Volume knobs are one of the most divisive features within the mechanical keyboard community. Some think physical volume control is indispensable. In contrast, others think it’s a gimmick that adds nothing to the user experience. With so many opinions floating around, it can be hard to cut through the noise to find the right keyboard with a volume wheel for you. That’s where we come in.

Ranging from simple volume controls to highly-programmable knobs, the best keyboards with volume knobs can open up a whole new world of media and program control. Here are our picks for the best keyboards with volume wheels.

The Best Keyboards with Volume Knobs

1. Das Keyboard 4 Professional

The Das Keyboard 4 Professional isn’t a flashy keyboard. Still, it retains much of what made its predecessors great alongside some modern updates that make it a solid overall keyboard for most users.

First, the Das Keyboard 4 has swapped its traditional plastic case for an aluminum one. This gives it a better typing feel and feedback than its predecessors and provides a more premium feel. It also has better workspace and dedicated media keys, making it a more usable keyboard overall.

The volume knob in the upper right lets you quickly adjust media volume while working. Accompanying this knob are a few preprogrammed multimedia buttons that allow you to play and pause whatever’s playing, as well as skip forward and back.

The Das Keyboard 4 also packs a couple of USB 3.0 ports on the back. These aren’t unique on their own, but the combination of USB ports and a keyboard volume wheel is a bit harder to find. Either way, these USB ports are great for quickly plugging in USB storage or even wired mice.

It’s a very usable keyboard, but it isn’t perfect. You don’t get any backlighting, RGB or otherwise, and neither do you get any programmable macro buttons. Gaming isn’t Das Keyboards’ target market, but some of you may find these omissions disappointing given the price.

But that overlooks what Das gets right with the Keyboard 4. With its high-quality Cherry MX switches and aluminum case, the Das Keyboard 4 is a solid keyboard with some great convenience features added to the package. So, overall, the Das Keyboard 4 takes our pick for the best keyboard with a volume knob.

If you like a minimal look, the Das Keyboard 4 Ultimate comes stock with blank keycaps and black-on-black branding.

2. Drevo Blademaster TE

There are a lot of tenkeyless keyboards with volume wheels out there. But the Drevo Blademaster TE and its Genius Knob stand out for their in-built utility. The Genius Knob, which you can twist, click, and double-click, can do more than just adjust volume and RGB brightness.

Of course, it works as a standard volume control. But Drevo’s Power Console software lets you assign up to four commands to the Genius Knob: twist (up and down), single press, and double-press. These commands are saved on a per-profile basis, letting you set up a bunch of different profiles depending on the game or program you’re running.

The software also lets you do all the other basics, such as setting up RGB lighting and remapping keys. Drevo also included a few DIP switches on the bottom, which let you swap Caps Lock and Ctrl or enable alternative layouts (Dvorak, Colemak, or Minimak). Excellent features on such an affordable keyboard, and something we’d love to see on more keyboards.

We also really like the positioning of the Genius Knob. Putting it on the keyboard’s side means that Drevo managed to run with an almost bezel-less design, keeping the Blademaster TE compact.

The Drevo Blademaster TE is a great tenkeyless keyboard, especially for the price. The unique volume wheel setup is the icing on the cake and makes it worth checking out for anyone that wants a multi-function knob on their TKL keyboard. Although its standard keycaps are thin and low-quality, that’s nothing a cheap set of replacement PBT keycaps can’t solve.

3. Redragon K588

The Redragon K588 Gaming Keyboard isn’t the most premium gaming keyboard you can buy. But its combination of volume control, programmable macros, and decent switches make it a reasonable option for those of you who want a solid gaming board without breaking the bank.

Unlike most other boards on our list, the K588 sports a volume roller instead of a knob. It’s a reasonable space-saving decision given the K588’s TKL layout. But there’s more to the roller than just volume control, though. You can toggle between using the roller for media volume or backlight brightness using a toggle next to the dedicated media controls.

The Redragon K588 has nine programmable macro keys on the left side of the board. You get five full-sized keys to the left of the main key cluster and four smaller keys above the function row. You program macros with the Redragon software, which also lets you set up your RGB backlighting.

The Redragon K588 packs a lot of useful features into an affordable keyboard, which is great news for the budget-conscious out there. You will have to live with Outemu Blues, but they’re not too bad overall. These match most of the key stats of Cherry MX Blues, including actuation force and keystroke travel.

You also feel the price point in the plastic casing and flimsy adjustable feet. They’re adequate, but they don’t do much to improve the typing feel of the keyboard. Still, the K588 offers more than most, with its combination of programmable macro buttons, volume roller, and included wrist rest. Overall, it’s a solid wallet-friendly choice for a gaming keyboard with volume control.

4. Redragon K618

The Redragon K618 is an affordable low-profile wireless keyboard that takes more than a few cues from the Logitech G915, one of our favorite low-profile keyboards. You get a 104-key full-sized layout with low-profile switches and keycaps, per-key RGB lighting, and a volume roller in the upper right.

The similarities don’t stop there, either. The Redragon K618 also has triple-mode connectivity, allowing you to connect via USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.0, or low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless. The latter is a great inclusion at this price point. Combine the versatile connectivity with the K618’s low-profile design and you have the makings of a great budget wireless gaming keyboard.

The K618 sports 10 dedicated macro keys across the top of the keyboard. This is one area where the Redragon falls flat compared to the much-pricier Logitech. The G915 has a column of full-sized macro keys on the left, which are easier to press than the K618’s small upper row.

Like other Redragon options, the keyboard is compatible with Redragon’s RGB management software. It features the standard per-key RGB lighting common to most modern Redragon boards.

Overall, the Redragon K618 is a decent, affordable option for those after a full-sized wireless keyboard with a volume knob. It’s not quite as good as the Logitech G915, but that’s not surprising when it’s regularly available at around a third of the Logitech’s price.

5. GMMK Pro

Wait, a barebones kit? While a little unorthodox, the GMMK Pro is a 75% DIY keyboard kit that’s hard to ignore because of how customizable it is. The ability to change the switches and keycaps and fully reprogram the board means that it can fit any role you need it to.

While you can buy versions of this board with the keys already installed, the base kit allows you to choose your switch and keycap from the start. For the keyboard enthusiast, this offers a chance to create something personal.

The GMMK Pro has a fancy knurled volume wheel on the upper right, a design decision that’s kicked off a wave of imitators. It’s a push encoder, meaning that you can push it down like a button. Like the rest of the board, it’s fully programmable, albeit only if you go through some hoops.

Unfortunately, Glorious’ Core software isn’t all that great, and you’re better off flashing alternate firmware if you want to dig into the GMMK Pro and make it your own. Check out VIAL if you’re keen on fully reprogramming your volume wheel to do whatever you want.

Software issues aside, the GMMK Pro is a hefty, premium-feeling keyboard due to its aluminum case and plate. You may need some time to get used to the ergonomics, especially since it doesn’t offer any way to adjust the typing angle, but that’s nothing major.

Overall, the GMMK Pro is the 75% keyboard with a volume knob for those who want a fully customizable experience. It’s not a cheap keyboard and takes a bit of time to set up, so it’s not for everyone. But if you’re a budding mechanical gaming keyboard enthusiast, this board is hard to pass up.

The GMMK Pro is also available in Ice White.

6. Ziyou Lang Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

60% keyboards with volume knobs are somewhat rare, likely because the extra space the knob takes up defeats the purpose of having a compact layout. But that hasn’t stopped Ziyou Lang from trying, combining wireless connectivity, a volume knob, and an integrated tablet holder into an interesting 60% keyboard.

The Ziyou Lang Wireless Mechanical Keyboard connects via Bluetooth 3.0 or USB Type-C. There’s a decently-sized 4400 mAh battery, which should keep the Ziyou Lang running wirelessly for a decent amount of time. For context, the Epomaker GK61xs’ 1900 mAh battery gives it a claimed 250 hours of non-RGB running time.

Ziyou Lang doesn’t specify what switches it uses, although the Pink and Blue options are similar to Cherry MX’s Red and Blue switches, respectively. We would have preferred a non-clicky tactile option alongside the linear and clicky switches, but it’s hard to be too demanding at this price point.

While we wouldn’t necessarily highly recommend the Ziyou Lang, those who need the combination of 60% layout and a volume knob would do well to check it out. If you can live without the knob, though, you’re better off looking elsewhere for something with more proven switches.

7. Redragon K550

The Redragon K550 is marketed as a gaming board, but we think it that its 12 programmable macros and 14 pre-programmed shortcut keys make it an even better keyboard for productivity. Need quick access to a lot of keyboard shortcuts? Check out the Redragon K550.

The K550 is on the pricier end of Redragon’s keyboard offerings, but you do get an aluminum switch plate that gives it a more solid typing feel. Redragon uses “custom” Outemu Purple switches on the K550, roughly equivalent to Cherry’s MX Brown switches. So you get some tactile feedback without going too overboard: perfect for a productivity-focused board.

The K550’s standout feature is the 12 macro keys in the top-left. These macro keys are fully programmable on the fly, using the record button located right next to them. You won’t have to dip into the Redragon software to set up macros, giving you a lot more flexibility.

You also get 14 pre-programmed shortcut buttons in the top-right, next to the volume roller. Redragon has assigned these shortcut keys to many everyday tasks, including media navigation, email, and screen lock.

There’s also a USB passthrough on the back, further adding to the K550’s productivity credentials. We would’ve loved to see two (like on the Das Keyboard 4), but even a single port will come in handy If you’re constantly connecting USB storage devices for work.

The Redragon K550 is really a productivity board in a gamer disguise. Its abundant macro keys, pre-programmed shortcuts, and silent switches mean it’ll fit in just as well in your work setup as it will in your gaming den.

Closing Thoughts

Keyboards with volume knobs are still relatively uncommon in the vast sea of mechanical keyboards, but that’s slowly changing as time goes on. There’s now enough variety that we’re confident anyone interested in a volume control wheel can find the perfect board for them without too much difficulty.

Most users will find the Das Keyboard 4 offers the right balance of price and performance for everyday use. However, gamers will likely find it too boring. If so, check out the Redragon boards, such as the K588, instead. But whichever keyboard you go for, make sure it has the features you need and a layout that works for you.