You need a keyboard kit (the case, PCB and plate), switches, keycaps and stabilizers. Many kits include the stabilizers and a cable, and a hot-swap kit needs no soldering. The cheapest complete hot-swap build we could fit-check on Nov 7, 2026 was $104.39 for a 60%: the Keychron V4 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard ($59.99), 43 Studio Jing Linear Switches ($14.40 for 72) and KAP Vella Keycaps ($30).
Our custom keyboard builder suggests parts that fit from a few questions, and the build planner checks a parts list you already have. Both show which store has each part for the least today.
Prices and stock checked Nov 7, 2026.
Five parts make a keyboard. You choose the first three, and the kit usually brings the other two.
| Part | What it does | In stock on Nov 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard kit | The case, the PCB (circuit board) and the plate that holds the switches. It sets the size and layout. | 84 hot-swap kits, from $49.50 |
| Switches | One under each key. They set the feel (linear, tactile or clicky) and much of the sound. | 129 switches, from $0.20 each |
| Keycaps | The caps you touch. Sets differ in profile (height and shape), plastic and which keys they cover. | 87 full sets, from $20 |
| Stabilizers | Wire supports under the spacebar, Enter, Shift and Backspace so long keys press evenly. | Included with many kits. Check the listing. |
| Cable | USB-C to your computer. Wireless boards use it to charge. | Included with most kits. |
A solder kit also needs a soldering iron. A hot-swap kit needs nothing more than the switch puller most of them include.
Five rules catch almost every mismatch. The build planner checks each one it has data for.
Each build uses parts in stock on Nov 7, 2026 that pass the planner’s fit checks. Customize one to swap a part, and the planner checks the fit again.
$107.38
Priced for 68 switches, the usual count for this size. No fit conflicts in the planner’s checks. Not in our data yet: exact switch count, keycap stem, spacebar size, keycap count. Before shipping and tax.
$189.18
Priced for 84 switches, the usual count for this size. No fit conflicts in the planner’s checks. Not in our data yet: exact switch count, keycap stem, spacebar size, keycap count. Before shipping and tax.
$330.78
The kit has 86 switches. No fit conflicts in the planner’s checks. Not in our data yet: keycap stem, spacebar size. Before shipping and tax.
Every size and budget, part by part, is on how much a custom keyboard costs. Some store links earn us a commission at no cost to you (disclosure).
No, if you buy a hot-swap kit. Its sockets hold the switches, so you press them in by hand and can pull them out later. 84 of the 94 keyboard kits in stock on Nov 7, 2026 are hot-swap.
Buying is cheaper at the low end. The cheapest hot-swap prebuilt we found on Nov 7, 2026 was the Royal Kludge RK61 60% Wireless Mechanical Keyboard at $49.99 from Royal Kludge, and the cheapest complete custom build was $104.39. Building gets you the case, switches and keycaps you choose.
Many do, but some kits sell the plate or stabilizers separately, and a few low prices are for the case alone. Our catalog does not record what each kit includes yet, so check the store listing before you order.
Most MX-style keycap sets fit any MX-style switch. Layout is what usually goes wrong: the set needs the right Shift, bottom row and spacebar your board uses. Of the 87 full keycap sets in stock on Nov 7, 2026, 32 list 75% coverage and 33 list 65%.
The custom keyboard builder on our home page asks a few questions (size, budget, switch feel) and suggests a kit, switches and keycaps that fit. The build planner starts from parts you pick and checks each pair, from switch pins to keycap layout.
Next: build your own keyboard, plan your first build or see kits under $100.