Look down at a BOX switch with the keycap removed and you see the usual cross-shaped stem surrounded by a square wall that rises with it. That wall is the box. On a standard MX-style switch, the area around the cross is open, and dust or crumbs can fall toward the contacts inside. The box closes that path and also gives the stem a wider guiding surface. Kailh built a full family of switches around the design, with linear, tactile and clicky versions.
What the box does
Protection. Kailh markets BOX switches as dust and water resistant. The sealed stem keeps debris away from the contact area better than an open design. It is not a substitute for keeping drinks away from your keyboard, because a spill can still reach the circuit board and other components.
Stability. The box guides the stem along more of its length, which limits wobble. BOX switches are widely described as feeling steady under the keycap, especially compared with older MX-style designs. If wobble bothers you, see stem wobble explained for how much it matters.
Travel. BOX switches in the site data actuate at 1.8 mm with 3.6 mm of total travel, a little shorter than the MX standard of 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm.
Click bar vs click jacket
The BOX clickies are popular for their click mechanism rather than the box.
A click jacket, used in Cherry MX Blue and its clones, is a separate plastic collar around the stem. It snaps past a ledge as you press, producing the click. The click happens slightly away from the actuation point, and the switch resets at a different point than it actuates.
A click bar, used in BOX White, Jade and Navy, is a thin metal bar in the housing that the stem snaps past. It produces a sharper, crisper click on both the press and the release, and the click tends to feel more tightly tied to the tactile event. Many people who dislike the "scratchy" click of MX Blue clones enjoy click bars. Our guide to switch types compares all the click mechanisms.
The BOX clickies
| Switch | Actuation force | Tactile peak | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOX White | 45 g | not published | Thin bar, bright, crisp click |
| BOX Jade | 50 g | not published | Thick bar, louder, deeper click |
| BOX Navy | 60 g | 95 g | Thick bar, very heavy press |
BOX White is the usual starting point: light, sharp and clean. BOX Jade swaps in a thicker bar for a louder, more substantial click and is a community favorite for people who want the click to be the point. BOX Navy pairs the thick bar with a heavy spring; its actuation figure looks moderate, but pushing through the click takes far more force, and it is one of the heaviest common clickies. Compare them on BOX Jade vs Navy and BOX Jade vs White.
The BOX linears and tactiles
The family also includes linear and tactile versions, such as BOX Red and BOX Black (linear) and BOX Brown (tactile). They offer the same protection and stability without the click. They are less famous than the clickies, since the linear and tactile market has many enthusiast options, but they are solid choices for anyone who values a steady key and a little extra resistance to debris.
Box vs MX Blue: which clicky?
- Click quality: BOX click bars are generally crisper; MX Blue clicks are softer and less defined.
- Loudness: BOX Jade and Navy are louder than most MX Blue style switches. All clickies are loud.
- Weight: BOX White is lighter than MX Blue; BOX Navy is far heavier.
- Stability: BOX switches wobble less.
For a direct comparison, see Cherry MX Blue vs Kailh BOX White and Cherry MX Blue vs BOX Jade, both with simulated A/B sound.
Hear the family
Every BOX switch is in the keyboard simulator, so you can type with each one on your own keyboard. The sounds are synthesized from the published specs and the click mechanism of each switch rather than recorded. For the loudest end of the clicky world, compare BOX Jade with the buckling spring.
Frequently asked questions
What is a box switch?
A box switch has a square wall, the "box", built around the cross of the stem. Kailh introduced the design to protect the contacts from dust and liquid and to steady the stem. The term now loosely covers other makers' switches with a similar boxed stem.
What is the difference between BOX White, Jade and Navy?
All three are clicky Kailh BOX switches with a click bar. BOX White is the lightest with a thin click bar (45 g actuation). BOX Jade uses a thicker click bar for a louder, deeper click (50 g). BOX Navy uses the thick bar with a much heavier spring and needs about 95 g at its tactile peak, which makes it one of the heaviest common clickies.
Are box switches waterproof?
No. Kailh markets BOX switches as dust and water resistant, and the box around the stem does make it harder for debris and small splashes to reach the contacts. Spilling a drink on a keyboard can still damage the circuit board and other parts. Treat it as a little extra protection, not a guarantee.
Do box switches fit normal keycaps?
Yes. The cross on top of the stem is a standard MX shape, so MX keycaps fit. A small number of keycaps with very tight or unusual stems can feel snug, but in general box switches work with normal MX keycap sets and MX-compatible hot-swap sockets.
Keep learning
- Best clicky switches.
- Red vs brown vs blue: where MX Blue fits.
- Stem wobble explained.