Are Cherry Switches Quiet? A Complete Guide to Noise Levels and Silent Typing
DashanYuan
Short answer: it depends entirely on which one. "Cherry switches" covers everything from a near-silent dampened linear to a switch specifically engineered to click loudly. Lumping them together is the reason so many people buy the wrong one and end up annoying their colleagues.
Here is the breakdown, ranked from quietest to loudest, plus what you can actually do about it.
Cherry Switches, Ranked by Noise
| Switch | Noise | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry MX Silent Red / Silent Black | Very low | The Cherry switches genuinely suited to a quiet office |
| Cherry MX Red / Black | Low | Acceptable in most shared spaces if you don't slam the keys |
| Cherry MX Brown | Medium | Fine in an office; audible but not obtrusive |
| Cherry MX Blue | High | Not one for a shared room — it is designed to be heard |
MX Silent Red and Silent Black
These are the Cherry switches actually engineered for quiet. They include internal dampening that absorbs the impact on both the downstroke and the upstroke — the two moments where nearly all switch noise originates.
They are not literally silent, despite the name. But they are markedly quieter than any standard mechanical switch, and they are the right answer if silence is a hard requirement.
The trade-off is worth stating plainly: dampening mutes feel along with sound. The bottom-out goes soft and slightly cushioned. That is true of every silent switch ever made, not a Cherry-specific quirk.
MX Red and MX Black
Linear, so there is no tactile bump and no click mechanism to make noise. Whatever sound they produce comes almost entirely from the key bottoming out against the housing.
Which means you control most of it. A light typist who avoids bottoming out will find Reds perfectly acceptable in an open-plan office. A heavy typist will make them loud regardless.
MX Brown
Tactile, so there is a small bump during actuation, and that bump adds a little noise. Still broadly office-friendly — Browns are the most-recommended office switch for exactly this reason — but audibly present.
MX Blue
Loud, and deliberately so. The click is produced by a separate clicking mechanism inside the switch. It exists to be heard.
Plenty of people love them, and if you work alone they are a joy. In a shared office they will test your colleagues' patience. Be realistic about your situation.
What Actually Determines How Loud Your Keyboard Is
Here is the part most guides bury: the switch is often not the loudest thing about your keyboard.
Your typing style
The single biggest variable. A heavy typist who bottoms out every key will make silent switches audible. A light typist who lets the key actuate without slamming it will make Reds nearly quiet. Technique can matter as much as the switch you bought.
The case
An empty case is a resonating chamber. Hollow plastic cases in particular amplify and ring. Gasket-mounted boards and foam-filled cases dampen substantially. Silencing the switch and then mounting it in a hollow case is largely wasted money.
The keycaps
Thick PBT sounds deeper and duller. Thin ABS sounds higher and sharper. Swapping keycaps alone can noticeably change the character of the sound.
The desk
A hard desk — glass especially — reflects and transmits sound. A thick desk mat under the board absorbs vibration and cuts perceived noise more than most people expect for the money.
How to Make Cherry Switches Quieter
In rough order of effort-to-payoff:
- Add a desk mat. Cheapest, easiest, works immediately.
- Add case foam. Kills the hollow resonance. Big improvement on cheap cases.
- Fit O-rings. Small rubber rings on the keycap stems that cushion the bottom-out. Effective, but they shorten travel and change the feel — not everyone likes them.
- Lube the switches. Eliminates the scratchy, springy noise. Time-consuming, but it improves smoothness as well as sound. Cherry switches respond well to this because they ship largely dry.
- Change the switches. If you have a hot-swap board, the most direct fix is simply fitting a quieter switch.
Do You Actually Want a Silent Switch?
Worth asking before you buy, because it is the question most people skip.
Silent switches cost you some of the bottom-out feel that makes a mechanical keyboard enjoyable in the first place. If your noise problem can be solved with a desk mat and some case foam, that route keeps the feel intact. If it genuinely cannot — a shared office, a hot mic, thin walls — then a silent switch is the right call and the trade-off is worth it.
Cherry's Silent Reds are a solid, well-proven option. The silent category has also grown a good deal, so it is worth comparing across the wider silent keyboard switches range to see what suits you. Our guide to quiet keyboard switches works through the decision properly.
Otherwise, browse the Cherry MX switches collection or the full keyboard switches range.
FAQs
Are Cherry MX switches quieter than other brands?
Broadly comparable to other premium switches. Cherry's tolerances are tight and consistent; some switches from other makers ship with more factory lubrication and can feel smoother and quieter out of the box.
Are Cherry Silent switches truly silent?
No. They are much quieter, not silent. Type forcefully and you will still hear them, and your case and desk will still contribute.
Which Cherry switch is best for quiet typing?
MX Silent Red, comfortably. MX Red is the next best if you would rather keep a cleaner feel and can type with a lighter touch.