Keycap Profile Guide

Profile refers to the shape and height of keycaps. Different profiles feel and sound different. Here are the most common ones.

Cherry

Low profile, cylindrical tops, sculpted (each row has a different angle). The most popular profile among enthusiasts. Comfortable for long typing sessions. Good sound profile with a deep, satisfying bottom-out.

OEM

Medium height, cylindrical tops, sculpted. The default on most prebuilt keyboards. Taller than Cherry. Functional but not exciting.

SA

Tall, spherical tops, sculpted. Retro typewriter aesthetic. Deep, thocky sound. The height can be uncomfortable for some people, and the spherical tops take getting used to.

DSA

Low, spherical tops, uniform (all rows are the same). Clean, minimalist look. Good for non-standard layouts because any keycap fits any row.

KAT

Medium height, spherical tops, sculpted. Similar to SA but shorter. A good middle ground between the tall SA feel and the practical Cherry height.

XDA

Medium-low, flat tops, uniform. Wider surface area than DSA. Popular for ortholinear boards because the uniform profile works well with grid layouts.

MDA

Medium height, slightly sculpted, wider tops. Designed for comfort with a larger surface contact area. Good for people who want something different from Cherry without going as tall as SA.

MT3

Medium-tall, sculpted, deep dish tops. Designed by Matt3o, inspired by old terminal keyboards. Very comfortable sculpted profile with a distinctive retro feel.