Monckey GamerWhich switches are the quietest on a gaming keyboard?
You want a mechanical keyboard but live with other people or do not want to disturb video calls. The good news: there are truly quiet mechanical switches that do not sacrifice feedback.
Where does the noise on a mechanical keyboard come from?
Noise on a mechanical keyboard has three sources:
- The switch's click: the sound at actuation. Clicky switches (Blue, Green) have an extra mechanism to make an audible click. Linears and tactiles do not.
- Bottoming out: when the key reaches the end of its travel (bottom-out). Even silent switches make noise if you slam the keys all the way down.
- Keys on the way up: the sound of the key returning to its position (spring ping or rebound thock).
Silent linear switches: the best option
Silent linear switches add internal dampeners that absorb the impact both on the way down and on the way up. They are the quietest on the market without giving up the smoothness of a linear switch.
- Gateron Silent Red / Silent Yellow: extremely quiet and smooth. No tactile bump. For gaming with no sound distractions.
- Cherry MX Silent Red: the silence standard in the mid-to-high range. Very smooth with a great feel.
- TTC Speed Silver Silent: the silent version of the speed switch. Actuation at 1.08mm. Competitive gaming + silence.
Silent tactile switches: feedback without noise
If you want the tactile "bump" to know when the key actuated without making noise, silent tactile switches are the answer:
- Gateron Silent Brown: a subtle bump with excellent silence. A good choice for gamers who also type a lot.
- Cherry MX Silent Black: soft and quiet tactility. A bit heavier than the Red, but with more control while typing.
The loudest switches (avoid them if you want silence)
| Switch | Type | Noise level |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry MX Blue | Clicky | Very loud (click + impact) |
| Gateron Blue | Clicky | Very loud |
| Kailh Box White | Clicky | Loud |
| Cherry MX Green | Heavy clicky | Very loud |
| Cherry MX Red (regular) | Linear | Medium (bottom-out only) |
Other factors that affect keyboard noise
The switch is not the only thing determining total noise:
- Internal dampening foam: some keyboards include foam between the PCB and the plate to absorb impact sound. It greatly reduces the "thock".
- Gasket mount: a PCB floating on rubber gaskets absorbs vibration. Keyboards like theM75 Gasket 75%use this system.
- Thicker keycaps: thick PBT keycaps (1.5mm+) sound more "thocky" and muted than thin ABS ones, which produce a sharper sound.
- Switch lubing: lubing switches with Krytox 205g0 reduces internal friction noise. It also improves the tactile feel.
Concrete recommendations for silence
- Maximum silence: look for keyboards with Silent Red switches (Gateron or Cherry) + internal foam. The result is almost comparable to a membrane board but with a mechanical feel.
- Silence + tactile feedback: Gateron Silent Brown. The soft bump gives you confirmation without making noise.
- Hot-swap (change switches without soldering): theRedThunder K75 Wireless Hot-swapor the Redragon Hot-swaplet you swap switches easily if you want to try different options.
Browse our full gaming keyboards catalog with switch details included for every model.