Once considered a niche technology for gamers and nostalgics, hot-swappable keyboards have become a popular piece of tech worldwide for their quality and versatility. According to Straits Research, the global mechanical keyboard market size reached USD 2.05 billion in 2024 and is projected to increase at a CAGR of 11.9% to reach USD 2.30 billion in 2025 and USD 5.68 billion by 2033.
Hot-swappable keyboards are a type of mechanical keyboard that lets users switch out components without the need for soldering. This customization allows them to fit the user’s preferences, needs, and aesthetics, and makes them ideal for those who spend a lot of time at their PC for work or gaming. Thanks to their interchangeable mechanical switches, keycaps, and layouts, they offer an incredible typing experience, providing added comfort and style.
That’s why businesses should consider leveraging the trend by adding them to their inventories in 2025, allowing customers to design their own personalized devices.
Table of Contents
What are hot-swappable keyboards, and who buys them
Users profiles
What users look for
Keyboard cases
Printed circuit boards (PCB)
Stabilizers
Switches
Keycaps
Final thoughts
What are hot-swappable keyboards, and who buys them
Most keyboards people buy in stores and online are membrane keyboards. These models feature two membrane layers inside that come together when the user presses the key to activate the board, causing a reaction on the screen.
Many laptops feature membrane keyboards, which offer superior performance due to their affordability and functionality. However, even high-quality membrane keyboards have some disadvantages: the materials used in these devices can wear out faster than those used in hot-swap keyboards, with cheaper varieties usually lasting a year or two.
Meanwhile, hot-swappable mechanical keyboards feature an individual switch under each key and can utilize various switch types, distinguishing them from membrane products. Hot-swappable boards are generally more durable and reliable and are built with higher-quality materials. With a switch for each key, these keyboards typically support “n-key rollover,” meaning that if a user simultaneously presses all the keys on the keyboard, the PC still receives all the inputs.
The main feature of hot-swappable keyboards is their variety of typing experiences. They’re a broad category, encompassing many switch types: from easy-to-press to those that offer more resistance, feeling like they’re working hard, from those that actuate easily to those that’re a little more resistant.
User profiles
These characteristics make this type of keyboard suitable for specific user segments. For example, most gamers would not consider anything other than a fully mechanical keyboard because of its precision. The tactile feedback and satisfying clicks provide instant feedback that membrane keyboards can’t match.
In addition to gaming accuracy, typing accuracy is also greatly improved. Once the user finds the right mechanical switch, their typing speed and accuracy will increase. Users can choose from various types of switches, including linear, tactile, and clicky, which differ in color and style.
Last but not least, the main selling point of hot-swappable PCBs is that you can customize the size, sound of the keyboard, change the keycaps and switches, customize the keyboard layout through software, and more.
What users look for
There are parts that consumers need to choose carefully to create their hot-swappable keyboards. Below is a list of the main components people look for to customize their boards:
Keyboard cases
The case is the main structure of a mechanical keyboard, protecting the interior components. Typically, five different materials are used for keyboards: plastic, aluminum, acrylic, polycarbonate, and wood, each with its price range, as they also vary in terms of sturdiness, design, and final appearance.
Keyboard cases come in different sizes, depending on the quantity and size of the elements that clients will use. Hot-swappable keyboard sizes range from full-size, which is the largest available people usually need for gaming, working, or just surfing the internet, to keyless (TKL), which is more compact as it still offers functionality with arrow keys, function keys, and a home cluster, to 40% extremely compact keyboards with approximately 40-44 keys, requiring key combinations to access all functions.
Printed circuit boards (PCB)
This board sends signals from the keyboard to the computer via USB, ensuring compatibility with the case. The safest and easiest option to use is a hot-swappable PCB.
This detail allows the user to plug and unplug the switches when they decide to change them, something that is not possible with a non-hot-swappable PCB, which requires permanent soldering of the switches.
Stabilizers
Additional support is needed for larger keys, such as the spacebar, enter, and shift keys. Different keyboard sizes have different stabilization needs.
Screw-in stabilizers and sockets are recommended to reduce rattling noises while typing.
Switches
The switches connect the keycap to the PCB and trigger the keys. Three types of mechanical switches differ in feel and noise: linear, tactile, and clicky, each featuring its benefits and corresponding to the customer’s preferences and needs.
Keycaps
Looking for keycaps is for many one of the most enjoyable parts of shopping for a new keyboard, as these are what truly sets a keyboard apart aesthetically.
Many start with the material: PBT and ceramic keys are more durable and expensive, while ABS can be cheaper but still feels soft. Selecting the profile of the keycaps provides options for different heights and/or angles. Of course, the colors of the keycaps will define the keyboard style or the aesthetic of your computer setup.
Final thoughts
The rise of hot-swappable keyboards reflects a broader shift toward personalization and performance in computing accessories. These keyboards enable users to customize switches, layouts, and aesthetics according to their individual preferences, whether for gaming, programming, or typing.
For retailers and tech shops, offering a selection of customizable keyboards and their components means meeting the growing demand from a community that values quality, control, and individuality.
