If you’re using a traditional PC over a smartphone, chances are one of the reasons is related to tactile feedback. Typing on a phone simply doesn’t compare to a real, physical keyboard, especially for those of us who took typing classes or simply have the muscle memory built. The problem with many traditional keyboards, though, is that they’re just…loud.
In this article, we’re going to help you find the best quiet keyboard for you. We’ve picked nine great options from across the spectrum of keyboards, including mechanical keyboards for gamers and professionals.
Best cheap
Arcteck 2.4 GHz Wireless Keyboard
- Switch Type: Chiclet
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: N/A
- Media keys: No
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
Cheapest with mouse set
Jelly Comb Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo Kit
- Switch Type: Chiclet
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: N/A
- Media keys: No
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
Best quiet ergonomic keyboard
Perixx PERIBOARD-512 Ergonomic Split Keyboard
- Switch Type: Membrane
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: N/A
- Media keys: Yes
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
Best quiet wireless keyboard
Logitech K800 Wireless Illuminated Keyboard
- Switch Type: Unknown
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: White LED backlighting
- Media keys: Yes
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
Fairly-priced
Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard
- Switch Type: Membrane
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Limited RGB
- Media keys: Yes, no volume wheel
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: Yes
Great build quality
Logitech G413 Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
- Switch Type: Logitech Romer-G
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Red LEDs
- Media keys: No
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: Yes, 1 USB 2.0
- Onboard Storage: No
Best for gaming
Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
- Switch Type: Cherry MX Red
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Full RGB
- Media keys: Yes, volume wheel included
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: Yes, 1 USB 2.0
- Onboard Storage: Yes
Razer’s quietest keyboard
Razer BlackWidow Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Yellow version)
- Switch Type: Razer Yellow
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Full RGB
- Media keys: Yes, volume wheel included
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: Yes. 1 USB 2.0 and headphone jack
- Onboard Storage: Yes
Das Keyboard’s softest keyboard
Das Keyboard 4 Professional Mechanical Keyboard (MX Brown version)
- Switch Type: Cherry MX Brown
- Macros: N/A
- Lighting Options: RGB alternative (higher price)
- Media keys: Yes, volume wheel included
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: Yes, two USB 3.0 hub
- Onboard Storage: N/A
Table of Contents
- 1. Arcteck 2.4 GHz Wireless Keyboard
- 2. Jelly Comb Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo Kit
- 3. Perixx PERIBOARD-512 Ergonomic Split Keyboard
- 4. Logitech K800 Wireless Illuminated Keyboard
- 5. Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard
- 6. Logitech G413 Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
- 7. Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
- 8. Razer BlackWidow Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Yellow version)
- 9. Das Keyboard 4 Professional Mechanical Keyboard (MX Brown version)
- Buying The Best Quiet Keyboard For You
1. Arcteck 2.4 GHz Wireless Keyboard
Best cheap quiet keyboard for PC
- Switch Type: Chiclet
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: N/A
- Media keys: No
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
- The cheapest option on our list
- Very slim and quiet
- Wireless!
- Not many extras
The Arcteck 2.4 GHz Wireless keyboard is the first entry on our list and the cheapest!
This is an incredibly thin keyboard with chiclet keys and wireless connectivity. These low-profile keys inherently result in a lower noise profile than larger membrane or mechanical switches, but the build quality goes the extra mile with stainless steel to keep things quiet.
If you aren’t picky about your keyboards beyond them being quiet, then this is a tough option to pass up-- it’s incredibly cheap. We do want to note that the “6-month battery life” claim is pretty much just marketing BS, though, since that’s based on only 2 hours of use per day. (Especially for professionals or gamers, this is a very unlikely use case.)
Since it charges via USB, though, you just need to plug it in occasionally-- don’t worry about batteries. For this price, this is an incredibly solid product. Most of you will likely be satisfied with this, but keep reading if you want better options.
2. Jelly Comb Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo Kit
Cheapest silent keyboard and mouse set
- Switch Type: Chiclet
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: N/A
- Media keys: No
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
- Fairly cheap
- Wireless!
- Slim and quiet
- Adds a mouse!
- Mouse requires batteries
If you’re reading this article, the first thing you might notice is that this keyboard looks really familiar. It looks near-identical to the keyboard listed above, and we aren’t sure why-- perhaps the chassis comes from the same manufacturer? In any case, what we said about the typing experience before pretty much applies here. The chiclet design goes a long way toward keeping this keyboard nice and quiet.
Additionally, the same wireless and recharging features are present here. You’ve probably noticed by now that this keyboard is a bit more expensive than our #1 pick despite being virtually identical, so what gives?
Well… this one bundles a wireless mouse, too! Interestingly for such a cheap product, that wireless mouse comes with a hardware DPI toggle. This gives it some gaming utility, though obviously not to the level of a full-blown gaming mouse. Additionally, the wireless mouse uses batteries instead of USB recharging, so you’ll have to replace those occasionally.
3. Perixx PERIBOARD-512 Ergonomic Split Keyboard
Best quiet ergonomic keyboard
- Switch Type: Membrane
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: N/A
- Media keys: Yes
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
- One of the highest-rated ergonomic keyboards on Amazon
- Cheap
- Quiet
For those of you who want an ergonomic typing experience, the Perixx Periboard-512 may be the right pick for you. This is an ergonomic split keyboard, which specifically makes it ideal for those who will be typing for extended periods.
In particular, professionals will begin to notice burgeoning hand pains and the onset of RSI when using a regular keyboard day-in and day-out for too long. The Perixx design is specifically designed to avoid that, which is great for your hands!
(If you don’t want to buy a split ergonomic keyboard but are still concerned about your hands, watch this video from Dr. Levi. I’ve used these stretches myself for years!)
Aside from the whole “ergonomic” thing, this keyboard is also fairly quiet while in use! It does use membrane switches instead of chiclet, but fortunately they’re still incredibly quiet. Even combing through Amazon for nitpicky reviews, we couldn’t find any complaints-- and we can’t complain, either.
4. Logitech K800 Wireless Illuminated Keyboard
Best quiet wireless keyboard
- Switch Type: Unknown
- Macros: No
- Lighting Options: White LED backlighting
- Media keys: Yes
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: No
- Very quiet
- Backlighting!
- Wireless!
- More expensive than some other options
The Logitech K800 Wireless Keyboard is our pick for best quiet wireless keyboard. While it may not be built as slim as our first few options, its build quality is superb and it comes with a few nice extras. Most importantly compared to the first two on this list, there is a built-in wrist rest. This should make this keyboard much more comfortable to use than the first two, which are more focused on form over function.
Interestingly, we couldn’t actually confirm the switch type on this keyboard. Its keys aren’t made to be popped off, and it doesn’t feel like traditional chiclet or membrane at all. It doesn’t feel like a mechanical keyboard necessarily, but it’s clear that Logitech went with a non-conventional approach with this one. This approach works, though, since this keyboard is whisper-quiet.
There’s also built-in backlighting, which is great for typing sessions in the dark.
(Speaking directly as a writer for a minute, I actually owned and used this keyboard as a daily driver back in 2012 after finding it in a thrift shop. I never experienced any issues with it, but it did feel fragile. Current reviews attest to this, and it seems like some units are being shipped in poor shape. We recommend a return if that happens to you, but if it arrives in working order, it shouldn’t break in normal use.)
Aside from the fragile construction of this keyboard, the only other downside is its high price. Even on sale, this keyboard retails for around $60 or so on Amazon-- it costs a pretty penny.
5. Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard
Best cheap quiet keyboard for gaming
- Switch Type: Membrane
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Limited RGB
- Media keys: Yes, no volume wheel
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: No
- Onboard Storage: Yes
- RGB!
- Extra media and macro keys
- Solid build quality, decently quiet
- Fairly-priced
- Limited three zone RGB implementation
Let’s say you’re a gamer, you want a quiet keyboard, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money for it. Is there any hope for-
Yes. The answer is yes, and you want to get the Corsair K55. This is a full-blown Corsair keyboard, complete with a detachable wrist-rest and RGB support. This keyboard uses membrane switches unlike the higher-end mechanical models, but that actually comes in handy here, since membrane switches are usually quieter than mechanicals.
This won’t be the quietest keyboard on this list, but it should be quite a bit quieter than your typical gaming keyboard, mechanical or otherwise. Add the benefits of built-in Macro keys and Corsair software, and you have a really compelling option here for gamers who don’t want to spend $100 for a keyboard.
While this is more expensive than the first few entries on this list, you get plenty of features in return. For most people, this will be a worthwhile trade-off.
Before you buy this, though, we do think it’s important to note that the RGB implementation here is limited. Specifically, you’re limited to three “zones” of the keyboard, rather than the per-key lighting experienced with higher-end models. You can still get some nice visual flair with this, but you won’t be able to hit quite the same level of customization that you can with high-end RGB keyboards.
(If you want full, per-key RGB offerings: look at the Corsair Strafe and Razer Blackwidow listed below.)
6. Logitech G413 Backlit Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
A more budget-friendly version of Logitech’s gaming keyboard
- Switch Type: Logitech Romer-G
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Red LEDs
- Media keys: No
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: Yes, 1 USB 2.0
- Onboard Storage: No
- Great build quality
- Romer-G switches are mechanical and quiet
- Macros and passthrough both supported
- Red backlighting
- Starting to climb in price
For those of you who use mechanical keyboards… you probably don’t want to go back. Mechanical keyboards excel in tactile feedback, which is great for professionals and gamers who use them for an extended amount of time. Unfortunately, most mechanical switches also tend to be quite noisy, and that can be a bit of a problem for others in the vicinity.
Logitech’s Romer-G switches serve as a good compromise here. All the satisfying tactile feedback from a mechanical keyboard is here, but the Romer-G design also keeps typing much quieter than with traditional Cherry MX switches. (Especially Cherry MX Blues, which are particularly clacky and considered the default for mechanical keyboards.)
This Logitech G413 is pretty much a cheaper alternative to their higher-end models, like the G910 Orion Spark.
7. Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Best silent keyboard for gaming
- Switch Type: Cherry MX Red
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Full RGB
- Media keys: Yes, volume wheel included
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: Yes, 1 USB 2.0
- Onboard Storage: Yes
- Cherry MX Red switch is mechanical, quiet, and satisfying
- Full per-key RGB implementation
- Excellent build quality
- High price
The Corsair Strafe RGB MK.2 is Corsair’s high-end quiet gaming keyboard. The Cherry MX Red switch inside is built to be much quieter than traditional Blue switches, and should be a little bit quieter than Brown switches, too.
Like other Corsair keyboards in this price range, the Strafe boasts stellar build quality and per-key RGB support. Everything you expect in a high-end keyboard is here, including a dedicated volume wheel, comfortable wrist rest, swappable keycaps, and, of course, RGB. While you don’t have macro keys built-in, the iCue software can be easily used to create macros of your own with different key combinations.
(We recommend using Caps Lock as a key for creating macros, since it has the least common usage of any other key on your keyboard. Worst-case scenario, you’ll have to hold down shift when shout-typing at your teammates.)
The only real criticism we have to levy at this keyboard is its high price. More than any keyboard previously listed, this one will cost a pretty penny. In fact, it costs more than twice the price of the K55 listed above. It’s still a good deal, mind, it just might hurt if you aren’t used to spending this much on a keyboard.
8. Razer BlackWidow Elite Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Yellow version)
Razer’s quietest keyboard
- Switch Type: Razer Yellow
- Macros: Yes
- Lighting Options: Full RGB
- Media keys: Yes, volume wheel included
- Wrist-rest: Yes
- Passthrough: Yes. 1 USB 2.0 and headphone jack
- Onboard Storage: Yes
- Full per-key RGB backlighting
- Razer Yellow switch is incredibly quiet and responsive
- Feature-complete
- Somewhat expensive
Most of what we said about the Corsair keyboard above applies here. This is a truly stellar keyboard all-around, with great RGB support, extra hardware features, and amazing mechanical switches. Where this changes from the Corsair keyboard is with the Razer Yellow switch.
The Razer Yellow switch is essentially Razer’s version of the MX Red switch, which is linear and silent. This means you’ll get the quietest possible typing experience on a Razer keyboard with the Blackwidow Elite, so long as you get the Yellow version. (The Orange and Green versions will both be much louder, Green especially.)
Also, this keyboard is even more expensive than the Corsair alternative listed above. That does come with the added benefit of headphone jack passthrough, though!
9. Das Keyboard 4 Professional Mechanical Keyboard (MX Brown version)
Das Keyboard’s softest keyboard
- Switch Type: Cherry MX Brown
- Macros: N/A
- Lighting Options: RGB alternative (higher price)
- Media keys: Yes, volume wheel included
- Wrist-rest: No
- Passthrough: Yes, two USB 3.0 hub
- Onboard Storage: N/A
- Cherry MX Brown switches are decently quiet
- Astounding overall build quality, full N-key rollover
- Built-in USB Hub
- Soft feel
- Very expensive
Full disclosure: this is more of a soft touch keyboard than a “quiet” keyboard. The Cherry MX Brown switch isn’t as quiet as an MX Red, and for those of you who want a truly quiet experience… this may not be right for you.
For most scenarios, MX Brown strikes a good balance. Office use, for instance, should be more than fine. We wouldn’t recommend typing in bed with this directly next to your significant other, though.
Also, this is the most expensive keyboard on this list… so why are we recommending it?
Simply put, the Das Keyboard 4 is built for professional use. Das Keyboard in general provides truly stellar engineering and build quality, with little care for unnecessary extra frills. This applies to the Das Keyboard 4, and it shows in the features on display. You get a USB 3.0 hub built-in, complete N-key rollover, and durable aluminum build quality.
If you don’t want the quietest keyboard, but still want something with superb build quality and a respectable noise level, this is the keyboard for you. Also, the footbar doubles as a ruler, which is… pretty nifty, we guess.
Buying The Best Quiet Keyboard For You
Before you select a keyboard, it’s important that you understand all the jargon and specs. The big one for many people will be the Switch type, which refers to how the “switches” built into the keys feel and function.
Membrane, chiclet, or mechanical?
Switch Type is arguably the most important keyboard spec, since it determines how the keys themselves are actually built. This further determines how they feel and sound. Below, we’ve listed the important ones:
- Membrane – The cheapest and most common. Noise level can vary greatly, but on average these fall between mechanicals (loud) and chiclet (quiet).
- Chiclet – Low-profile design, common in laptops and slim desktop keyboards. These are usually extremely quiet, but some (especially on gaming laptops) may be made to be louder and provide more tactile feedback. This doesn’t apply to the ones on this list, though.
Mechanical switches are their own category, which we’ll dive into below:
- Cherry MX Blue – Loud and clicky, with great tactile feedback. Avoid if you want a quiet keyboard.
- Cherry MX Red – Pretty quiet, but somewhat lacking in tactile feedback.
- Cherry MX Brown – Middle-ground between Blue and Red- much quieter than Blue, but without sacrificing as much tactile feedback.
- Logitech Romer-G – Logitech custom switch, built to be fairly quiet and responsive.
- Razer Orange – Razer custom switch, built to be quiet with good tactile feedback.
- Razer Yellow – Razer custom switch, built to be as quiet as possible, with little tactile feedback.
Wired or wireless?
This is mostly a matter of preference, though we’d recommend wired if you’re a gamer. A wired connection ensures that no additional latency or interference will get between you and your game, which is vital for remaining consistent and competitive. Plus, wired gaming keyboards tend to come with more features overall, like RGB lighting and mechanical switches.
Numpad and media keys
Truthfully, the numpad will be pretty optional for most people. Unless you’re regularly typing numbers– especially into, say, spreadsheets on Excel– chances are you won’t need it. Media keys are much more universal, though, and these will be especially missed on our bottom-budget wireless options.
We think basic media keys are very important for common use, but your mileage may vary. Worse comes to worst, you can always use a program like AutoHotKey to add media key functionality through keyboard shortcuts.
Lighting and RGB
Lighting in general is an incredibly optional cosmetic flair. If you have the muscle memory built up to type in the dark– and most who use a PC semi-frequently will– then lighting is a totally optional extra. Even if you can’t type in the dark, you’ll usually be typing right in front of a screen, which will serve to illuminate your keyboard anyway.
If that isn’t enough for you, or you just want extra cosmetic flair, then lighting is what you want. From worst to best, here are the lighting solutions you’ll find in the wild:
- Single-color backlighting – All keys are backlit with a single color, usually white. Red and blue are also common.
- Three-region RGB – Limited RGB functionality, with three lighting zones restricted to a color, each. Often-limited access to the full color spectrum.
- Per-key RGB – Each individual key can be a different color, usually with full access to the complete color spectrum.