Why Are Custom Keyboards So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

Custom keyboards allow users to have a smooth switch actuation and a better key conversion.

Due to their composition, they also allow users to type more words in a short amount of time.

A person who uses a keyboard more often may prefer custom keyboards over regular keyboards because of the value they provide.

However, they will have to pay a significant amount because of their high pricing.

Let’s discuss the major reasons custom keyboards are priced higher than ordinary keyboards.

Why Are Custom Keyboards So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)

The major reason custom keyboards are so expensive is their high-quality manufacturing standards.

Brands carry out different attentive tests and inspections in various aspects to maintain the quality standards of the product.

They make sure these keyboards provide a seamless writing experience to their users.

Internal switches and external cases are the two major components that play a major role in increasing the price of these products.

Manufacturers generally prefer aluminum cases over other materials to ensure the quality standards of these keyboards are properly met.

That said, the components and build materials are not the only reason for the expensive pricing of custom keyboards.

There are other major factors that equally contribute to making custom keyboards much more expensive than others.

1. Manufacturing

One of the major factors that influence the pricing is the manufacturing cost.

The highly experienced teams of engineers carry out the manufacturing process, which requires them to produce products with accurate results.

Teams of highly paid engineers design circuits and keyboard architecture to ensure an end product with great quality.

All production is hand-assembled which requires a certain level of experience and skilled teams.

Expert engineers supervise the molding process of keys on the switches to ensure they last a long time.

As there is no use of cheap components in the production, this makes custom keyboards sustainable and durable.

All the hand-assembling processes raise the production cost since it requires a larger workforce.

Also, custom keyboards are currently produced on a smaller scale.

Since there is not much demand for these keyboards in the market, companies haven’t yet set up large-scale production units.

2. Components

High-quality internal and external components such as gaskets and plates also impact the pricing significantly.

These keyboards use some of the most expensive components to ensure they provide great quality to the users.

Take a look at some of the components of custom keyboards.

A. Custom Switches

Switches determine the feel and sound of the keyboards while typing.

They transfer keystrokes to the PCB through the cross point to improve the user’s typing experience.

The custom switches carry different characteristics, including the force needed to press the key or depress it, the pleasing sound, the premium feel, etc.

B. Gaskets

The primary role of a gasket is to protect internal components from dust, water, dirt, and other liquids.

Manufacturers place them between the bottom and the top case of the plate to ensure they provide excellent quality to the users.

Gaskets are usually made from rubber and help in resisting minor spills.

C. Plate

To provide solid contact with the PCB, the plate supports and aligns the switches.

These plates have a stabilizing effect for accuracy and consistency while protecting the PCB from harm.

Also, these plates are available in different materials such as aluminum, plastic, brass, carbon fiber, and steel.

The quality of the material used in these plates depends on the model of the keyboard you use.

D. Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

Custom keyboards use PCBs that contain resistors, diodes, and circuits.

It converts keystrokes and sends signals to the computer through electrical signals.

Some of the PCB circuits come with RGB lighting.

It also has components like a USB port for charging or transferring files and a dongle port that comes with a wireless PCB.

E. Keyboard Stabilizers

Custom keyboards also contain stabilizers that stabilize any vibrating or wobble while typing.

It ensures consistent keystroking for keys like backspace, enter, shift, spacebar, and caps lock.

Stabilizers also remove tilting and activate the switch reliably when you press the key.

This improves your typing experience and helps you type well in a smaller period.

Brands spend a reasonable budget on the components to ensure the safety and durability of custom keyboards.

The materials they use on the exterior protect the product from harm and tend to last long.

3. Quality

Different brands design custom keyboards in a way that each key on the keyboard has its switch mounted.

This improves the quality of the press whenever you type at a rapid pace.

The high-quality standards, better build structure, and more reliable parts add to the cost of custom keyboards.

The lifespan of custom keyboard switches is incredibly long.

The switch can bear up to millions of keystrokes before it gets broken, which is completely opposite to the lifespan of regular keyboards.

Regular keyboards don’t offer such quality standards and last for a shorter period.

Also, custom keyboards allow the users to replace broken parts when anything breaks, just like a PC.

4. Durability

Custom keyboards can last up to 10 years, and the numbers can increase depending on how frequently you use them.

The durability factor measures how many keystrokes a particular custom keyboard can bear over its lifespan.

People mainly use custom keyboards for gaming, where the keystroking factor is considerably high.

Due to this, brands pay special attention to ensuring the good quality of these custom keyboards.

They maintain the quality of the keyboard by using expensive products and passing them through different beta tests to make sure the quality remains the same.

5. Ease-Of-Use

Custom keyboards are generally easy to use and provide a great user experience.

Product designers pay close attention to every detail to ensure they make it simple to use for every person using it.

The comfortable and quick response from buttons and switches make it easy for users to enjoy gaming for long hours.

The strength of custom keyboards is the sensation it provides to the user.

The response rate of custom keyboards is superior to normal keyboards, which is made possible with the use of high-quality internal and external materials.

Also, the majority of keyboard brands produce a variety of switches for every type of keyboard to give users a variety of options to choose from.

You can easily find switches that fit perfectly on your keyboard model.

6. Counterfeit Products

There are different counterfeit custom keyboards available in the market.

These products generally attract the most price-conscious user base since they are available at extremely low pricing.

For this reason, legitimate brands spend heavily to counter copy-pasted products.

All the legit brands spend heavily on handling all the legal matters to protect their patented products.

They also have legal teams to tackle these situations adequately.

Also, the brands increase their prices to cover the revenue loss, downtime, and replacement cost.

This production of counterfeit products limits the production of brands for some time, which results in higher prices for the original products in the future.

7. Features

Custom keyboards offer a variety of features to the users.

They are overall an extremely feature-rich product for gamers, typists, or any other user who uses keyboards frequently.

These keyboards are more resistant to wear and tear.

Take a look at some of the premium features of custom keyboards.

A. Detachable Power Cable

Custom keyboards use a detachable USB cable which tends to last longer than normal keyboards.

If a detachable cable gets damaged, it’s easy to get a new one at a relatively low price.

On the other hand, normal keyboards use non-detachable power cables that last for a short time.

Also, once they are damaged, the entire keyboard must be replaced.

B. Splash Resistant

The splash-resistant feature protects the vulnerable parts from water damage and keeps your keyboard free from water entering the circuits.

It also avoids getting water on the PCB segment, which is the most sensitive component of your device.

C. Reliable Keyboard Case

A reliable keyboard case serves the purpose of protecting the internal components of the keyboards.

It also has an impact on the in-hand feel of the product.

An aluminum keyboard case is a better option than a plastic case if you’re looking for something that can withstand a lot of hits and bumps.

Also, the aluminum case helps in protecting the keyboard from any major hits or scratches.

D. PBT Keycaps

Keycaps quality is another major factor that makes a custom keyboard quite durable.

PBT keycaps come with the characteristics of shiny and more resilient ABS plastics.

Even after rough usage, it maintains its look and unique design for a longer time.

PBT keycaps are comparatively more expensive due to their reliability and characteristics hence increasing the overall pricing of the custom keyboards.

E. RGB Lighting

Most custom keyboards come with built-in RGB lighting, giving users a more enhancing look.

RGB backlighting is a sense of joy, excitement, and enjoyment for many users.

It also requires more parts to be soldered on PCB, which results in the high pricing of the custom keyboards.

8. Performance

Custom keyboards offer a faster response time and great processing speed.

The quick response rate depends on the architecture of switches, which allows getting an immediate response.

Custom keyboards send signals to the internal circuit board as soon as the user presses a key.

They make this possible with quality internal units and efficient circuit wires.

Also, custom keyboards offer a better gaming experience due to the fast response time and tons of customization features.

They are incredibly reliable and satisfying on your hand because of their simple design, aesthetic looks, and quality built.

9. Research And Development

Brands spend heavily on the research and development department of custom keyboards to ensure they meet the needs of customers.

They utilize the expertise of highly qualified engineers and research analysts to measure the accuracy and precision of these keyboards.

Also, these companies analyze the outputs of the previously launched products to meet the requirements of the users.

Multiple brands have dedicated research centers where they spend a significant budget to keep up with every technological advancement.

10. Human Resource

Another major reason for the expensive pricing of custom keyboards is the extensive workforce.

These keyboards are mainly used for high-end purposes and it takes great responsibility to focus on the production as these keyboards are assembled via hand.

This makes it necessary for the brands to have a larger workforce to handle the production units.

Supply-chain and distribution factors also play an essential role in the increased overall pricing.

The warehousing and distribution of these units are also handled with care since they are much more sensitive than ordinary keyboards.

In the manufacturing of these keyboards, there is a need for a large team to manage sales and marketing campaigns.

Since most of the marketing strategy includes the setup of distribution units, companies hire in-house sales teams to get the sales running.

Are Custom Keyboards Worth Purchasing?

Yes, custom keyboards are worth purchasing if you want to enjoy a seamless keyboard-using experience.

Custom keyboards offer great quality and last longer than an ordinary keyboard.

They have a high-quality mechanism and a solid form factor that adds reliability to the keyboard.

On average, the lifespan of a custom keyboard is about ten to fifteen years, which is incredible.

They provide unmatched values in terms of longevity and performance and can be a great investment if use the keyboard daily.

Custom keyboards bring more value than any normal keyboard.

Its attractive colors, keystroking reliability, and premium feel grab the attention of users.

Types Of Custom Keyboard Switches

Custom keyboards are embedded with independent switches underneath each key to make typing more accurate and precise.

There are three types of custom switches.

Let’s discuss each of them briefly.

1. Linear

Linear Switches offer smooth key presses and are the simplest option for non-techies.

They offer benefits like:

Smooth key stroking results in an easy typing experience.
Silent typing operations.
Quick responses for gamers.

Linear Switches are worth considering for shorter key activation distance and enhanced lifespan.

2. Tactile

These switches are best for providing a soft and pleasing typing experience to the users.

The switch offers a slight bump sensation, which notifies the user that the key is pressed successfully.

Some of the benefits include:

Friendly and versatile user experience for beginners.
Satisfying touch sensation for the users.
Allows the typist not to miss a keystroke.

3. Clicky

The switch offers excellent feedback and is fun to use when an actuation point is hit.

This helps it in producing a satisfying sound each time.

Some other benefits include:

Gives an alert as soon as you press the key.
A slight pressing of a key activates it.
Possess a compelling design and is attractive.

Which Is The Most Expensive Custom Keyboard?

The Crolander Wooden Keyboard is the most expensive custom keyboard.

The brand has designed this keyboard from aged walnuts that were air-dried for 32 years.

The old-school natural look makes this keyboard the most expensive one in its segment.

However, this is not the only expensive keyboard available on the market.

Take a look at the five other expensive custom keyboards.

The above-mentioned custom keyboards are the most expensive ones in the customized keyboards category.

Each of them has its specialties and provides great value to the customers.

What Are The Benefits Of Custom Keyboards?

Custom keyboards offer a more tactile keypad, resulting in a precisely satisfying typing experience.

The feel and click sound of the key pressing on the custom keyboards gives you an indication of whether a key is pressed successfully or not.

The sensitivity feature of custom keyboards is also great.

They take signals even with a half-press, which allows you to type at a faster pace without any major issues.

Some custom keyboards offer customization options in which users can remove and replace the key.

This option benefits gamers to get their regular used keys colored.

This also allows you to replace the key when it stops working.

In this way, you can improve the life span of the keyboard and can repair them every time there is an issue with the keyboard.

Can You Create A Custom Keyboard Yourself?

Yes, you can create a custom keyboard by yourself.

However, this will require some good knowledge of the internal electrical circuits and keyboard hardware.

Also, you will have to follow the construction steps in detail to ensure everything remains in place.

The cost to create a custom keyboard at home might vary depending on the raw material quality and used upgraded features.

You can reduce the price by doing some research and roaming around the market for cheaper materials.

If you are not price-conscious, though, you can easily build custom keyboards by purchasing expensive materials from the market.

Conclusion

Typically, custom keyboards cost more than normal ones because of their features such as custom switches, expensive body cases, durability factors, and better quality.

All of these features add to the high pricing of these custom keyboards.

However, these keyboards are surely worth purchasing if you regularly use keyboards for various tasks.

They provide an exciting user experience and also improve your writing speed.

Such keyboards are also easily customizable, which allows you to tweak them according to your preferences.