How Thock works
Thock is a free custom mechanical keyboard finder and builder, like a PC parts picker for keyboards. You answer eight questions, and it puts together complete builds from parts that real stores sell today, with prices, stock and a link for every part.
The finder
The finder asks one question at a time, and the field of keyboards behind it changes with each answer:
- Size: 60%, 65%, 75%, tenkeyless or full size.
- Feel: linear, tactile, clicky or cushioned (silent) switches.
- Sound: deep thock, creamy, crisp clack or quiet, with a real typing recording for each.
- Look: dark, light, colorful or retro keycaps, or a surprise.
- Use: gaming, work and typing, or both.
- Connection: wired or wireless (Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz).
- Soldering: hot-swap only, or open to soldered PCBs.
- Budget: a total for the whole keyboard.
Thock scores every switch and keycap set in the catalog against your answers, then assembles builds best first and avoids repeating the same parts, so different tastes get different keyboards. Each result shows a match score, the expected sound and feel (pitch, volume, bounce and key weight), every part with its store links, and up to three suggested sound mods such as case foam, PE foam or switch films that fit your remaining budget. You can swap any part and the build is rescored.
The builder
The builder is for picking parts yourself: a case or kit, PCB, plate, switches, stabilizers, keycaps and extras. It draws the build as you go, totals the price and checks compatibility:
- Switches must match the board's switch family: MX-style mechanical, magnetic Hall effect, low-profile or optical.
- The PCB and plate must be made for the case, and the keycap set must cover its layout.
- Stabilizers must suit the PCB (clip-in or screw-in) or the plate, and 5-pin switches on a 3-pin PCB are flagged.
- It tells you when a PCB needs soldering and when switches press in by hand (hot-swap).
Thock only says a part fits when the store's own data confirms it. When a spec isn't published, it says so and asks you to check instead of guessing. Builds can be saved in your browser and shared as a link that restores the exact build.
The parts directory
The parts directory lists every listing Thock knows about, in stock or sold out: 2,001 switches, 1,803 keycap sets, 1,524 cases and kits, 234 PCBs, 538 plates, 130 stabilizer sets and 1,298 mods, tools and extras in the builder, plus deskmats and add-ons. You can search by name, brand or spec and filter by store, brand, switch system, price and stock.
Where the data comes from
Every part comes from the public product feeds of 16 keyboard stores: CannonKeys, Divinikey, NovelKeys, KBDfans, Keychron, KeebsForAll, Mode Designs, MechanicalKeyboards.com, KPrepublic, Meletrix, QwertyKeys, Wobkey, Epomaker, Kinetic Labs, Dangkeebs and Milktooth. The catalog is refreshed every day at 09:17 UTC; this page was built from the refresh of October 22, 2026. Prices are in US dollars before shipping and tax. Product photos are checked automatically and only clean, front-on photos are shown; anything else is drawn.
Thock is independent and not affiliated with any store or brand. Some store links are affiliate links (including Amazon, Keychron and Epomaker), which may earn Thock a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links never change which parts are recommended.
Keyboard terms
- Thock
- A deep, rounded, low-pitched typing sound, usually from heavier or longer-pole switches, thick PBT keycaps and a damped case. The site is named after it.
- Clack
- A brighter, sharper, higher-pitched sound, common with ABS keycaps and stiffer plates.
- Linear switch
- Smooth and even from top to bottom, with no bump. Popular for gaming.
- Tactile switch
- A bump partway down the press that you can feel, without a click.
- Clicky switch
- A tactile bump plus an audible click. Loud in shared rooms.
- Hot-swap
- A PCB with sockets, so switches press in and pull out by hand with no soldering.
- Hall effect
- Magnetic switches whose actuation point can be adjusted in software. They need a Hall effect PCB.
- 60%, 65%, 75%
- Compact layouts: 60% drops the arrows and function row, 65% adds arrows, 75% adds a function row.
- TKL
- Tenkeyless: a full layout without the number pad.
- Gasket mount
- The plate sits on soft gaskets instead of screws, for a softer, more even typing feel.
Questions
What is Thock?
Thock (thock.cc) is a free website that recommends and builds custom mechanical keyboards. It asks eight questions about size, switch feel, sound, look, use, connection, soldering and budget, then assembles complete builds (case, PCB, plate, switches, stabilizers and keycaps) from parts that 16 keyboard stores sell, with a price and store link for every part.
Is Thock free?
Yes. There is no account or sign-up. Some store links are affiliate links, which can earn Thock a commission at no extra cost to you, and they never change which parts are recommended.
How current are the prices and stock?
Thock reads the public product feeds of 16 stores every day at 09:17 UTC. Prices are in US dollars before shipping and tax. Sold-out parts are labelled and ranked last, and you should confirm the final price on the store page.
Does Thock check that parts are compatible?
Yes. Switches must match the board's switch family (MX-style, Hall effect magnetic, low-profile or optical), the PCB and plate must be made for the case, keycaps must cover the layout, and stabilizers must suit the PCB or plate. Thock only says a part fits when the store's data confirms it, and asks you to check when a spec isn't published.
Which keyboard size should I choose?
A 65% or 75% suits most people: compact, but with arrow keys, and 75% adds a function row. A 60% is smallest and loses the arrows. Tenkeyless (TKL) keeps every key except the number pad, and full size keeps the number pad for spreadsheets and data entry.
What is the difference between linear, tactile and clicky switches?
Linear switches move smoothly with no bump and are popular for gaming. Tactile switches have a bump you can feel partway down, which many typists like. Clicky switches add an audible click to the bump and are loud in shared rooms. Silent switches cushion the press for quiet typing.
What makes a keyboard sound thocky?
A deep, rounded thock usually comes from heavier or long-pole linear switches, thick PBT keycaps, a softer plate such as polycarbonate or FR4, a gasket mount and foam inside the case. A bright clack comes from ABS keycaps and stiffer aluminium or brass plates. Thock suggests foam, PE pads and switch films for the sound you pick.
Do I need to solder to build a custom keyboard?
No. Hot-swap PCBs have sockets, so switches press in and pull out by hand. Answer "No, hot-swap" in the finder and Thock only recommends hot-swap boards.