Keycaps Buying Guide: PBT, Doubleshot, ISO Layout and Profiles (2026)

Your gaming keyboard's keys are shiny, the legends are worn, or you just want a different look? You don't need a new keyboard. On most mechanical keyboards you can pull off the keycaps and swap in a new set.

To make sure a new set actually fits, check four things: the stem under the key, the layout, the bottom row and the lighting. Material and profile then decide how the keys feel, sound and age.

Transparency: We haven't tested these sets ourselves. All information comes from Glorious, SteelSeries, Keychron, Das Keyboard, the retailer KeebsForAll and the Amazon.de product pages we checked (as of November 2026). We don't list prices because they change constantly.

One note up front: the store links go to Amazon.de, and the sets below use the German ISO layout (QWERTZ). If your keyboard uses UK ISO or US ANSI, pick the matching layout variant of a set instead.

Will a new set fit your keyboard?

1. The stem: MX cross

Almost all aftermarket sets are made for switches with a cross-shaped stem (MX style, "+"). Pull off one key and look: if you see a small plus, the basics fit.

Not every gaming keyboard plays along. SteelSeries, for example, says the Apex 3 uses proprietary keycaps that can't be swapped. On the Apex Pro with OmniPoint switches, SteelSeries says some third-party keycaps may not fit perfectly or may block part of the lighting. Check with your keyboard's maker whether its keycaps are swappable.

2. The layout: ISO or ANSI

ISO keyboards (German, UK, Nordic and others) have a tall Enter key spanning two rows, a short left Shift and an extra key next to it. ANSI keyboards (US) have a wide, flat Enter and a long left Shift. SteelSeries also calls ISO the 105-key and ANSI the 104-key layout.

An ANSI set has no matching Enter or short Shift for an ISO keyboard, and the other way round. Look for "ISO" or "ANSI" plus the language (for example "DE/QWERTZ" or "UK") in the product title. This applies to compact 60 % and 75 % keyboards too.

3. The bottom row

The spacebar and the keys next to it (Ctrl, Windows, Alt) aren't the same width on every keyboard. Many makers talk about a "standard bottom row", and some gaming keyboards, for example from Corsair or Razer, differ from it. Good sets therefore include extra keys for the bottom row. SteelSeries says its PrismCaps include 16 of them.

If in doubt, measure: how wide is your spacebar compared with a letter key, and how wide are the keys on either side? Compare that with the set's key list.

4. Lighting

Want your RGB lighting to shine through? Then you need keycaps with translucent legends (shine-through) or translucent sides (pudding). Many PBT sets with dye-sub legends let no light through, and Glorious says so explicitly for its GPBT keycaps.

LED position matters as well. YMDK says its shine-through set works best on keyboards with north-facing LEDs. With south-facing LEDs, the effect is very weak, according to YMDK.

PBT or ABS?

Keycaps are almost always made of one of two plastics:

• PBT is harder and denser than ABS, according to Keychron, and doesn't develop that greasy shine as quickly. SteelSeries says PBT doesn't turn yellow. The surface usually feels slightly textured and matte.
• ABS is cheaper, easier to mold and takes more vivid colours, but it picks up shiny spots over time.

If shiny WASD keys bother you, PBT is the better choice. All four sets below are PBT.

Doubleshot or dye-sub?

How the legends get onto the key matters too:

• Doubleshot: two layers of plastic are molded into each other, so the legend is part of the key and, according to SteelSeries, can't wear off. This also makes translucent legends possible.
• Dye-sub (dye sublimation): heat bonds the ink into the plastic. The legends last a long time too, but usually let no light through.
• Pad-printed or laser-etched: common on cheap sets. Pad-printed legends wear off fastest.

Which profile?

The profile describes a keycap's shape and height. It decides how the keyboard feels.

According to Das Keyboard, the Cherry profile is 9.4 mm tall, 2.5 mm shorter than OEM. With Cherry and OEM, each row has its own shape, which guides your fingers. Uniform profiles like XDA let you put any key in any position.

For shooters, a low profile like Cherry is a good starting point because it feels close to most gaming keyboards. Tall profiles like SA are more about looks and sound than fast play.

Four sets and a puller

The following products were in stock on Amazon.de when we checked and are sold or shipped by Amazon (November 2026). They aren't test winners, just examples for different needs. All have a German ISO layout and fit MX stems.

Example model

RGB pudding with extra bottom row: SteelSeries PrismCaps (Black, German)

Doubleshot PBT keycaps with translucent sides and legends in pudding style. According to the listing, the German set has 105 ISO keys for full-size, TKL and 60 % layouts. SteelSeries adds 16 extra keys for non-standard bottom rows, for example on keyboards from Razer, Corsair, HyperX or Ducky. A keycap puller is included.

Material / legends

PBT, doubleshot

Lighting

translucent sides and legends

Layout

ISO, German (QWERTZ), 105 keys

Extras

16 keys for non-standard bottom rows, puller

Right for you if you have an RGB keyboard and want the lighting as bright as possible, even on a board with a non-standard bottom row.

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Example model

Matte and clean in Cherry profile: Glorious GPBT Arctic White (German)

PBT keycaps in Cherry profile with dye-sub legends in a Glorious font. According to Glorious, the ISO set has 115 keys. The legends are not translucent, so RGB only glows between the keys. According to the listing, the set fits most 60 %, 65 %, 75 %, TKL, 96 % and full-size keyboards with MX switches.

Material / legends

PBT, dye-sub

Profile

Cherry

Lighting

no shine-through

Layout

ISO, German (QWERTZ), 115 keys

Right for you if a calm, matte look matters more to you than glowing letters.

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Example model

Big ISO set in Cherry profile: AKKO 210-Key Orange Black

Doubleshot PBT set in Cherry profile with 210 keys, orange legends on black caps. According to the listing, it's designed for German, UK and Nordic ISO keyboards and fits full-size, TKL, 75 %, 65 % and other sizes. With that many keys, there are usually caps left for unusual layouts too. Still check the key list before you buy.

Material / legends

PBT, doubleshot

Profile

Cherry

Layout

ISO German, UK and Nordic, 210 keys

Seller

Akko Official, shipped by Amazon

Right for you if you have a compact or unusual keyboard and want plenty of spare caps.

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Example model

Shine-through in OEM profile: YMDK 105 German ISO (Black)

Doubleshot PBT set with translucent legends in OEM profile, so slightly taller than Cherry. 105 keys in German ISO layout, and the listing says a keycap puller is included. YMDK recommends the set for keyboards with north-facing LEDs.

Material / legends

PBT, doubleshot

Profile

OEM

Lighting

translucent legends

Layout

ISO, German (QWERTZ), 105 keys

Right for you if your keyboard has a standard bottom row and north-facing LEDs and you want classic backlit letters.

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Example model

Tool: GATERON Twins keycap and switch puller

One tool with two ends: one for pulling keycaps and one for switches. According to Gateron, the tool holds on to the cap or switch after pulling it so nothing drops. The body is made of PC plastic. You only need the switch puller on hot-swap keyboards, where switches can be changed without soldering.

Function

keycap and switch puller

Material

PC

Seller

GATERON, shipped by Amazon

Right for you if your set doesn't include a puller or you want to swap switches too.

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The sets compared

Set	Material	Legends	Profile	Shine-through legends	Keys
SteelSeries PrismCaps	PBT	doubleshot	n/a	yes (pudding)	105 + 16
Glorious GPBT	PBT	dye-sub	Cherry	no	115
AKKO 210	PBT	doubleshot	Cherry	n/a	210
YMDK 105	PBT	doubleshot	OEM	yes	105

How to swap your keycaps

1. Take a photo of the keyboard first so you know which key goes where. SteelSeries gives the same tip.
2. Turn the keyboard off or unplug it.
3. Position the puller: slide it down over the key until it hooks under the cap.
4. Pull straight up: SteelSeries advises against twisting, yanking or using bare fingers, which can damage the stems.
5. Press the new cap on all the way down until it sits.
6. Do the long keys last: Space, Enter and Shift have stabilisers. Put them on carefully and straight.

With the caps off, it's a good time to clean the board. Tips are in our PC cleaning guide for air dusters and electric blowers.

Checklist before you buy

• Does your keyboard have MX (cross) stems? Does the maker say keycaps are swappable?
• ISO or ANSI, and which language?
• Does the bottom row fit, or are extra keys included?
• Want RGB to shine through the legends? Then doubleshot shine-through or pudding.
• Cherry or OEM? If you like it low, go Cherry.
• Is a puller included?

Looking for a new keyboard altogether? See our gaming keyboard buying guide. For long sessions, a wrist rest pairs well.

FAQ

Do keycaps fit every mechanical keyboard?

No. Most sets need switches with an MX cross stem, the right layout (ISO or ANSI) and a matching bottom row. Some gaming keyboards, like the SteelSeries Apex 3, use proprietary keycaps that can't be swapped, according to SteelSeries.

Can I put a US (ANSI) set on an ISO keyboard?

Only partly. Letters and numbers fit, but Enter, left Shift and the extra key next to it are missing or the wrong size. Pick a set in your keyboard's ISO layout and language.

Are PBT keycaps better for gaming?

They don't play better, but they stay nice for longer. According to Keychron, PBT is harder than ABS and doesn't get shiny spots as quickly. You notice that on WASD after a while.

Will my RGB shine through any keycaps?

No. Dye-sub legends usually let no light through, and Glorious states this for its GPBT keycaps. For glowing legends you need doubleshot keycaps with a translucent layer or pudding keycaps.

Do standard keycaps fit Hall effect or rapid trigger keyboards?

Often yes, as long as the switches have an MX cross stem. SteelSeries notes, though, that on the Apex Pro with OmniPoint switches some third-party keycaps may not sit perfectly or may partly block the lighting. Check the details for your model.

Sources

As of November 2026. Product specs come from the manufacturers and the Amazon.de product pages we checked.

• SteelSeries Support – Can I swap the keycaps on my keyboard? (Apex 3, OmniPoint, removal)
• SteelSeries Support – Keyboard layouts ANSI, ISO, JIS
• SteelSeries – PrismCaps: PBT and doubleshot explained
• SteelSeries – PrismCaps product information guide (contents, 16 extra keys)
• SteelSeries – How to swap your keyboard keycaps
• Glorious – GPBT Arctic White Dye Sublimated Keycaps (Cherry, dye-sub, 115 ISO keys)
• Keychron – ABS vs. PBT Keycaps
• Das Keyboard – Types of Keycap Profiles
• KeebsForAll – Keycap Profiles & Materials Guide (legend methods)