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keyboardsimulators

Mechanical switch force chart

Actuation force, bottom-out force, tactile peak and travel for all 126 switches in the library, in one place. Every figure is the same one printed on that switch's own page, and the chart says which point of the stroke each brand rates, because that is the detail most force comparisons get wrong.

How to read this chart

  • Rated at shows which force the brand publishes. Most brands rate actuation, the force where the key registers. 26 switches here come from brands that rate bottom-out instead, which always reads higher for the same spring.
  • An asterisk (*) marks a bottom-out force the site estimated because the brand publishes none. 43 switches have one.
  • n/p means not published. We leave the gap rather than invent a figure.
  • Travel is in millimeters: pre-travel to the actuation point, then total travel to the bottom.

For what these numbers feel like in practice, see the switch weights guide; for why actuation and bottom-out ratings cannot be compared directly, see what is actuation force.

Lightest actuation

Heaviest actuation

Shortest pre-travel

Lightest and heaviest compare published actuation ratings only, so bottom-out-rated switches without an actuation figure are not ranked.

Linear switches (60)

Switch Rated at Actuation Bottom-out Pre-travel (mm) Total travel (mm)
Akko CS Jelly Black actuation 50 g 63.5 g* 1.9 4.0
Akko CS Jelly Pink actuation 45 g 55 g* 1.9 4.0
Akko CS Rose Red actuation 43 g 55 g* 1.9 3.5
Akko CS Silver actuation 43 g 50 g* 1.0 3.0
Akko V3 Cream Yellow Pro actuation 50 g 55 g* 2.0 3.3
Akko V3 Matcha Green Pro actuation 50 g 58 g* 2.0 3.8
Akko V3 Piano Pro actuation 45 g 55 g* 1.9 3.1
Alps SKCL Green actuation 50 g n/p 1.7 3.5
C³Equalz x TKC Banana Split bottom-out 48 g 62 g 2.0 4.0
C³Equalz x TKC Tangerine bottom-out 55 g 67 g 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Black actuation 60 g 80 g* 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Linear Grey actuation 80 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Low Profile Red actuation 45 g n/p 1.2 3.2
Cherry MX Low Profile Speed actuation 45 g n/p 1.0 3.2
Cherry MX Nature White actuation 55 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Red actuation 45 g 60 g* 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Silent Black (silent) actuation 60 g 80 g* 1.9 3.7
Cherry MX Silent Red (silent) actuation 45 g 60 g* 1.9 3.7
Cherry MX Speed Silver actuation 45 g 70 g* 1.2 3.4
Durock Alpaca bottom-out 48 g 62 g 2.0 4.0
Durock Daybreak (silent) bottom-out 52 g 67 g 2.0 3.8
Durock Dolphin (silent) bottom-out 48 g 62 g 2.0 3.8
Durock POM Linear bottom-out 48 g 63.5 g 2.0 3.7
Durock Silent Alpaca (silent) bottom-out 48 g 62 g 2.0 3.8
Gateron Black actuation 60 g 70 g* 2.0 4.0
Gateron Box Ink Pink actuation 50 g 60 g* 1.2 3.4
Gateron G Pro Red actuation 45 g 50 g* 2.0 4.0
Gateron Ink Black actuation 60 g 70 g* 2.0 4.0
Gateron Ink Red actuation 45 g 60 g* 2.0 4.0
Gateron Ink Yellow actuation 60 g 67 g* 1.2 3.4
Gateron Low Profile Red actuation 45 g n/p 1.7 3.0
Gateron Milky Yellow Pro actuation 50 g 62 g* 2.0 4.0
Gateron Oil King actuation 55 g 80 g 2.0 4.0
Gateron Red actuation 45 g 55 g* 2.0 4.0
Gateron Silent Black (silent) actuation 60 g 70 g 2.0 4.0
Gateron Silent Red (silent) actuation 45 g 50 g 2.0 4.0
Gateron Yellow actuation 50 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Gazzew Boba Gum (silent) bottom-out n/p 62 g 2.0 4.0
Gazzew Boba LT bottom-out n/p 55 g 2.0 3.2
JWICK Black bottom-out 42 g 58.5 g 2.0 4.0
Kailh BOX Black actuation 60 g 70 g* 1.8 3.6
Kailh BOX Red actuation 45 g 60 g* 1.8 3.6
Kailh Choc Red actuation 50 g 60 g* 1.5 3.0
Kailh Choc V2 Red actuation 50 g n/p 1.3 3.2
Kailh Red actuation 50 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Kailh Speed Silver actuation 40 g 60 g* 1.1 3.5
NovelKeys NK Cream actuation 55 g 70 g 2.0 4.0
NovelKeys NK Silk actuation n/p n/p 2.0 4.0
Outemu Black actuation 60 g 80 g* 2.0 4.0
Outemu Red actuation 45 g 60 g* 2.0 4.0
Outemu Silent Peach (silent) actuation 40 g 50 g 2.0 3.3
TTC Ace actuation 53 g 60 g 2.0 4.0
TTC Flame Red actuation 45 g 54 g* 2.0 4.0
TTC Frozen (silent) actuation 39 g 43 g* 2.0 3.5
TTC Gold Pink actuation 37 g 42 g 2.0 4.0
TTC Speed Silver actuation 45 g n/p 1.1 3.4
Wuque Studio WS Morandi bottom-out 50 g 60 g 2.0 3.5
YOK Polar / Trash Panda bottom-out n/p n/p 2.0 4.0
Zeal PC Healios (silent) bottom-out n/p 63.5 g 2.0 3.8
Zeal PC Tealios bottom-out 55 g 67 g 2.0 4.0

Tactile switches (47)

Switch Rated at Actuation Bottom-out Tactile peak Pre-travel (mm) Total travel (mm)
Akko CS Jelly Purple actuation 40 g n/p 56 g 2.0 4.0
Akko CS Lavender Purple actuation 36 g n/p 50 g 1.9 4.0
Akko CS Ocean Blue actuation 36 g n/p 45 g 1.9 4.0
Akko V3 Cream Blue Pro actuation 45 g n/p 55 g 2.2 3.3
Akko V3 Lavender Purple Pro actuation 40 g n/p 55 g 1.9 3.8
Alps SKCM Black actuation 70 g n/p n/p 1.7 3.5
Alps SKCM Cream Damped (silent) actuation 70 g n/p n/p 1.7 3.5
Alps SKCM Orange actuation 60 g n/p n/p 1.7 3.5
Alps SKCM Salmon actuation 70 g n/p n/p 1.7 3.5
Cherry MX Brown actuation 45 g 60 g* 55 g 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Clear actuation 65 g 95 g* n/p 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Ergo Clear actuation 55 g 65 g* n/p 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Grey actuation 80 g 105 g* n/p 2.0 4.0
Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile actuation 65 g n/p n/p 0.8 1.8
Community Holy Panda bottom-out 60 g 67 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Drop + Invyr Holy Panda bottom-out 60 g 67 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Drop Holy Panda X bottom-out 60 g 65 g n/p 2.0 3.5
Drop Holy Panda X Clear bottom-out 60 g 62 g n/p 2.0 3.5
Durock Koala bottom-out 55 g 67 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Durock T1 bottom-out 55 g 67 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Durock T1 Shrimp (silent) bottom-out 52 g 67 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Gateron Baby Kangaroo actuation 59 g n/p n/p 2.0 3.4
Gateron Brown actuation 55 g n/p n/p 2.0 4.0
Gateron G Pro Brown actuation 55 g n/p n/p 2.0 4.0
Gateron Silent Brown (silent) actuation 55 g 60 g* n/p 2.0 4.0
Gazzew Boba U4 (silent) bottom-out n/p 62 g n/p 1.7 4.0
Gazzew Boba U4T bottom-out n/p 62 g n/p 1.7 3.2
Glorious Panda bottom-out 49 g 60 g n/p 2.5 3.3
Kailh BOX Brown actuation 45 g 60 g* n/p 1.8 3.6
Kailh Brown actuation 50 g n/p n/p 2.0 4.0
Kailh Choc Brown actuation 50 g 60 g* n/p 1.5 3.0
Kailh Speed Copper actuation 40 g n/p 50 g 1.1 3.5
Matias Quiet Click (silent) actuation 60 g n/p n/p 2.2 3.5
NiZ EC 45g actuation 45 g n/p n/p 2.0 4.0
NovelKeys NK Blueberry actuation 55 g 80 g n/p 3.0 4.0
Outemu Brown actuation 50 g n/p 60 g 2.0 4.0
Outemu Cream Yellow (silent) actuation 45 g 60 g* n/p 2.0 3.3
Outemu Silent Lime (silent) actuation 35 g 45 g n/p 1.8 3.3
Topre 30g / 35g Electrocapacitive actuation 30 g n/p n/p 2.2 4.0
Topre 45g Electrocapacitive actuation 45 g n/p n/p 2.2 4.0
Topre 55g Electrocapacitive actuation 55 g n/p n/p 2.2 4.0
Topre Silent 45g (silent) actuation 45 g n/p n/p 2.2 3.8
TTC Bluish White actuation 42 g 50 g* 60 g 2.0 3.5
TTC Golden Brown actuation 45 g n/p 55 g 2.0 4.0
TTC Silent Bluish White (silent) actuation 42 g n/p 58 g 2.0 3.5
Zeal PC Zealios bottom-out 60 g 67 g n/p 2.0 4.0
Zeal PC Zilents (silent) bottom-out 60 g 67 g n/p 2.0 3.8

Clicky switches (19)

Switch Rated at Actuation Bottom-out Tactile peak Pre-travel (mm) Total travel (mm)
Alps SKCM Blue actuation 70 g n/p n/p 1.7 3.5
Alps SKCM White actuation 70 g n/p n/p 1.7 3.5
Cherry MX Blue actuation 50 g n/p 60 g 2.2 4.0
Cherry MX Green actuation 80 g 105 g* n/p 2.2 4.0
Cherry MX White actuation 80 g 100 g* n/p 2.2 4.0
Gateron Blue actuation 60 g n/p n/p 2.3 4.0
Gateron Green actuation 80 g n/p n/p 2.3 4.0
IBM Model F Buckling Spring actuation 62 g n/p n/p 2.3 3.8
IBM Model M Buckling Spring actuation 67 g n/p n/p 2.3 3.7
Kailh Blue actuation 50 g n/p n/p 2.0 4.0
Kailh BOX Jade actuation 50 g 65 g* n/p 1.8 3.6
Kailh BOX Navy actuation 60 g n/p 95 g 1.8 3.6
Kailh BOX White actuation 45 g 60 g* n/p 1.8 3.6
Kailh Choc White actuation 50 g 60 g* n/p 1.5 3.0
Kailh Speed Gold actuation 50 g 60 g* n/p 1.4 3.5
Matias Click actuation 60 g n/p n/p 2.2 3.5
NovelKeys NK Cream Clickie actuation 55 g 75 g n/p 1.9 3.9
Outemu Blue actuation 60 g 65 g n/p 2.2 4.0
Unicomp New Model M actuation 65 g n/p n/p 2.3 3.7

Compare and hear them

Numbers only go so far. Every switch name above links to its page, with a simulated sound player and a force curve. To put two side by side, use the switch comparisons, or type on any of them in the keyboard simulator. If a switch you like is too light or too heavy, the spring swapping guide explains how to change only the spring.

Frequently asked questions

What is the actuation force of a Gateron switch?

It depends on the switch. In this chart, Gateron Red is rated 45 g at actuation, Gateron Yellow and Milky Yellow 50 g, Gateron Brown 55 g, and Gateron Black and Blue 60 g. Gateron publishes force at the actuation point, so these figures compare directly with Cherry and Kailh ratings.

Why do some switches only list bottom-out force?

Some brands, including Gazzew, Durock, Zeal and Drop, rate their switches by the force at the bottom of the stroke rather than at the point where the key registers. Bottom-out figures always look higher than actuation figures for the same spring, so compare like with like.

What does the asterisk next to a bottom-out force mean?

It marks a figure the site estimated because the manufacturer publishes no bottom-out force. Cherry, for example, publishes actuation force only. Estimated numbers are labeled the same way on each switch page.

What does n/p mean in the chart?

Not published. When a manufacturer gives no figure for a value, the chart says so rather than inventing one.