Mechanical Switch Database

How We Build and Verify the Switch Database

This database covers 80+ switches across linear, tactile, clicky, and silent types, with actuation force, bottom-out force, travel distance, sound level, and price tracked for each. Specs are cross-referenced against the manufacturer's own published sheet and, where one exists, an authorized vendor's listing — the same sourcing approach documented on our methodology page for every other dataset on this site.

Linear vs. Tactile vs. Clicky, Briefly

Linear switches move straight down with no bump or click — smooth and consistent, generally favored for gaming and fast typing. Tactile switches add a distinct bump partway through the keystroke that you feel but don't hear, a middle ground many typists prefer. Clicky switches add both the bump and an audible click, the loudest of the three and the least office-friendly. Silent variants of linear or tactile switches use internal dampeners to cut noise further, at a small cost to bottom-out feel.

Why Specs Sometimes Vary Between Sources

Manufacturer-published numbers and community-measured numbers don't always match exactly, and switches can measure slightly differently between production runs — normal in this hobby, not a sign of bad data on our end or the manufacturer's. Where independent sources disagree meaningfully, we favor whichever figure is more consistently reported rather than defaulting to the single loudest marketing claim.

Using the Filters

Sort by any spec column or filter by type to narrow 80+ switches down to a shortlist fast. Once you've got a few candidates, the switch comparison tool is the faster way to line them up directly against each other rather than scrolling the full table back and forth.

What "Factory Lubed" Changes About the Numbers

Some switches on this list ship factory-lubed from the manufacturer (Gateron Ink, Cherry MX2A, several Akko lines); others ship dry and are typically lubed by the buyer before installing. Factory lubing mainly affects sound (smoother, less scratchy) and long-term consistency rather than the actuation force or travel distance numbers themselves — those are mechanical specs tied to the spring and stem, not the lubrication. A switch's listed sound profile in this database reflects its stock, out-of-box state; hand-lubing, filming, or swapping springs will change the feel and sound from what's listed here, sometimes substantially.

Spring Weight vs. Actuation Force — Why Both Numbers Matter

Spring weight (measured in grams) and actuation force aren't always the same number, because actuation force is measured at the specific point in the keystroke where the switch registers, not at full bottom-out. A "62g" switch typically refers to the bottom-out weight, while the actuation point — where the keypress actually counts — requires less force to reach. This database lists actuation force separately from bottom-out force specifically because typists who bottom out on every keystroke experience a different switch than typists who release right at actuation, and the two numbers tell a more complete story than either alone.

Frequently Asked Questions