At first, most people are attracted to mechanical keyboards due to the loud, satisfying clicking noises that some switches make.
If you’re interested in the best quiet mechanical keyboards, check out this article.
However, after the honeymoon phase ends, you are left with a loud keyboard that they can’t use at work or around other people.
The loud clicking noise that used to bring such joy to their life, now echoes in the background when attempting to play video games and chatting with friends.
The clicks have become a curse that follow you everywhere.
A change is needed, it’s time to change your switches to a quieter option. But with so many silent switch options available, which one is the best?
The Best Quiet Switches – Our Picks
The Award | The Switch | Special Features |
---|---|---|
Best Silent Linear | Durock Silent Linears | Comes in two colors: smoky and clear |
Best Silent Tactile | Durock Shrimp Silent Tactile | Beautiful blue |
Budget Silent Linear | WS Silent Linears | Pre-lubed and reliable |
Budget Silent Tactile | WS Silent Tactiles | Pre-lubed, no mods needed |
Promising Newcomer | Gecko Silent Linears | Creamy silence |
#1 Pick: Durock Silent Linears
Durock Silent Linears are available in 2 different colors. Both are linear switches that are super smooth and super quiet.
Daybreak comes with a smoky clear housing and is a bit heavier with a spring weight of 67g.
Dolphin has a clear housing and is lighter. I opted for the lighter one, since heavy switches are fatiguing after long typing sessions.
Quick summary | Daybreak | Dolphin |
---|---|---|
Total Cost for a TKL | $62 | $62 |
Spring weight | 67g | 62g |
Pre-lubed? | Yes | Yes |
Switch type | Silent linear | Silent linear |
Here’s what they sound like when lubed.
These switches are mid-range when it comes to cost. For a 65% keyboard, it’ll cost around $50 with some extra switches in case any break.
They are pre-lubed from the factory. However, for a total silent experience, I recommend lubing them yourself.
This may take a longer time, but it’s worth it since the lube lasts basically forever.
These switches are extremely smooth and are manufactured by a reputable switch brand, JWK/Durock.
Others that use these switches say it’s perfect for whisper rooms, and they won’t bother your roommates for family.
These switches come in sets of 18 and are perfect for you if you're looking for a smooth and quiet linear switch.
#2 Pick: Durock Shrimp Silent Tactiles
Our best silent tactile with a reasonably sized bump is the Durock Shrimp Silent Tactile.
Quick summary | Durock Shrimp Silent Tactile |
---|---|
Total cost for a TKL | $63 |
Spring weight | 67g |
Pre-lubed? | Yes |
Switch Type | Silent Tactile |
Unlike other switches, such as the Boba U4, this switch is easy to press but still incredibly smooth and silent.
It’s also pre-lubed lightly from the factory.
Here’s what they sound like:
A nice benefit to these Durock switches is that they’re also available on Amazon if you’re looking to ship something fast.
These switches come out to be about 70 cents per switch, which puts it in the mid-range budget for mechanical switches.
They have an average spring weight of 67g, which isn’t too heavy unless you’re holding down your switches for long sessions while playing RPGs such as World of Warcraft.
For FPS games, this switch weight shouldn’t bother you, but if they do, you can do a spring swap mod to lighter weight springs.
A pre-lubed silent tactile switch that's smooth with a reasonable bump
#3 Pick: WS Silent Linears
Second up is the ZealPC Zilent V2.
The Zilents are very similar to the Healios, but they are tactile instead of linear.
The Zilents have a big smooth bump to provide tactile feedback to the user, and unlike other switches the bump starts at the very start of the key press with no pre-travel.
This means the keystroke does not happen unless you press hard enough to clear the bump, which removes user error from “half-pressing” a key.
Coming in four different bottom-out forces, each Zilent variation offers its own feel and resistance. The different weights include 62g, 65g, 67g, and 78g.
At a price of $1.20 each, these are not cheap switches but similar to the Healios, the quality is great.
#5 Pick: Matias Quiet Linear
The Matias Quiet Linear is a truly quiet switch made for court stenographers and anyone else working in an environment where they need to keep the typing sounds low.
The spring has a unique design where there is more resistance at the start of the keypress that gradually decreases as the internal spring is compressed.
The Matias Quiet switches are slightly louder than the other options on the list, but are still a great pick for anyone looking for a quiet switch.
These are the cheapest on the list by far, coming in at $50 for a box of 200 switches. Or about $0.25 each.
#8 Pick: Cherry MX Silent Red/Black
The Cherry MX Silent switches are linear with a 3.7mm total travel distance. They are slightly quieter than the other Cherry MX linear switches with a slightly different feel.
The switches have rubber dampening on the stem which keeps the switch from producing as much noise on impact.
The only downside to this design is it makes the switch feel more muddy on each keystroke. You do need to sacrifice the feel for noise reduction.
The Silent Reds have a 45 g bottom-out force and the Silent Blacks have a 60g bottom-out force.
The Cherry MX Silent switches are ranked number four because they produce a slightly louder and higher-pitched noise than the ZealPC switches listed above and they are scratchier than the Gateron switches.
A classic and reliable switch, Cherry MX Silent switches are guaranteed to last 100 million keystrokes.
Favorite Quiet Mechanical Keyboards
1. Ducky One 2 Mini: Best Quiet Keyboard for Gaming
The Ducky One 2 Mini is an excellent all-around 60% mechanical keyboard. We love using this keyboard for a mix of gaming and typing.
The keyboard comes with your choice of Cherry MX switches, so you can opt for the Cherry MX Silent Red or Silent Black if you need your keyboard to be a bit more quiet.
The Ducky One 2 Mini also comes with additional keycaps that you can swap out to customize the build even further. The keyboard is a lot of fun to tinker with.
You can check out our full review of the Ducky One 2 Mini, it is also included in our best 60% keyboard list.
The Ducky One 2 Mini is available for a really good price.
2. Durgod K320: Best Quiet Mechanical Keyboard for the Office
The Durgod K320 is one of the best keyboards for typing.
Durgod is known for their buttery smooth stabilizers and awesome build quality. If you’re looking for a mechanical keyboard for work, you can’t pass up on this one.
Much like the Ducky One 2 Mini, you have the option to purchase the keyboard with Cherry MX Silent switches so you can make it nice and stealthy.
The keycaps comes in a nice PBT material and two color design that is sure to impress.
You can find the Durgod K320 on Amazon with a bunch of different switch options.
3. Ducky MIYA Pro: Best Silent 65% Keyboard
The Ducky MIYA Pro is one of our absolute favorite keyboards.
The keyboard comes in a nice compact 65% layout which makes it perfect the perfect balance of comfort and compactness.
If you’ve ever wanted a keyboard with a specialized design, look no further. The MIYA Pro comes in a ton of different colorful unique designs that are sure to impress.
You can check out all of the different options:
- Ducky MIYA Pro Pro Panda White 65%
- Ducky MIYA Pro Koi 65%
- Ducky MIYA Pro Forest Fairy 65%
- Ducky MIYA Pro Sea Melody 65%
- And many more
The Ducky MIYA Pro can be purchased with Cherry MX Silent Red switches to make it super quiet when typing.
Overall, this is one of our favorite 65% keyboards, so you can’t go wrong with this pick.
4. Leopold FC980M: Excellent Silent Keyboard for Data Entry
The Leopold FC980M is another excellent option. This keyboard comes is really nice 1800-compact or 96% layout.
This layout is perfect for those who want access to a number pad, but don’t need the traditional navigational cluster that often goes unused. It’s a great way to save space without compromising utility.
The FC980M comes with two-color PBT keycaps and lots of other bells and whistlyes. I believe it’s one of the best pre-built mechanical keyboards on the market.
The keyboard comes with a silent switch option as well so you don’t need to worry about having a loud distracting keyboard.
You can find the FC980 on mechanicalkeyboards.com for a good price.
5. Keychron K6: Great Quiet Keyboard for Mac
The Keychron K6 is a feature-packed 65% keyboard.
This keyboard is compatible with Windows and Mac which makes it work with almost every computer. Not to mention it can connect through wired/wireless, so more worrying about being stuck at your desk.
You also have the option to opt for an aluminum case which makes this keyboard incredibly durable and well-built.
My favorite feature of the keyboard is that it’s hot-swappable, which means you can choose which switch to put in the keyboard.
You’re not stuck to any one switch, so you can pick the silent switch that fits best within your budget and needs. Pretty cool, huh?
You can find the Keychron K6 on Amazon with a few different options.
Why does Sound Matter?
The sound of a keyboard switch is one of the biggest factors when picking out a switch for your new mechanical keyboard. The other factor is typically the feel of the switch.
If you plan on recording videos, streaming, talking over a microphone, or working in a public space, it’s a good idea to stay away from the loudest and clicky switch types.
The loud switches will create more background noise and microphones will pick up the sound of each keystroke. It’s also good to keep in mind, most people don’t enjoy the sound of your loud keyboard, especially in an enclosed area packed with people.
Avoid these loud switches:
- Cherry MX Blue, Green, and White
- Kailh BOX White, BOX Navy, and Kailh BOX Jade
Not All Sounds Are Created Equal
The pure decibel output of a keyboard switch is not the only factor when it comes to deciding which switch is the best pick for you.
While certain switches may be quieter than others, a switch that emits a higher-pitched sound tends to be get picked up more on microphones and is more disturbing to those around you.
A deep, low-pitched sounding switch on the other hand, will be less intrusive and tends to not get picked up by microphones as much, even if it’s louder.
The lower-pitched sound is generally much more pleasing on the ears and is a sound most keyboard switch manufacturers and enthusiasts attempt to go for when buying a keyboard.
Other sound factors include the amount the switch rattles and shakes.
Rattling is when the switch is not fully secured or machined to a tight tolerance, this makes the moving components inside the switch bang against each other instead of smoothly sliding up and down.
The rattling increases the noise output of the keyboard and makes the sound output much more unpleasant. Because of this, we considered this factor when making our top five list.
Your Keyboard Case & Stabilizers Matter
It’s important to note that the switch is not the only factor that determines the sound of the keystroke. The overall build material of the case can change the overall feel and sound of each key.
For example, the lighter and more flexible materials such as plastic, tend to create more noise and dampen the sound less. The flexible material allows the vibrations and sound to travel through the keyboard, instead of reducing the overall decibel output.
Case materials such as aluminum, steel, and acrylic are heavier and sturdier. Because of their denser build material, they can dampen the sound of the keystrokes more effectively, creating a quieter and deeper sounding switch.
The stabilizers are also a big factor in determining the overall sound output of your keyboard. Stabilizers are placed under your larger keys, such as your spacebar, and reduce the amount the key shakes when pressed. Therefore, stabilizing it.
By reducing the amount the keys shake, stabilizers can lower the overall sound output of your keyboard. There are several ways to make your stabilizers more effective at reducing shakiness and ratting of your keys, but we’ll get into that later.
How to Make Your Keyboard Even Quieter
There are a lot of silent switch options out there, and we hope we’ve helped you narrow down your search. For some people, however, even with the silent switches, your keyboard may still feel too loud.
Do not fear! There are several other options you can do to lower the sound of your keyboard. Such as adding a dampener inside your keyboard case, lubricating your switches, adding O-rings, and other great options.
Check out this post for a more in-depth write up on how to lower the sound output of your keyboard.
Silent Tactile Switches: Are They Good?
Silent tactile switches are a less common option than silent linear switches, but if you still enjoy the bump, silent tactile switches are a great option. But they can be harder to find, especially in stores.
Silent tactiles offer a solid typing experience and the bottom out is completely silent, just like linear switches. Boba U4s are usually considered the “best” silent tactile switches.
With silent linear switches, there are a lot more options to choose from nowadays, but the most popular by far is Cherry MX Pink due to the wide availability.
Conclusion
In general, there are a lot of factors that effect the overall sound output of your keyboard including the case, stabilizers, and switches. In this article, we went over our top five picks for the best mechanical keyboard switch to make your keyboard more quiet.
Our top pick was the ZealPC Healios with the Zilents in close second. Both of these switches are incredibly silent and have excellent build quality. While a bit on the pricier side, they are worth it if your budget allows it.
If not, there are other great options on this list that are more affordable as well.
We also recommend ordering a sample pack to test out several different switch types to figure out the best switch for you.
We hope you found some helpful information in this post and are one step closer to getting your next keyboard.
And, as always, happy typing!