ABS vs PBT keycaps: Which is better?

If you're looking to upgrade your typing and gaming experience then it's a good idea to understand the difference between ABS and PBT keycaps.

ABS and PBT are the two main types of plastic used to make keycaps. More weird and wonderful materials are used, like ceramic, brass, and even wood, but those are really just for ultra-enthusiasts like the folks over at r/mechanicalkeyboards, and the pricing reflects that.

For keycaps that are actually affordable for the average person, PBT and ABS are the best options to choose from. So, let’s take a look at them both before considering which is better.

ABS stands for Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, which is a very common polymer, or type of plastic. It’s used in pretty much everything. Lego bricks, cheap 3D printing filament, and yes, most keycaps are made from ABS.

It’s cheap, easy to manufacture, and the results are reliable. All these qualities are ideal for keycaps, as they are made in huge quantities, however, there are downsides to ABS and the main one is how they wear out. If you’ve ever noticed the keys on your keyboard slowly becoming shiny over time, they are probably made from ABS.

Due to the relative weakness of ABS, this happens quickly, and results in an unpleasant texture and the loss of the legend, or symbol on the key in question. This is particularly annoying if you can’t touch type.

The ever-subjective aspect of sound and feel also rears its ugly head here too, as many consider ABS to have inferior acoustic and tactile properties. So, what can you do about that? Luckily, swapping to PBT keycaps is a relatively low-cost, and very easy upgrade to make, which is why it’s often the first port of call for new enthusiasts. Speaking of which:

PBT stands for Polybutylene terephthalate. This is another polymer, and some of its properties are very similar to ABS. However, its physical characteristics are quite distinct, leading to a noticeable difference when used for keycaps.

PBT, as compared to ABS, is far more robust, so it both wears more slowly than ABS, and the pattern of wear is more even, so the keycaps stay usable and pretty for longer.

Additionally, PBT is more resistant to degradation caused by UV light. UV being the main cause of vibrant keycaps losing their color over time. This means that PBT keycaps will keep their color, and their pleasing texture for longer.

That texture, by the way, refers to the slightly rougher surface finish generally found on PBT keycaps. This is one of the reasons why they feel more pleasant to type on and feel more premium overall. Luckily, with the custom keyboard scene experiencing massive growth over the last few years, that ultra-premium feel no longer commands an ultra-premium price.

PBT is considered to be superior in terms of feel, robustness, and looks. The price is slightly higher than ABS, however we, alongside pretty much the whole mechanical keyboard community, think that the price is worth it.

You can view our full range of keycaps, both PBT and ABS here.