How much does mechanical keyboards cost?
$128 buys all 5 essentials.
5 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission
Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick
$128
5 items, nothing rented
Against 247 hobbies
Above median
Dearer than 65% of them. Median hobby: $84.
What each thing costs
Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.
What you need
$128Everything you need to start mechanical keyboards. None of it is a big commitment.
Keyboard Switches
$13Tactile, linear, clicky — different feel for different preferences. Sample multiple before buying 100.
Gateron G Pro 3.0 Switches 35-Pack
Later, if you stay
Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.
Mechanical Keyboards costs more to start than 65% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.
Cost questions
How much does Mechanical Keyboards cost to start?
About $128 for the 5 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each.
What does each thing cost for Mechanical Keyboards?
Mechanical Keyboard Kit: from $37. Keycaps: from $36. Mechanical Keyboard (Hot-Swap): from $30. Keyboard Switches: from $13. Switch and Keycap Puller: from $12.
Is Mechanical Keyboards an expensive hobby?
Mechanical Keyboards costs about $140 to start, dearer than 65% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this sits around the middle.
What should I buy first for Mechanical Keyboards?
mechanical keyboard (hot-swap), mechanical keyboard kit, keyboard switches, switch and keycap puller, keycaps — $128 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.
Hobbies that cost about the same
The 6 nearest to mechanical keyboards by startup cost, out of 247.