How to Read Mechanical Switch Specifications

A switch specification is a useful starting point, not a complete prediction of how a keyboard will feel or sound. For example, Creamy Keyboard’s profiles list the Akko CS Matcha Green at 50g actuation force and the Akko CS Vintage White at 35g. Both are listed with 1.9mm pre-travel, 4mm total travel and a three-pin design, so the clearest difference in those figures is the lighter stated actuation force of the Vintage White. Akko’s catalogue gives tolerance ranges for the force and travel figures, so treat the database’s rounded numbers as a convenient comparison, not laboratory-exact values.

You can inspect the Akko CS Matcha Green profile and the Akko CS Vintage White profile alongside Akko’s published switch specifications. The catalogue confirms the models’ operating force, pre-travel, total travel and pin count, with tolerances. It does not confirm every field shown in the profiles, such as bottom-out force or factory lubrication; those values should be treated as unverified by that document.

Actuation force: the force at the trigger point

Actuation force is the force needed to press a switch far enough for it to register a keypress. It is usually given in grams-force (gf), though listings often shorten this to “g”. A lower figure generally means less force is required to reach that point; a higher one means more is required.

In the example above, the Vintage White’s listed 35g actuation force is lighter than the Matcha Green’s 50g. That can help you shortlist switches if you prefer a lighter press, but it does not establish which will feel better. Spring shape, the force curve through the press, switch construction and your own typing technique all matter. Manufacturer figures can also include tolerances: Akko lists the Vintage White’s operating force as 35gf ± 5gf and the Matcha Green’s as 50gf ± 5gf.

Bottom-out force: the force near the end of the press

Bottom-out force describes the force required near the end of a full keypress, when the switch stem reaches the bottom of its travel. It is different from actuation force: a key can register before it is fully pressed down.

A bottom-out figure may help compare switches when you tend to press keys all the way down. It does not tell you exactly how the switch feels throughout the stroke, and not every manufacturer publishes it. In the two example profiles, the database lists 63g for the Matcha Green and 45g for the Vintage White, but the Akko catalogue cited above does not verify those bottom-out figures. Treat them as unconfirmed by that source rather than assuming that every listed value has the same level of documentation.

Pre-travel and total travel: when a key registers and how far it moves

Pre-travel is the distance the switch moves before the keypress registers. Total travel is the distance from the start of the press to the end of the switch’s movement. The trigger point therefore occurs before the end of the full stroke.

Both example profiles list 1.9mm pre-travel and 4mm total travel. Akko’s catalogue gives these as approximate values with tolerances, rather than exact measurements for every individual switch. A shorter pre-travel means the listed trigger point is reached earlier in the press; it does not, by itself, guarantee a faster or more comfortable typing experience.

If these two measurements are easy to mix up, read our guide to pre-travel versus total travel.

Pin count: a compatibility clue, not a universal guarantee

A switch’s pin count describes the pins and locating legs on its underside. The Matcha Green and Vintage White profiles both list three pins. Many MX-style hot-swap boards are designed to accept either three-pin switches or five-pin switches; a five-pin switch can sometimes fit a three-pin position if its two extra plastic locating legs are clipped off. But this is not a rule for every keyboard: check your board’s socket and switch type before buying. Optical, magnetic, low-profile and other proprietary systems may use different compatibility requirements.

Silent status and factory lubrication

A “silent” label usually indicates a switch design with features intended to dampen sound, often where the stem meets the housing. It does not mean the whole keyboard will be silent. Case, plate, keycaps, stabilisers, mounting, desk surface and typing technique all affect the sound you hear.

“Factory lubed” means lubricant was applied during manufacture. It is a useful detail if you would rather try a switch without lubricating it yourself, but it does not tell you the amount, placement or consistency of the lubricant. Nor does it guarantee a particular sound or feel. Both example profiles are marked as pre-lubed and not silent in Creamy Keyboard’s database; consult the individual profiles and available manufacturer or vendor information when checking those details.

Which specifications are facts—and which are impressions?

Force, travel distance, pin count, silent status and factory-lubed status are specification fields, although their availability and precision vary by source. Descriptions such as “creamy”, “thocky”, “clacky”, “smooth” or “scratchy” are subjective impressions, not standardised measurements. Two people can describe the same switch differently, and the completed keyboard can change the result.

Sound and feel depend on the whole build: switches, keycaps, case, plate, mounting, stabilisers, modifications and how you type. A switch’s specification sheet can narrow your search, but it cannot promise a particular sound in your keyboard.

What to do when a specification is missing

Treat missing information as unknown. Do not infer bottom-out force from actuation force, assume a switch is factory lubed because another version is, or guess the pin count from its appearance in a listing. Check manufacturer documentation or a reliable vendor listing, and keep track of which source supports each value.

Creamy Keyboard’s mechanical keyboard switch database lets you search switches, inspect available specifications and narrow options by switch type, actuation-force range, pre-travel, silent status and factory lubrication. Some entries have incomplete data, so compare only the fields that are actually provided and verified.

A practical way to compare switches

1. Start with the type of movement you want: linear, tactile or clicky.

2. Use actuation force and pre-travel to shortlist options, while remembering that published values may have tolerances.

3. Check total travel and pin count against your preferences and keyboard compatibility.

4. Look at bottom-out force, silent status and factory lubrication only where a trustworthy source provides the information.

5. If sound or feel is the deciding factor, seek impressions for the complete build or try a switch sample where practical; specifications alone cannot settle that judgement.

Use the numbers to find plausible candidates, then verify compatibility and any important missing fields before you buy. Explore the switch database to compare the specifications available for your shortlist.