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Many people believe that keyboards are forever. As long as your computer still has an input for your keyboard, it will work, right? Wrong. Keyboards have a maximum lifespan after which they start to degrade and lose functionality. If your keyboard has reached its maximum lifespan, you might start to notice the keys are less responsive and there are more dropped inputs. The legends on the keycaps might start to wear away, leaving you unable to read the keys and relying on touch typing. Let’s examine the lifespans of different keyboards.

Membrane Keyboard

Membrane keyboards have varying degrees of durability. This disparity is in no small part due to the large variation in mechanism for actuating the keys. For more information about the different types of keyboards, check out my article on that topic.

Plunger

Plunger membrane keyboards typically last between 3 and 5 million keystrokes before they start to degrade.

Rubber Dome

Rubber dome membrane keyboards typically last between 3 and 5 million keystrokes.

Chiclet

Chiclet keyboards can be used without degradation for between 3 and 5 million keystrokes.

Scissor Switch

Scissor switch keyboards are the most durable membrane keyboards, lasting between 5 and 10 million keystrokes.

Mechanical

Mechanical switches are more durable than membranes. They not only do not degrade as fast but they can also be replaced on the matrix as long as the switch gasket is still intact and usable. However, if the switches are soldered to the keyboard’s PCB, you will need a soldering iron to replace the switches. Mechanical switches last between 30 and 100 million keystrokes on average. Some budget switches may have durability ratings as low as 10 to 20 million keystrokes, but the majority of average to premium switches last between 30 and 100 million keystrokes before they start to degrade.