What Are PBT Keycaps? Full Guide to Materials & Feel

When you step into the world of mechanical keyboards, you’ll quickly hear terms like “PBT,” “ABS,” “double-shot,” and “dye-sub.” If you’re wondering whether to upgrade your keycaps or are simply curious about what are PBT keycaps, you’ve come to the right place. The choice of keycap material directly affects the durability, typing feel, and even the sound of your keyboard. PBT and ABS are the two “giants” in this material battle. This article will thoroughly explain PBT keycaps, directly compare them with ABS keycaps, and help you decide if this is a worthwhile upgrade for your typing experience.

Table of Contents

What are PBT Keycaps?

PBT keycaps are keys made from Polybutylene Terephthalate plastic. This is a high-grade engineered plastic, renowned for its superior hardness, heat resistance, and wear resistance. PBT keycaps typically have a slightly textured surface, providing a solid and substantial typing feel. They have excellent keycap shine resistance, meaning they will not wear down and become shiny after prolonged use, unlike ABS plastic. The mechanical keyboard community loves PBT for its legendary durability and characteristic deep, muted typing sound (often referred to as the “thock sound“).

In-Depth Look at PBT Material (Polybutylene Terephthalate)

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) is a thermoplastic polymer belonging to the polyester group. It is used not only for keycaps but also in automotive components, electronic devices, and fiber optic cable casings due to its superior technical characteristics.

When used for keycaps, PBT material offers clear advantages over common plastics like ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene):

Resistance to Wear and Chemicals: PBT is more resistant to oils (from hand sweat) and solvents. This is the main reason it resists shine.
High Hardness: PBT is harder and denser than ABS, resulting in a more solid and “heavy” feel while typing.
Better Color Retention: PBT does not yellow over time due to UV exposure (sunlight) like white ABS plastic.

Compared to other plastics (like POM or PVC), PBT offers the best balance of durability, typing feel, and manufacturing cost, making it the top choice for premium keycaps.

PBT vs. ABS Keycaps: The Material Showdown

This is the most crucial section for most users. “PBT vs. ABS” is a classic debate. Both have their own pros and cons, and “better” depends on your personal preference.

Here is a quick keycap material comparison table:

Criteria	PBT Keycaps	ABS Keycaps
Typing Feel	Textured surface, solid feel. Typing feels “clean” and substantial.	Smooth surface, light. Can feel slippery when hands sweat.
Durability	Very High. Shine-resistant, wear-resistant, does not yellow.	Medium. Easily develops shine on frequently used keys (Space, A, S, D, F) after a few months.
Legend Fade	Nearly zero fade (if Double-shot or Dye-sub).	Legends can fade if cheap pad-printed.
Sound	Deep, muted, and crisp sound. Often creates a deep “thock.”	Higher pitched, more resonant, and louder sound. Often creates a “clack.”
Cost	Higher.	Cheaper, more common on stock mechanical keyboards.
Coloring	Slightly harder to achieve vibrant colors; colors tend to be slightly “duller.”	Very easy to color, resulting in bright, vivid keycap sets (e.g., GMK).

Conclusion of the Comparison:

Choose PBT if you prioritize durability, a solid typing feel, hate keycap shine, and prefer the deep, “thocky” typing sound.
Choose ABS if you have a tighter budget, prefer a smooth typing feel, and prioritize keycap sets with bright, vibrant colors. (Note: High-quality ABS like GMK is still excellent, but it will still shine over time).

The Typing Experience: PBT’s Signature Feel and ‘Thock’ Sound

Why are many people willing to spend more on PBT? It’s all about the typing experience.

Typing Feel

The surface of PBT is usually lightly textured. This textured keycaps surface provides two benefits:

Increased Grip: Reduces key slippage when typing fast or when hands sweat.
Premium Feel: Offers a distinct tactile experience that feels sturdier and more “real” compared to the smooth surface of ABS.

Typing Sound (Keyboard Acoustics)

Because PBT is a denser and heavier material, it absorbs high-frequency vibrations and amplifies lower frequencies. The result is a unique keyboard acoustics:

The typing sound is deeper, more muted, and cleaner.
This is the coveted “thock” (or “thocc”) sound that enthusiasts seek. Conversely, thinner and lighter ABS tends to produce a higher-pitched and more resonant “clack.”

Design, Aesthetics, and Backlighting of PBT Keycaps

PBT keycaps are not just durable; they also offer many aesthetic options.

Legend Technology and Color Durability

Since PBT is hard and high-heat resistant, printing legends on it is different. The two most popular technologies to ensure the legends never wear out are:

Dye-sub (or Dye-sublimation): Ink is sublimated (changes from solid to gas) and permanently embedded into the structure of the PBT plastic. The legends will never wear off, but this technology is often only used for light-colored keycaps with dark legends.
Double-shot (Two-shot Molding): This is the most premium method. The legend is molded from a separate layer of plastic, and then the keycap shell is molded around it. The legend is literally a solid piece of plastic, so it cannot fade. Double-shot PBT is the gold standard for durability.

Are PBT Keycaps Compatible with RGB Lighting?

This is a weakness (or a characteristic) of PBT.

Because PBT is thick and dense, it typically does not transmit light (backlighting) as well as ABS. Traditional PBT keycap sets (especially Dye-sub) will completely block the LED light.

However, if you are an RGB fan, there are still solutions:

PBT Double-shot Backlit: These keycap sets are made double-shot, with the legend portion molded from clear plastic to allow backlit keycaps (backlighting) to shine through.
“Pudding” Keycaps: A type of keycap where the top half is opaque PBT, but the bottom half (the sides) is made of a frosted material to “catch” and diffuse the RGB light coming up from under the switch.

Popular PBT Keycap Profiles

Keycap profile refers to the shape and height of the keycap. PBT is produced in all popular profiles, including:

Cherry Profile: Low, with ergonomic angling, very popular for typing.
OEM Profile: Slightly taller than Cherry, often the stock profile on many keyboards.
SA Profile: Very tall, sculpted, offering a “retro” typing feel and a very “thocky” sound.
DSA Profile: Uniform height across all keys, spherical surface, easy to adapt to.

Technical Guide: Will PBT Keycaps Fit Your Keyboard?

Before purchasing a set of best PBT keycaps, check two factors for keycap compatibility:

Switch Types Compatibility: Most PBT keycap sets on the market use the “+” mount. They are 100% compatible with common switch types like Cherry MX, Gateron, Kailh, Akko, and other Cherry MX clones.
Mechanical Keyboard Layout Compatibility: This is a common mistake for newcomers. Keyboards have different layouts (Full-size, TKL, 75%, 65%, 60%). Keys like the right Shift, Alt, Ctrl, and the bottom row can have different sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about PBT Keycaps

Will PBT keycaps fade or wear down the legends?

No. If you purchase PBT keycaps using Dye-sub or Double-shot technology, the legends will never wear down or fade. The color of PBT plastic is also very durable and won’t yellow like white ABS.

Are PBT keycaps really better than ABS?

Better in terms of durability, but not in every aspect. PBT is more durable, more shine-resistant, and produces a deeper sound. However, ABS (high-quality type) offers more vibrant and vivid colors and is often the choice for expensive “custom” keycap sets (like GMK).

How do I clean PBT keycaps?

Very easy. PBT is chemically resistant. You can remove all the keycaps, soak them in warm water with hand soap (or dish soap), gently scrub with a soft brush, then rinse and dry thoroughly before reinstalling.

For most mechanical keyboard users, upgrading to a set of PBT keycaps is one of the most impactful changes. They solve the most annoying issue with stock keycaps: the phenomenon of becoming shiny, worn, and feeling “cheap” over time. Although the initial cost may be higher, a quality set of PBT keycaps (especially double-shot or dye-sub) can last through multiple keyboards, providing a premium typing experience and a satisfying “thock” sound every day.