastic. Neither tells you whether a set fits your board: check the included sizes.

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4 / Support for the long keys

Stabilizers

These little supports keep long keys, such as the spacebar, moving evenly when you press one end. A wire joins the two supports beneath the keycap.

Some kits include them; some do not. Check the kit contents and whether included stabilizers are already lubricated. Ours usually come unlubed unless stated otherwise.

Which stabilizers do I need?

PCB-mounted stabilizers attach to the circuit board; plate-mounted ones clip into the plate. The keyboard must support the type you buy.

Wire sizes are written in u, where 1u is the width of a normal letter key. Check the spacebar size and how many stabilizers the layout needs. Split and unusual layouts can need a different set.

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5 / A little finishing care

Lubricant and tools

A small amount of the right lubricant helps stabilizers move smoothly and reduces rattle. A fine brush or syringe helps you put it where it is needed.

You do not need every tool. Check what comes with the keyboard. A switch puller removes switches; a keycap puller removes the tops.

Do I need to lubricate everything?

No. Factory-lubed switches can be used as supplied, and tuning them is optional. Unlubed stabilizers often benefit most from a little care. Follow a guide for the lubricant and part you have; more is not better.

Our Krytox lube brush and syringes make applying small amounts easier. Watch our stabilizer lubrication guide →

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03 / YOUR LAYOUT

Which keys do you actually use?

A layout is the arrangement of keys. The percentage roughly describes its size. Open one below to see what it keeps and a product example. 65%, 75% and TKL are useful starting points if you want arrow keys.

40–60%Small desk, fewer dedicated keys

Usually no separate arrow keys or F1–F12 row. A 40% often also leaves out the number row. Hold a key such as Fn to give another key a second job; this is called a layer. Check the exact arrangement before choosing.

MMD KM40 V2 Prebuilt Fully Assembled KeyboardMMD KM40 V2 Prebuilt Fully Assembled KeyboardView this example → Nova60 Aluminum CaseNova60 Aluminum CaseView this example →
65%Compact, with arrow keys

Usually keeps the letters, number row and arrows, with a few navigation keys such as Delete. F1–F12 is normally reached using a layer.

GLITTER65 L01 65% Custom Keyboard KitGLITTER65 L01 65% Custom Keyboard KitView this example → [Instock] Neo65 Cu Keyboard Kit[Instock] Neo65 Cu Keyboard KitView this example →
75%Arrow keys and F1–F12

Adds the function row above the numbers, while keeping the keys close together. Useful when you often reach for F1–F12.

[Instock] Neo75 Keyboard Kit[Instock] Neo75 Keyboard KitView this example → [Instock] Bridge75 Keyboard[Instock] Bridge75 KeyboardView this example →
TKLFamiliar spacing, no number pad

TKL means tenkeyless: the familiar full-size arrangement with the number pad removed. It keeps arrows, function keys and a separate navigation cluster.

[Instock] ND TKL Keyboard[Instock] ND TKL KeyboardView this example → [Instock] Focus Lab CTRL87 Keyboard[Instock] Focus Lab CTRL87 KeyboardView this example →
Full-sizeFor lots of number entry

A full-size keyboard includes the number pad.

[Instock] TickType DP104 Fully Assembled Prebuilt Keyboard[Instock] TickType DP104 Fully Assembled Prebuilt KeyboardView this example → [Instock] Focus Lab CTRL 100 Keyboard[Instock] Focus Lab CTRL 100 KeyboardView this example →
Alice / ErgoAngled groups for your hands

The letter keys sit in two angled groups, often in a single case. Key sizes can differ from a standard board, so check keycap coverage. Comfort is personal: try a display model if available.

[Instock] EGG Works x Newton Gravity Ergonomic Keyboard Kit[Instock] EGG Works x Newton Gravity Ergonomic Keyboard KitView this example → [Instock] Neo Ergo Keyboard Kit[Instock] Neo Ergo Keyboard KitView this example →
SplitTwo separate halves

You can position each half independently. Check the connection between the halves, the required software and the included keycap sizes. Key count and key arrangement vary widely.

[Preorder] Mistel MD770 PRO Keyboard[Preorder] Mistel MD770 PRO KeyboardView this example → [Instock] QK Alice Duo Keyboard Kit[Instock] QK Alice Duo Keyboard KitView this example →
Numpad / MacropadA small pad for shortcuts

A few extra keys for shortcuts or controls, rather than a full typing keyboard. Check how those shortcuts are assigned using the product’s software.

MMD KM17 Ultra Wireless NumpadMMD KM17 Ultra Wireless NumpadView this example → Womier SK30 Mini Wireless NumpadWomier SK30 Mini Wireless NumpadView this example →

04 / READY TO BUILD

A few checks. Then the fun part.

Choose options on the product page, including any extra plate or bundle. Add the remaining parts separately. Follow the guide for your exact keyboard when it arrives.

Before checkout

  • Your switches match the keyboard’s technology and sockets.
  • Your keycap set includes the sizes your layout needs.
  • You know which parts the kit already includes.
  • Your switch quantity covers the key count, rounded up to whole packs.
  • You checked whether each item is in stock, a preorder or a group buy.

When your parts arrive

  1. Check the contents and read your model’s build guide.
  2. Test the PCB as the maker instructs before assembling.
  3. Prepare and fit the stabilizers, then assemble the kit in the stated order.
  4. With power disconnected, align the switch pins and fit the switches gently. Never force a bent pin.
  5. Fit the keycaps, reconnect and test every key.
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A LITTLE MORE HELP

Helpful before you shop

No need to read everything now. Come back when you need a little more detail.

How to shop for custom mechanical keyboardsLearn how to use product types, collection pages, and filters.Group buy vs preorder vs in-stockUnderstand release types before you place an order.How to lube stabilizersOur practical stabilizer guide on Instagram.Resources and firmwareFind compatibility tools and keyboard-specific guides.