Build and tune your keyboard with numbers, not guesswork.
Sixteen precision tools for sizing, switch tuning, parts compatibility and troubleshooting. Free, ad-free, and entirely browser-side.
Precise calculation
Every result is derived from published mechanical standards — the 19.05 mm key pitch, Hooke's law for spring rate, real profile heights — not from rules of thumb.
Free and ad-free
No accounts, no paywalls, no ad slots and no third-party trackers. Every tool runs entirely in your browser and nothing you type is transmitted.
Full build coverage
From choosing a layout and budgeting a group buy to lubing switches, cutting foam and diagnosing chatter — the whole workflow in one place.
The toolkit
Build & Sizing Calculators
Plan footprint, travel, angles and cabling before a single screw goes in.
Keyboard Layout Size Calculator
Get PCB footprint, key count and case margins for any layout.
Open tool →High demandSwitch Actuation Calculator
Compare actuation point, total travel and force across switches side by side.
Open tool →PopularKeycap Profile Angle Calculator
Match profile heights to typing angle and fingertip reach.
Open tool →PopularTyping Ergonomics Calculator
Estimate optimal typing tilt, wrist height and arm angle for your desk.
Open tool →Steady useCustom Cable Length Calculator
Size a detachable or coiled cable to your actual desk routing.
Open tool →Tuning & Optimization
Lube volumes, spring swaps, stabilizer work and foam cutting, quantified.
Lube Quantity Estimator
Estimate grams of lube needed for stems, springs and housings.
Open tool →PopularSpring Swap Force Calculator
Predict actuation and bottom-out force from spring geometry.
Open tool →High demandStabilizer Tuning Calculator
Get a lube, shim and wire-bend plan for your stabilizer set.
Open tool →PopularDampening Material Calculator
Cut case foam, plate foam and PCB foam to the right size.
Open tool →Parts Selection
Check compatibility and budget before you commit to a group buy.
Switch Compatibility Checker
Verify switch, socket and plate cutout compatibility before you order.
Open tool →High demandKeycap Compatibility Guide
Check whether a keycap set covers your layout's odd keys.
Open tool →High demandBuild Cost Calculator
Total up a full build and compare two specs side by side.
Open tool →Steady useHot-swap Socket Selector
Pick the right socket type for your PCB thickness and switch pins.
Open tool →Knowledge Base
Terminology, switch data and a troubleshooting matrix for real builds.
Keyboard Glossary
Searchable plain-English definitions for custom keyboard terminology.
Open tool →High demandSwitch Parameter Database
Filter mainstream linear, tactile and clicky switches by force, travel and sound.
Open tool →High demandBuild Troubleshooter
Diagnose chatter, dead keys, stabilizer rattle and crooked switches.
Open tool →Deep Thock Daily
Nylon-family housings and a POM plate push the sound signature low and marbly, the classic thock recipe.
- Kit & plate
- TKL top-mount aluminium with brass weight, 1.5 mm POM plate
- Switches
- Gateron Oil King, lubed stems and housings
- Keycaps
- Cherry profile thick PBT
16
Calculators & references
20
In-depth build guides
0
Accounts or trackers
100%
Runs in your browser
Common questions
Are the calculators really free, with no account required?
Yes. Every tool on KeyForge runs entirely in your browser, needs no sign-up, and shows no ads. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored or transmitted anywhere.
Which tool should a first-time builder start with?
Start with the layout size calculator to fix your footprint, then the build cost calculator to set a realistic budget, then the switch actuation calculator to choose a spring weight. Working in that order stops you over-buying.
Where do the numbers and specifications come from?
Published mechanical standards and manufacturer datasheets: the 19.05 mm key pitch, Hooke's law for spring rate, and measured profile heights. Treat every figure as carrying normal manufacturing tolerance.
How much lubricant do I need for a full keyboard?
Roughly 6 to 8 milligrams per switch for stems and housings, so a standard TKL needs around 0.7 grams. The lube quantity estimator works it out for your exact switch count and application style.
Can I use these tools for a keyboard I bought prebuilt?
Absolutely. The tuning tools — lube, springs, stabilizers and dampening — apply equally to prebuilt boards, and the troubleshooter works on any mechanical keyboard regardless of origin.
Do you sell parts or recommend specific vendors?
No. KeyForge is independent of every vendor and manufacturer, takes no affiliate commission, and exists only to provide reference data and calculations.
Latest articles
Troubleshooting a Dead Key: A Systematic Diagnostic Path
A structured elimination method for dead keys, chattering, ghosting and boards that will not enumerate, ordered from the cheapest test to the most invasive.
May 18, 2026
Wireless Keyboards: Latency, Battery Life and What You Give Up
Bluetooth versus 2.4 GHz receivers, real polling behaviour, battery sizing, and the practical trade-offs of building or buying a wireless custom board.
May 8, 2026
Keyboard Ergonomics That Actually Matter for Long Sessions
Typing angle, wrist extension, key weight and break cadence examined with practical targets, and why negative tilt beats almost every accessory you can buy.
May 4, 2026Building tips
Tune stabilizers before switches go in
Access to the PCB contact area disappears once the board is populated. Grease the wire ends, shim 0.3-0.5 mm and balance the wire first.
Use the swap test before you desolder
Move a suspect switch to a known-good position. If the fault follows the switch it is the switch; if it stays, the socket or firmware is at fault.
Lube light on tactiles
A heavy coat on the stem legs flattens the tactile bump. Do one switch, feel it, then batch the rest — roughly 7 mg per switch is plenty.
New to building?
Start with a layout, then a budget, then switches. Work the tools in that order and you will not over-buy.
Browse all 16 tools →Learn the vocabulary
Gasket mount, debounce, holee mod, thock — thirty plain-English definitions with links to the tool that applies each one.
Open the glossary →Who runs this
A small group of builders maintaining calculators we needed ourselves, kept free and independent of vendors.
About KeyForge →