The Best Custom Keyboards You Can Get Right Now, 2026 Edition
The custom keyboard space never really slows down. Every week it feels like we get introduced to new boards and design ideas, and it makes me get really pumped up for this space. What counted as a top-tier custom just a few years ago might now be considered mid-range, while newer manufacturers continue to push machining quality, standards, and overall typing experience further than ever before.
For this article, I’ve put together a list of some of the best custom keyboards you can get right now in 2026. These are boards that stand out for different reasons: some offer exceptional build quality, some are pure value, and others are just flat out classy.
This isn’t meant to be a definitive ranking of every great keyboard out there. Instead, think of it as a curated snapshot of boards that genuinely stand out in today’s custom keyboard space. And I promise it’ll be good whether you’re looking for your first serious custom or the next addition to your collection.
Full Disclosure and Affiliations
For clarity and transparency, this is not a paid article and none of these brands or companies have asked me to write this. However, there are some affiliate links included in this article to support content creation – your support is greatly appreciated.
Eave65
Best Value Pick
This is the easiest recommendation for an affordable custom 65% keyboard on this list. Hands down. I wish I could put into words how impressed I was when I built this thing for the first time, it was that good. It starts at 50-60 USD depending on where you buy it, but my goodness is this thing worth it.
It has an overall deeper sound signature to it but never feels like it’s pushing the lines of “foamy only”. I wish I picked this thing up in orange, but only clear was available when I decided to pull the trigger on it. It’s worth it and also makes a great gift for people just getting into the space.
TL;DR: Affordable 65% keyboard (~$50–60 USD), easy to build, deep and satisfying sound, great for beginners, makes a perfect gift.
Neo65 Core Plus
Go To Recommendation
Even after spending more time with other boards this year, the Neo65 Core Plus from QwertyKeys still ends up being my favorite pick overall. To me, it’s seriously the best 65% keyboard, hands down. There’s just something really special about the Core series and this lineup is still the best sounding set of boards they’ve produced so far.
The design just feels timeless without drifting into overly minimal territory, and it’s the kind of keyboard that fits naturally into a wide range of setups. I just love a good timeless design.
Pricing is another reason this board is such an easy recommendation. The plateless variant starts at around $105 USD, while the aluminum plate version comes in at about $125. You can also opt for a tri-mode hotswap PCB for an additional cost, and there are plenty of color options to choose from depending on the look you are going for.
At this point, QwertyKeys continues to impress me with the pace and quality of their releases. For a while I was worried that the frequency of new boards might start to feel repetitive or rushed. Instead, many of their recent projects have been some of their strongest yet, and the Neo65 Core Plus is easily one of the best examples of that.
TL;DR: 65% keyboard from QwertyKeys (~$105–125 USD), timeless design, excellent sound, multiple color options, top pick for 2026.
Classic TKL
Secondary disclaimer, I do work for NovelKeys and have been very open about this. I did a full review on the board and put it under the same scrutiny as other boards. But it’s important to me that I disclose this!
Starting at around $89 USD, the Classic-TKL ends up being a really approachable entry into the custom TKL space. It’s easy to build, flexible enough to play around with different switches and plates, and a solid option if you want a larger layout without jumping straight into the much more expensive enthusiast boards.
It’s also designed by the oh so talented Nephlock! We love that guy. The board leans into a retro-inspired TKL look with a taller forehead and badge that give it a bit of personality without going overboard. Under the hood (so to speak) though, it’s a hot-swap PCB, gasket mounting, and full VIA support, which makes it easy to tweak and experiment with.
I did find this board tends to lean more bright and less so foamy or deep, so do keep that in mind.
TL;DR: Approachable TKL (~$89 USD), easy to build, hot-swap PCB, gasket mount, retro-inspired, bright and clean sound profile.
Oblique
The Oblique from Bowl Keyboards is one of the more premium options here and also maybe one of the most visually striking ones. Instead of relying on a completely flat or simple shape, the case uses a series of intersecting and angled surfaces that give it a lot more visual depth depending on how the light hits it. The name actually comes from those intersecting faces, which guide your eye around different parts of the board when you look at it from different angles. Pretty cool!
Underneath this bolder design, it sticks to a pretty familiar enthusiast formula. Which is a 60% aluminum keyboard with an isolated gasket mounting system that uses multiple press-fit gaskets to suspend the plate and PCB from the case. Different gasket firmness options let you tune the feel and sound a bit, and the board supports both solder and hotswap PCBs depending on how you want to build it. 
Starting around $350 USD, the Oblique sits firmly in that mid-to-higher enthusiast price range, but it brings a lot of customization with it. There are a wide range of colorways, different external weight finishes, and multiple plate materials you can choose from to dial in both the look and the typing experience.
I loved the experience building this one up and it sits proudly in my collection of boards. I also think I just love 60% and 65% boards at this point and want to collect them like Pokemon cards. Also, the color choices I saw with this board are crazy unique.
TL;DR: Premium 60% from Bowl Keyboards (~$350 USD), striking angled case design, aluminum with gasket mount, fully customizable internals, visually unique while solid to type on
Bauer Lite
The Bauer Lite from Omnitype is a really good example of how far entry-level custom keyboards have come. It takes the overall layout and design cues from the original Bauer and brings them into a much more accessible package with an injection-molded polycarbonate case. The result is a lightweight 65% that still carries a lot of that Bauer identity but at a price that makes it far easier for people to jump in.
At around $120 USD, the Bauer Lite sits in a really comfortable spot for people who want a proper custom keyboard experience without spending a ton of money. Now, it’s double the price of the Eave65 and you might be wondering if it’s actually better.
The truth is, I like both and if you’re just chasing some simple and best bang for your buck, you may be better off with the Eave65. However, the Bauer offers something the eave just doesn’t, which is a world of customizing how your board looks, and I think there is value in being able to dress up your board the way you want to.
It’s also just a really straightforward board to build. You get the flexibility you would expect from a modern custom board, with support for VIA and multiple layout options.
TL;DR: Entry-level 65% (~$120 USD), hot-swap PCB, easy build, customizable layouts and VIA support, lightweight yet full-featured.
The New TOFU 3.0 60 & 65
The Tofu 3.0 series is KBDFans reviving its TOFU line up with some serious upgrades all while making it affordable. The base configuration lands around $150–$160 USD and it has lots of ways to make it your own.
It is easy to build, thoughtfully designed, and genuinely enjoyable to type on. Just as important, it does not come across like a simple nostalgia play. On a personal level, the TOFU60 3.0 is just one of those boards I couldn’t put down since building it. You can really make some wild changes to how it sounds with the options it gives you.
For the gamers in the space too wanting a custom HE boards, keep an eye out for extras and in stock units of the hall effect models of the 60%.
If you are looking for a clean, minimalist 60% or 65% that stands on its own rather than relying on hype, this is an easy recommendation. While the 60’s groupbuy closed, I am told there will be extras very soon. The 65 variant is still up for preorders as of launch of this article.
TL;DR: KBDFans Tofu 3.0 (~$150–160 USD), easy to build, thoughtful design, minimalist look, highly customizable, good for both 60% and 65% enthusiasts.
wrapping up
At the end of the day, there’s no single “perfect” keyboard! To me, what matters most is finding one that fits the way you type, the look you want on your desk, and the overall build experience.
Custom keyboards have come a long way, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years yet for enthusiasts. There’s more variety than ever, with options that suit beginners and veterans alike, and the quality across the board continues to impress.
Take your time, try what feels right, and remember, a large part of the fun is in building, typing, and discovering what makes a keyboard truly yours. I appreciate you all for reading! I’d love to hear what boards have stood out to you so far this year in my streams and in Discord!
Until next time. 👋