I want a retro look. What are the best beige/grey keycap sets that look like old IBM terminals?

If you’re chasing the IBM Model F / Model M / old terminal look, I’d prioritize warm beige alphas, medium/cool-gray modifiers, dark legends, and either Cherry or DSA profile.

21KB Classic Retro Beige Keycap Set

$52.99

Mintcaps 9009 Grey Beige Keycaps

$57.99

NicePBT Classic Beige

$68.20

GMK CYL Classic Beige

$158.00

DSA Dolch

$14.00

DSA Granite

$41.00

My picks

1. 21KB Classic Retro Beige — best overall

• $52.99 currently.
• 1.6 mm dye-sub PBT, Cherry profile
• Very convincing vintage-computer palette without looking like a novelty set.
• This is probably the one I'd buy for an IBM-terminal-inspired build.

2. PBTFans Retro 100 — most authentically retro

• Beige + gray with little red/blue/gold accents.
• Cherry profile, double-shot PBT, 148 keys.
• It's explicitly inspired by the Canon AS-100 microcomputer from 1982, so it has the right period feel rather than merely being "beige."

3. GMK CYL Classic Beige — premium/minimal

• If you want the cleanest interpretation of an old beige terminal, this is excellent.
• Double-shot ABS and a restrained classic-beige palette.
• Much pricier at around $158, though.

4. NicePBT Classic Beige — best understated option

• Cherry profile and dye-sub PBT.
• Less "themed" than 9009-style sets, which makes it particularly good if you want something that could plausibly have come off an old workstation.

5. DSA Dolch — if you want an actual terminal vibe

• Dark gray/black + lighter gray rather than beige.
• DSA's uniform profile gives it a very old-computer/instrument-panel appearance.

6. 9009 — best if you want a little more color

• Beige/gray with muted green and red accents.
• The classic 9009 palette is one of the safest choices for a vintage office-computer aesthetic; community builds frequently use it for retro IBM-inspired boards.

For specifically an IBM terminal look

I'd rank the aesthetics:

Classic Beige > Retro 100 > NicePBT Classic Beige > 9009 > Dolch

And I'd pair the caps with a beige/ivory case, black or dark-gray coiled cable, and clicky switches if you want to push the Model M association. If the case is already gray, I'd go beige alphas + gray modifiers rather than an all-beige set.

If you tell me your keyboard layout (60/65/75/TKL/full-size/Alice) and approximate budget, I can narrow this to 3 sets that will actually fit it.

If you want that genuinely heavy, industrial, off-white/beige-and-grey terminal aesthetic (think IBM Model F Go to product viewer dialog for this item., Beamspring Go to product viewer dialog for this item., or 3270 terminals), you have some fantastic high-end and budget options available depending on the exact profile and texture you prefer.

The top beige/grey keycap sets capturing that vintage IBM look include:

Drop MT3 /dev/tty — Designed by matt3o , this set is heavily inspired by the iconic high-profile slanted keycaps of 1970s IBM terminals. The MT3 profile is deeply sculpted, tall, and retro-tastic, giving you an authentic vintage clack and finger-hugging feel available at Drop.

HammerWorks CRP (Round 7/Series) — Widely considered the holy grail for a pure, unadulterated vintage cherry-profile look. These thick dye-sublimated PBT keycaps feature accurate, muted beige alphas, soft grey modifiers, and subtle, period-correct text styling that looks indistinguishable from a vintage board. You can find regional drops on sites like Mechanical Keyboards.

PBTfans Corporate Beige / Classic Grey — A brilliant modern option from KBDfans . They offer crisp legends, excellent PBT texture, and precise two-tone grey/beige block layouts that mimic corporate 80s hardware without breaking the bank. Available directly on KBDfans.

GMK CYL Classic Beige — If you prefer the sharp legends, smooth acoustics, and premium feel of high-end doubleshot ABS , GMK’s classic beige is the industry benchmark. It delivers the exact cream-beige and soft grey contrast of old enterprise hardware. Check vendors like [Proto Typist or local mechanical keyboard stockists.

Mintcaps / 21KB Retro 9009 / Classic Beige Sets — If you want the look on a budget, generic/affordable Cherry-profile PBT dye-sub sets (like the 9009 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Mintcaps retro beige/grey variants found on Amazon ) do a surprising job of nailing the neutral grey-beige aesthetic for around $40 if you aren't ready to invest in group buys or premium sets.

To help narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• What keyboard layout/size are you building (e.g., 65%, 75%, full-size)?
• Do you prefer a taller, sculpted profile (like MT3/SA) or a flat/standard profile (like Cherry)?

If you want to capture that authentic, clunky, 1970s/1980s IBM terminal aesthetic (think the IBM 3270 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Model M Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ), you need more than just beige and grey plastic—you need the right color temperature (warm, yellowed or cool industrial grey) , the correct legend font , and a high-profile spherical or sculpted shape.

The top beige/grey keycap sets that nail the old IBM terminal and vintage computer look are organized below by profile and style:

• The Vibe: Absolute top-tier authenticity. Matt3o designed the MT3 profile specifically by scanning and recreating the deep, high-profile spherical shape of vintage IBM terminal keycaps (specifically the IBM 3277 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.).

• Why it works: The fingers sink right into the deeply dished caps, and the dark grey-on-light-grey/beige colorway looks like it was pulled straight out of a mainframe room in 1978.

• The Vibe: The gold standard for Cherry profile.

• Why it works: GMK sets use the classic thick ABS double-shot molding that gives off that exact mid-80s cream-beige and cool-grey contrast. Classic Beige Go to product viewer dialog for this item. hits the exact chromatic values of vintage boards, though you may have to hunt the aftermarket or extra drops on sites like NovelKeys since group-buy extras sell out fast.

• The Vibe: A budget-friendly, high-accuracy alternative to high-end custom sets.

• Why it works: Available directly via 21KB , this dye-sublimated PBT set features a gorgeous retro beige/grey tone with crisp, vintage-accurate text placement and a traditional Cherry profile. It avoids the overly pinkish tones that cheap clone sets suffer from.

• The Vibe: Towering, glossy, ultra-retro height.

• Why it works: SA profile offers the tall, glossy sculpted look of 1980s space-cadet and terminal boards. Budget-to-mid-tier options pop up frequently on marketplaces like Amazon or eBay under names like *Retro 9009 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. * or Antique SA Beige Go to product viewer dialog for this item. . They give you that massive, steeply angled profile if you want your modern mechanical keyboard to feel like a heavy piece of vintage office hardware.

If you want to narrow this down, let me know:

• What keyboard layout/size are you putting these on (e.g., 60%, 75%, full-size)?
• Do you prefer a sculpted high-profile (like MT3/SA) or a lower flat/Cherry profile?

If you’re going for “1980s IBM terminal / beige office computer” rather than just generic retro, I’d prioritize warm beige alphas + medium/dark grey modifiers, restrained black legends, and a fairly tall/sculpted profile. IBM Model M caps themselves were essentially uniform-profile caps, so there isn’t a perfect modern MX equivalent; OEM/Cherry/MTNU/SA get you different interpretations of the look.

My top picks

GMK Classic Beige (CYL)

$49.99

21KB Classic Retro Beige

$52.99

GMK MTNU Classic Beige

$43.05

GMK Klassiker

$77.69

SA Retro Keycap Set

$72.00

Mintcaps 9009 Grey Beige

$57.99

1. GMK Classic Beige — best overall
The safest choice if you want “this could have come off an IBM desk in 1987.” The beige is subdued rather than cream-colored, and GMK's CYL/Cherry profile looks clean and professional. Current listings are around $50–$140 depending on vendor/kit.

2. 21KB Classic Retro Beige — best value
Probably my pick if you don't want to spend GMK money. It's 1.6-mm dye-sub PBT, Cherry profile, and the set is specifically designed around the classic beige computer aesthetic. It's currently about $53.

3. GMK MTNU Classic Beige — best if you want chunky/vintage
This is especially interesting for an IBM-terminal build. MTNU is taller and more sculpted than Cherry, with spherical-ish tops, while retaining the classic beige palette. GMK describes it as a permanent Classic Beige offering and uses double-shot PBT.

4. GMK Klassiker — best minimalist IBM look
Instead of the traditional two-tone beige, Klassiker uses essentially one light-beige base color. It's a little less “Model M” and more “1980s workstation,” which I actually really like.

5. SA Retro — best old computer exaggeration
If you want the keys to look big, tall and gloriously vintage, go SA. It's more “early home computer / terminal” than faithful Model M, but it makes a modern keyboard look dramatically retro.

6. 9009-style beige/grey — best grey-heavy option
If by beige/grey you mean light grey modifiers with cream/beige alphas, 9009 is the classic answer. It's a little more neutral and understated than IBM beige. Current 192-key Cherry-profile sets are around $58.

If I were building yours

I'd rank the aesthetics:

Most authentic IBM:
GMK Classic Beige CYL → beige + grey + black legends

Best bang for buck:
21KB Classic Retro Beige

Most satisfying chunky retro:
GMK MTNU Classic Beige

Most “computer lab in 1989”:
9009 beige/grey

One important caveat: check your keyboard's layout before buying. Spacebar size, right Shift, bottom-row modifiers, and ISO/ANSI support can make an otherwise perfect set unusable. And don't expect RGB shine-through—the authentic IBM look generally uses opaque caps with printed/doubleshot legends.

If you tell me your keyboard model/layout and budget (e.g. <$60, <$100, no limit), I can narrow this to 3 sets that will actually fit it.

If you want “old IBM terminal sitting next to a CRT” rather than merely generic retro, I’d prioritize beige/cream alphas + medium grey modifiers, and especially an old-school profile like MT3.

Drop MT3 9009 PBT Keycap Set

$42.64

21KB Classic Retro Beige Keycap Set

$52.99

DCS 9009 Keycaps

$40.00

GMK Classic Beige Keycap Set

$158.00

NicePBT Classic Beige Keycaps

$67.78

KEYKOBO Beige ABS Double-Shot Keycap Set

$79.00

My picks

🥇 MT3 9009 — most “IBM terminal” The strongest choice if the shape matters as much as the color. MT3 was explicitly designed around the look/feel of vintage terminals, with a deep, sculpted, scooped profile. The 9009 colorway uses off-white/grey with tiny green and red accents.

🥈 21KB Classic Retro Beige — most like an actual Model M If you want understated IBM beige with black legends, this is excellent. It's 1.6-mm dye-sub PBT in Cherry profile and is currently around $53.

🥉 DCS 9009 — best traditional profile A nice choice if MT3 is too tall/odd for you. DCS 9009 keeps the classic beige/grey 9009 palette while using a more conventional profile and doubleshot legends. It's currently listed at $40.

GMK Classic Beige — premium OG-beige look If you want something extremely clean and authentic-looking, this is the one. GMK's ABS doubleshot construction gives it that smooth, slightly shiny vintage-plastic character rather than the textured PBT feel.

NicePBT Classic Beige — great value I'd choose this over expensive GMK if you're specifically after Model M colors rather than GMK's particular feel. It's Cherry profile and dye-sub PBT.

KeyKobo Beige — minimalist option More monochromatic beige and less “9009 office computer,” but very nice if you want a clean vintage workstation aesthetic.

One important distinction

If by “old IBM terminals” you mean the actual chunky, sculpted terminal-key look, I'd go:

MT3 9009 > 21KB Classic Retro Beige > DCS 9009

If you mean IBM Model M specifically, I'd go:

21KB Classic Retro Beige > NicePBT Classic Beige > GMK Classic Beige

The 9009 palette is technically based on the vintage Cherry G80-9009, not IBM, although its beige/grey combination has become one of the quintessential retro-computer colorways.

If you tell me your keyboard layout (60/65/75/TKL/full-size) and roughly budget ($40 / $80 / $150+), I can narrow this to 3 sets that will actually fit.

If you want to capture that authentic, heavy-duty aesthetic of old IBM terminals (like the 3270 Go to product viewer dialog for this item., 3277 Go to product viewer dialog for this item., or Model M/F eras), you want sets that balance warm "bone" or "putty" beige alphas with contrasting cool grey or charcoal modifiers.

The top beige/grey keycap sets that completely nail the vintage terminal look range from accurate replicas to high-end custom profiles:

• Drop + Matt3o MT3 /dev/tty
  • The Vibe: The ultimate choice for an authentic terminal feel. The MT3 profile is directly modeled after the tall, deeply scooped spherical keycaps found on 1970s IBM beamspring terminals.
  • Material/Profile: High-profile, highly sculpted PBT with crisp dye-sublimated legends. It replicates the physical slant and finger-hugging "dish" of ancient ironclad hardware. You can check availability via Upgrade Keyboards or Drop.
• GMK CYL / KKB Classic Beige
  • The Vibe: The gold standard for classic industrial-office aesthetics, using exact historical Cherry industry color codes (typically L9 for light beige/grey alphas and U9 for darker grey/beige modifiers).
  • Material/Profile: Premium double-shot ABS in Cherry profile. They offer a deep, rich acoustic sound and razor-sharp legends that never fade. Offered historically via makers like NovelKeys or German manufacturer run variants on Mona Keys.
• 21KB ASCII / Classic Retro Beige
  • The Vibe: A minimalist, budget-to-mid-tier darling of the mechanical keyboard community. It features retro beige-and-grey tones with awesome legacy ASCII sub-legends that look straight off a mainframe data-entry terminal.
  • Material/Profile: Thick, high-quality dye-sublimated PBT in standard Cherry profile. It is clean, durable, and doesn't get shiny as fast as ABS. Available directly on 21KB.
• • The Vibe: Revered by vintage purists for having some of the most accurate beige hues and ultra-crisp, slightly muted dark grey/brownish legends mimicking old-school Cherry and terminal boards.
  • Material/Profile: Dye-sublimated thick PBT in Cherry profile. Often run in limited rounds, but considered a grail set for vintage-layout builders.
• Keychron Retro OSA / 9009 Sets
  • The Vibe: Accessible and easy to buy, utilizing the classic "9009" grey-beige palette with subtle muted accent keys.
  • Material/Profile: Double-shot PBT in an OSA profile (OEM-width spherical-ish height) or standard Cherry profile on Mechanical Keyboards.

Are you looking for a specific keyboard layout (like 65%, TKL, or a full-size 108-key) and do you prefer a tall, sculpted spherical profile (like MT3) or a flat traditional Cherry profile?

If you are chasing that crisp, corporate, grey-and-beige industrial aesthetic of old IBM terminals (like the Model M Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or 3270 Go to product viewer dialog for this item./Model F Go to product viewer dialog for this item. boards), you have some fantastic options in the mechanical keyboard hobby.

Top beige/grey retro keycap sets that nail the IBM terminal look:

• GMK CYL Classic Beige Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: The absolute industry benchmark for accurate vintage IBM/Cherry colors. It uses high-end double-shot ABS plastic with the classic cream/beige alphas and contrasting dark grey/cool grey modifiers. It looks clean, professional, and feels amazing to type on. You can check details directly on the GMK Website.
• 21KB Classic Retro Beige Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: Widely considered the best value-for-money enthusiast retro set. It features thick dye-sublimated PBT plastic (L9 beige alphas and matching dark grey modifiers) in a Cherry profile. It has clean, authentic vintage font scaling and support for massive layout compatibility without breaking the bank.
• MonacoKeys MK Retro Beige Go to product viewer dialog for this item.: A stellar PBT dye-sub set that captures early-computer and terminal vibes. It balances creamy beige with elegant grey and gives you the option for subtle vintage accent keys if you want a splash of color. It supports everything from 60% up to full-size and Alice layouts.
• Classic 9009 Retro Sets: Inspired by the original Cherry G81/G80-9009 colorways, generic or branded "9009" sets (available via various vendors like MechanicalKeyboards.com under Vintage Throwback or Mintcaps on Amazon) swap between warm beige alphas, soft grey modifiers, and signature muted green/pink accent keys.
• Unicomp Original Buckling Spring/MX Replacements: If you want literal historical accuracy, Unicomp (the company that bought the original IBM Model M tooling and molds) sells individual sets and replacement caps in pearl white/beige and pebble grey. (Note: These are explicitly meant for buckling spring boards or Unicomp equivalents, though ClickyKeyboards also sells salvaged vintage IBM parts).

To help narrow down the ideal set for you, tell me:

• What keyboard layout/size are you putting these on (65%, TKL, 100% full-size)?
• Are you looking for Cherry MX switch compatibility or an authentic vintage board (like an actual Model M)?

If you're chasing the look of an old IBM terminal or Model M, there are a few different aesthetics:

• IBM 3277/3278 terminals – deep sculpted spherical caps with dark gray alphas.
• IBM Model M / Model F – warm beige alphas with gray modifiers.
• Cherry G80 / vintage office PCs – the classic "9009" beige and gray look.

Here are the sets I'd recommend.

Best overall: GMK Classic Beige

GMK Classic Beige (CYL)

$49.99

This is probably the cleanest modern interpretation of vintage beige. It uses authentic GMK ABS, crisp doubleshot legends, and the classic L9/U9 beige color combination inspired by vintage Cherry and IBM boards. If you want the "this could have come from a 1992 workstation" look, this is hard to beat.

Best value: 21KB Classic Retro Beige

21KB Classic Retro Beige

$52.99

This is my favorite budget recommendation.

• Thick 1.6 mm dye-sub PBT
• Excellent compatibility
• Warm vintage colors
• Around $50

You give up doubleshot ABS, but gain durability and much lower cost.

Best "9009" look

Retro 9009 Cherry Profile

$58.99

The 9009 colorway has become the standard retro aesthetic:

• beige alphas
• gray modifiers
• muted green/red accent keys

It's inspired more by vintage Cherry keyboards than IBM terminals, but it's incredibly versatile and instantly recognizable as "retro."

If you want actual IBM terminal vibes

The color isn't the whole story—the profile matters just as much.

The closest modern profile is MT3, especially MT3 3277, which was explicitly designed around IBM 3270 terminal keyboards. Its deep spherical dishes and tall sculpting capture the feel of vintage terminals far better than Cherry-profile sets. Enthusiasts regularly recommend MT3 for recreating IBM terminal keyboards.

Other excellent retro sets

• Keykobo Beige — Modern GMK alternative with classic beige colors and very good ABS quality.
• PBS Granite — A legendary gray-centric design updated for modern keyboards; understated and professional.

PBS Granite

$80.00

• ZenithKey IBM5160 — Styled specifically after the IBM 5160 XT keyboard, with vintage legends and colors.

ZenithKey IBM5160 PBT

$45.66

My favorites by style

One more tip: if you're pairing these with a keyboard, a beige, off-white, silver, or dark gray case completes the illusion. A beige keycap set on a modern black RGB board looks nice, but on a cream or gray case it can genuinely pass for a restored workstation from the late '80s.

If you're specifically chasing the IBM terminal / Model F / early Model M aesthetic, I'd prioritize sets that nail the warm beige, gray modifiers, and understated legends over flashy "retro-inspired" designs.

Here are my favorites, roughly in order:

1. NicePBT Classic Beige (Best value)

NicePBT Classic Beige

$67.25

Why it's great

• Warm beige alphas with gray modifiers
• Dye-sub PBT (won't get shiny like ABS)
• Cherry profile
• Looks remarkably close to vintage IBM and Cherry keyboards

If you want an everyday retro board without spending GMK money, this is probably the sweet spot.

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2. Keyhouse 9009 Retro

Keyhouse 9009 Retro PBT

$33.22

The classic 9009 colorway is arguably the most famous vintage-inspired scheme in the keyboard hobby.

It isn't an exact IBM clone—it originated from a vintage Cherry keyboard—but it captures the same era:

• cream alphas
• light gray mods
• muted green/red accent keys

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3. PBS Granite

PBS Granite

$80.00

Granite is more workstation than IBM. Think:

• UNIX terminal
• Sun Microsystems
• SGI
• engineering workstation

Very understated and professional.

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4. Keykobo Classic Beige

Keykobo Beige ABS Double-Shot

$39.00

Excellent if you want:

• GMK-like legends
• authentic ABS sound
• classic U9/L9 beige colors

Many enthusiasts consider this one of the closest modern reproductions of vintage beige keyboards.

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5. GMK MTNU Classic Beige (Premium)

If budget isn't a concern, GMK MTNU Classic Beige is one of the nicest modern retro sets available. It combines GMK's classic beige colors with the newer MTNU profile for a vintage-inspired sculpt.

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If you want an actual IBM terminal feel...

The profile matters almost as much as the colors.

I'd strongly recommend MT3 profile over Cherry.

The MT3 3277 set was designed specifically around the IBM 3277 terminal keyboards, with deep spherical tops that feel much closer to old IBM caps than standard Cherry profile.

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Budget options

If you just want the look for under $50:

• 21KB Classic Beige
• Mintcaps 9009
• Retro 9009 clones

These won't have the refinement of GMK or Keykobo, but they get surprisingly close visually.

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My picks by vibe

If you're pairing these with a beige or off-white keyboard case, the result can look remarkably authentic—especially with muted legends and no RGB.

For a classic beige/grey retro look that mimics old IBM terminals (like the 3270 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Model M Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ), you should focus on PBT material with dye-sublimated legends , aiming for a Cherry or SA profile.

Here are the best options for achieving that, based on current availability (as of late 2026):

Top Recommendations

21KB Keycaps: Specifically the 21KB Classic Retro Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Desko 1905 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. sets. These are highly regarded for their authentic beige coloring, thick dye-subbed PBT, and classic, subtle font that perfectly matches vintage terminals.

A premium dye-sub PBT set. The "Beige" variant is a direct nod to 1980s computer aesthetics.

MT3 Profile Sets (Drop): Specifically the [MT3 3277 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ](https://drop.com/buy/drop-matt3o-mt3-3277-custom-keycap-set) or Dasher Go to product viewer dialog for this item. . These are specifically designed to evoke 1970s IBM Beamspring terminals, featuring high-profile, deeply-scooped keys that provide a true vintage typing experience.

Based on the classic Cherry G80-9009 Go to product viewer dialog for this item., offering a clean, light grey and beige look with muted, optional accent colors.

A top-tier ABS doubleshot set that delivers the exact colorway and legendary, durable quality of 1980s corporate keyboards.

Key Aesthetic Details

• Color Profile: Look for beige, light gray, and "pebble" or "pearl" colors.
• Fonts: Gorton Modified is the classic retro font used on these, which many of the above sets replicate.
• Profiles:
  • SA: Very high, glossy, and spherical for a 70s-80s mainframes feel.
  • MT3: Sculpted, high-profile, and matte, ideal for authentic IBM feel.
  • Cherry: Lower profile, standard for 90s-style retro, highly ergonomic.

If you'd like, I can:

• Help you decide between SA (high profile) or Cherry (low profile) for your typing style
• Find links to cheaper alternatives on sites like AliExpress if you prefer a budget option
• Suggest keyboard cases that match the beige aesthetic

Let me know which direction you'd like to take!