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Cherry MX switch: plate cutout and PCB footprint
What size is the Cherry MX plate cutout and where are the PCB holes? · Standard part · basis: Cherry MX datasheet (plate, PCB, spacing; via ai03 wiki) and the KiCad SW_Cherry_MX_1.00u_PCB footprint (hole positions)
Also called: cherry mx plate cutout, mx switch cutout 14mm, cherry mx footprint, mx switch pcb holes, mechanical keyboard plate dimensions, keyboard plate thickness, cherry mx hole spacing, gateron cutout, mx switch dimensions, macropad plate, 1u key size 19.05
Exact dimensions. True size, with no printing tolerance added.
- length
- 19.05 mm
- width
- 19.05 mm
Notes
- The Cherry MX interface that MX-style switches share (Cherry, Gateron, Kailh BOX/Pro, Akko and other MX clones): the switch clips into a 14 × 14 mm square hole in a 1.5 mm plate and its pins go through the PCB 5 mm below the plate top.
- Hole coordinates are seen from the keycap side with the origin on the stem axis, x to the right and y towards the two contact pins (the LED window is on the opposite side). The centre post and the two fixing pegs line up on y = 0; the pegs exist only on PCB-mount (5-pin) switches, so a 3-pin plate-mount switch needs only the Ø4.0 and the two Ø1.5 holes.
- Switches sit on a 19.05 mm (0.75 in) grid: a key n units wide puts its switch at the centre of an n × 19.05 mm space, so the switch centres of a row are 19.05 mm apart; key widths are in the table (n × 19.05).
- The clips are made for the 1.5 ± 0.1 mm plate: for a thicker 3D-printed plate keep 1.5 mm at the cutout (a ledge) and thicken around it. Cutout and holes are drawn at true size: add your printer's hole allowance.
Cherry MX switch: plate cutout and PCB footprint size chart
| parameter | value |
|---|---|
| plate cutout | 14 × 14 mm |
| plate thickness | 1.5 ± 0.1 mm |
| PCB thickness | 1.6 mm |
| plate top to PCB top | 5.0 mm |
| key pitch (1u) | 19.05 mm (0.75 in) |
| centre post (x, y) | Ø4 at (+0.00, +0.00) mm |
| fixing peg (PCB-mount switches) (x, y) | Ø1.7 at (-5.08, +0.00) mm |
| fixing peg (PCB-mount switches) (x, y) | Ø1.7 at (+5.08, +0.00) mm |
| contact pin 1 (x, y) | Ø1.5 at (+2.54, +5.08) mm |
| contact pin 2 (x, y) | Ø1.5 at (-3.81, +2.54) mm |
| key width 1.25u | 23.81 mm |
| key width 1.5u | 28.58 mm |
| key width 1.75u | 33.34 mm |
| key width 2u | 38.10 mm |
| key width 2.25u | 42.86 mm |
| key width 2.75u | 52.39 mm |
| key width 6.25u | 119.06 mm |
| key width 7u | 133.35 mm |
Where the files are
Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.
| ai03 keyboard design wiki | Switch dimensions and physical specifications (Cherry MX datasheet values) | web | Publisher's page; dimensions are facts |
| KiCad | kicad-footprints: Button_Switch_Keyboard.pretty (SW_Cherry_MX_1.00u/2.00u/2.25u/2.75u/6.25u_PCB), citing Cherry's MX catalogue | web | CC BY-SA 4.0 with KiCad exception (footprints) |
Free files
★ Free files 2 parts. Generated by Xem Studio from the standard; threads are plain cylinders at major diameter. CC BY 4.0. index.json
| mx-plate-1u | 1u plate square 19.05 × 19.05 × 1.5 with the 14 × 14 mm switch cutout, true size (square corners as drawn by Cherry) | STEP · STL |
| mx-pcb-footprint-1u | 1u PCB hole pattern as a 1.6 mm drill jig: Ø4.0 centre post, 2 × Ø1.7 fixing pegs, 2 × Ø1.5 contact pins at true positions | STEP · STL |
https://xemstudio.com/mcp to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client (free, no account, one minute) and it can look up exact sizes, mating fits and free STEP/STL from every chat.Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=cherry-mx-switch-plate-cutout-and-pcb-footprint
Fits with
Questions
What size hole does a Cherry MX switch need?
A 14.0 × 14.0 mm square in a 1.5 mm (± 0.1) plate; the switch clips latch under the plate.
How far apart are keyboard switches?
19.05 mm (0.75 in) centre to centre for 1u keys; wider keys keep their switch at the centre of n × 19.05 mm.
What PCB holes does a 5-pin MX switch need?
Ø4.0 centre, two Ø1.7 pegs at ±5.08 mm on the centre line, and two Ø1.5 contact pins at (+2.54, +5.08) and (−3.81, +2.54) mm, seen from the keycap side.