The Ultimate Guide to Keycap Materials

Keycaps are one of the most important components of a mechanical keyboard.The material of the keycaps not only affects how they feel when typing but also plays a big role in the overall look and personality of your keyboard. Knowing the different keycap materials can help you find the perfect match for your preferences. This guide will take you through the various keycap materials, helping you explore this small yet fascinating world.

1. Plastic Materials

ABS

Characteristics: Lightweight, smooth, and relatively low in wear resistance. Over time, they tend to develop a glossy, oily surface.

Pros: Low cost, vibrant colors, and flexible manufacturing processes.

Cons: Prone to wear, and long-term use may result in a greasy feel.

Summary: If you’re after vibrant colors and a smooth feel, ABS keycaps are a top choice. The double-shot molding process allows for complex patterns and vivid color combinations. However, due to their tendency to develop a shiny surface over time, ABS keycaps are best suited for users who prioritize aesthetics.

PBT

Characteristics: More durable with a slightly rough texture and excellent resistance to oil, making it less prone to deformation or fading.

Pros: Wear-resistant and heat-resistant, PBT keycaps are less likely to develop a shiny, greasy surface over long-term use, and they maintain clear texture details.

Cons: Compared to ABS keycaps, PBT keycaps usually come in fewer color options and have a higher cost.

Summary: PBT is the go-to material in the custom keycap community, loved for its durability and oil resistance. The surface of PBT keycaps has a subtle, grainy texture that offers excellent tactile feedback. They are also ideal for dye-sublimation printing, enabling high-precision, long-lasting designs.

POM

Characteristics: Smooth with high wear resistance and a firmer feel.

Pros: Extremely durable, making it ideal for those who value longevity and a solid typing experience.

Cons: Limited color options, complex manufacturing process, and higher price.

Summary: POM keycaps are a common choice in high-end keyboards due to their durability, smooth feel, and excellent mechanical properties. Although color options are limited, POM is a reliable choice for users who prioritize typing feel and keycap longevity.

PC

Characteristics: Polycarbonate (PC) keycaps have high transparency, which beautifully enhances lighting effects. They are more wear-resistant than ABS and PBT and are typically harder with a smooth surface, offering a tactile feel that lies between ABS and PBT.

Pros: PC keycaps showcase RGB lighting effects exceptionally well, making them perfect for users who love vibrant lighting. They have good impact resistance, high wear durability, and a long lifespan. Their heat resistance is excellent and they maintain stability even in high-temperature environments.

Cons: PC material has poor resistance to UV rays and may yellow or become brittle when exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods. Compared to other materials, PC can feel relatively hard to the touch. In colder conditions, especially during winter, PC keycaps may feel cool to the touch.

Summary: With its high transparency, durability, and heat resistance, PC material is an ideal choice for custom keycaps, especially for RGB backlit keyboard users. While it has some drawbacks in UV resistance and touch feel, PC keycaps remain a top choice for those seeking stunning lighting effects and durability.

2. Natural Materials

Wood

Characteristics: Made from natural wood, these keycaps have a warm and soft touch, offering a unique, natural aesthetic. Over time, the wood's surface becomes smoother, enhancing the tactile experience. Wood is also a renewable resource, making it an eco-friendly option.

Pros: Each wooden keycap is unique, with its own distinct grain and color. The natural texture and color of wood add a beautiful, organic touch to your keyboard, perfect for those who love a natural style.

Cons: Wooden keycaps are sensitive to humidity and temperature, which can lead to warping, cracking, or expansion. They are less wear-resistant and may show signs of wear or discoloration over time. Additionally, wood is more difficult to work with, making custom keycaps more expensive.

Summary: Wooden keycaps are ideal for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts seeking personalization, natural beauty, and eco-friendly materials. While they may have some drawbacks in durability and environmental adaptability, their unique visual appeal and tactile warmth make them a unique choice in high-end and custom keyboards.

Clay

Characteristics: Typically handcrafted, each clay keycap is unique. The material is easy to sculpt and shape, allowing for intricate patterns, textures, and designs. Clay can be dyed, glazed, or left in its natural tones, showcasing a rich variety of colors and textures, making it ideal for highly personalized keycaps. 

Pros: Clay keycaps are artistic pieces perfect for display and collection. They can be customized to suit the user’s tastes and preferences. The material allows for a wide range of textures and finishes, making each keycap a unique tactile experience.

Cons: Clay keycaps are relatively fragile and prone to cracking, especially when dropped or subjected to strong impact. They are usually heavier than other materials, which may increase typing fatigue. Over time, and with frequent use, clay keycaps can wear down, crack, or show signs of surface damage.

Summary: Clay keycaps are beloved by keyboard enthusiasts for their strong artistic value and craftsmanship, making them ideal for those seeking unique designs and self-expression. While they may lack in durability and strength, their distinctive aesthetic appeal and high level of customization make them perfect for display and collection.

3. Synthetic Materials

Resin

Characteristics: Resin keycaps have excellent fluidity and plasticity, allowing for intricate shapes and fine details. Resin can be transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque, achieving various visual effects, from solid colors to complex gradients and mixed hues. The surface texture of resin keycaps can be customized to be either smooth or textured.

Pros: The versatility and wide range of color options allow designers to create highly creative and personalized keycaps. Resin can produce stunning visual effects, including transparency, embedded designs, and gradient colors. Often handcrafted, resin keycaps possess a unique artistic value.

Cons: Resin surfaces are relatively soft and may scratch or wear over time, affecting their appearance. Some resin materials may gradually discolor or yellow when exposed to sunlight or air over time. While beautiful, resin keycaps can be prone to cracking or damage if impacted.

Summary: Resin keycaps are popular in the custom keycap community due to their vibrant color options, excellent plasticity, and unique visual effects. Although they may lack durability and scratch resistance, their design flexibility and artisanal qualities make them highly favored among keycap enthusiasts, especially those seeking personalization and visual appeal.

Metal

Characteristics: Metal keycaps are very sturdy, with exceptional impact resistance and wear durability, outlasting plastic and resin keycaps. They are generally heavier, providing a solid and stable typing experience, ideal for users who enjoy a more substantial feel. The surface of metal keycaps is often smooth or textured.

Pros: Metal keycaps resist wear and deformation to maintain their appearance and performance over time. The metallic sheen and texture lend a high-end, distinctive look, making them popular for keyboards with industrial, futuristic, or tech-inspired designs. Most metals are also heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant, unaffected by external environmental factors.

Cons: The heavier weight of metal keycaps can increase hand fatigue during extended typing sessions, particularly for those unaccustomed to heavier keycaps. In cold environments, they can feel chilly to the touch, which may be uncomfortable in winter. Due to their hardness, prolonged use may cause wear on keyboard switches.

Summary: Metal keycaps are a high-end choice for mechanical keyboards, known for their outstanding durability, solid feel, and unique visual appeal. While their weight and touch may not suit everyone, they are a highly attractive option for keyboard enthusiasts who value longevity and a distinct, stylish look.

Rubber

Characteristics: Rubber keycaps are very soft and provide a more comfortable touch compared to harder materials like plastic or metal, making them ideal for long typing or gaming sessions. The rubber surface has natural anti-slip properties, offering a good grip that prevents fingers from slipping during intense gameplay. Although rubber is soft, it is relatively wear-resistant and can withstand extended use, though it may harden or wear down over time.

Pros: The softness of rubber keycaps provides excellent comfort, especially during prolonged use, reducing finger fatigue. Even in humid or sweaty conditions, rubber maintains a strong anti-slip effect. Rubber performs consistently across various temperatures without affecting its feel.

Cons: Rubber keycaps tend to wear down over time, with the surface potentially becoming smooth, sticky, or aged, which can affect the user experience. Prolonged use may cause rubber to harden, losing its initial softness. Rubber keycaps are usually used for specific keys, such as WASD or other gaming keys, and often have a limited design and color selection.

Summary: Rubber keycaps are favored by gamers and heavy keyboard users due to their soft feel and excellent anti-slip performance. While they have some limitations in appearance and durability, their comfort and grip make them a popular choice for gaming keycaps, ideal for users seeking stability and long-lasting comfort.