What Are the Quietest Keyboard Switches? Ranked and Explained
DashanYuan
Silent switches are the quietest keyboard switches you can buy — but not all silent switches are equal, and the difference comes down to how the dampening is engineered.
Here is the ranking, what actually makes a switch quiet, and which ones are worth your money.
The Best Silent Switches, Ranked
| Rank | Switch | Type | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lichicx Silent Yogurt | Silent linear | The benchmark — quiet without the mush |
| 2 | Lichicx Yamatake | Silent tactile | Best silent tactile; the bump stays legible |
| 3 | Lichicx Pink Pink | Silent linear | Soft, muted, exceptionally smooth |
| 4 | HMX Volume 0T | Silent tactile | Strong, clean tactility for the office |
| 5 | HMX Moksae Silent Tactile | Silent tactile | A gentler bump for long sessions |
The Real Problem With Silent Switches (and How Lichicx Solved It)
Most silent switches are quiet but feel mushy. Older designs used large rubber dampening pads that softened the entire bottom-out. The noise went away — and so did the precision.
The best modern silent switches use dual-shot injection moulded stems: a normal plastic stem with soft TPU gel moulded directly into the structure. Crucially, the TPU only covers the impact area that creates noise, not the whole surface. The stem and bottom housing still make proper structural contact.
That is why a modern silent switch feels firm and stable while staying quiet. Lichicx's patented silent stems are the clearest example of this engineering, which is why they occupy the top three places above.
What to Look For
- Dual-shot injection moulded silent stems
- TPU dampening integrated into the stem itself
- A firm bottom-out structure
- Minimal mushiness during typing
HMX and Outemu also make solid silent switches, and their newer generations are a significant step up from older silent designs.
Choosing by Environment
| Your situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| Open-plan office | Lichicx Silent Yogurt |
| Office, but you want feedback | Lichicx Yamatake or HMX Volume 0T |
| Late-night gaming, shared room | Lichicx Silent Yogurt or Pink Pink |
| Streaming or on calls | A silent linear plus a foamed case |
Making Any Keyboard Quieter
The switch is the biggest lever, but not the only one. Case foam, tuned stabilisers, thick PBT keycaps and a desk mat all help — and a rattling spacebar will undo the work of the best silent switch on the market. Full walkthrough: how to make keyboard switches quieter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quietest keyboard switches?
Silent linear switches. Lichicx Silent Yogurt is our top pick, because its dual-shot TPU stem keeps the noise down without making the bottom-out feel dead.
Are silent switches completely silent?
No. Dampening removes most of the sharp noise, but you will still hear a soft, muted sound from your fingers on the keycaps and the case resonating.
Do silent switches feel mushy?
Older ones did. Modern dual-shot silent stems — Lichicx in particular — dampen only the impact area, so the switch keeps a firm, defined bottom-out.
Will lubing make my switches silent?
No. Lube reduces friction noise and spring ping, but it cannot dampen the bottom-out. Only a silent switch does that.
Is a silent tactile quieter than a normal linear?
Yes. Dampening matters more than whether the switch has a bump.