How to design your custom keyboard cable: A Complete Guide

Why Color Matters for Custom Mechanical Keyboards?

When building a custom mechanical keyboard, every detail reflects your personal style — from the switches under your fingers to the keycaps on top. But one element that often gets overlooked is the cable. High-quality custom cables coiled or straight, do more than connect your keyboard to your computer; they tie the entire setup together visually.

Color plays a huge role in that. A keyboard cable in the right shade can complement your keycaps, match your desk mat, or create a striking contrast that makes your whole build stand out. For many enthusiasts, the cable isn’t just an accessory — it’s a statement piece. Choosing the right color combination can transform a keyboard from something functional into a centerpiece of your desk setup.

 

 

How does our cable builder work?

/A step-by-step guide on our custom cable configurator/

Step 1: Choose Your Cable Theme

The first step in designing your own custom keyboard cable is picking a theme. At King Cables, we’ve created nearly 80 ready-made color themes to inspire your build. Each one is crafted using our two-layer sleeving system: Paracord and Techflex. These materials aren’t just about looks — they’re chosen for their strength, flexibility, and premium feel.

Most cable builders force you to select a paracord color and then a Techflex overlay without showing how they’ll actually look together. That’s like buying a painting by choosing “blue” and “red,” without ever seeing the finished artwork.

We do things differently. By presenting complete, pre-visualized themes, you’ll know exactly how your coiled keyboard cable will look before you start customizing. This way, you can focus on finding the colorway that matches your keyboard, desk setup, or overall aesthetic.

 

Step 2: Do you prefer your cable coiled or straight?

 

Once you’ve chosen your theme, the next big decision is the style of your keyboard cord. At King Cables, you can choose between a straight cable or a coiled cable in 4", 6", or 8" coil lengths.

Straight cables are minimal, clean, and perfect if you prefer a simple setup without extra bulk. They work well for tighter desk spaces or users who like a sleek, no-frills aesthetic.

Coiled cables aren’t just stylish — they’re also functional. The coil helps absorb movement, preventing stress on your keyboard’s port while adding that signature mechanical keyboard look.

Choosing your coil length comes down to both practicality and style:

 - 4" coils → Compact and tidy, ideal for smaller desks.

- 6" coils → The most popular option — balanced between looks and usability.

- 8" coils → A bold choice that makes your cable stand out as a centerpiece.

Whether you prefer a streamlined straight cable or a bold 8" coiled cable, this step lets you set the tone of your setup. You can also choose if you prefer bigger coils or just standard ones. You can draw inspiration from a blog post presenting some of our finished keyboard cable projects  < here >

Step 3: Determine your cable direction.

 

 It's important to pick the suitable cable alignment if your cable is coiled. You can point left, right, or backwards. You should decide that based on where your host connection is (PC). 
  Secondly, this is a part of the aesthetics of the cable. I prefer direction 1, and 2. as the cable connector is sitting next to the mech keyboard in a horizontal way. For me, that's the best look for your Avaitor connector. I find direction  3 to be the most versatile one, as you can simply point the direction by bending the coil. 

Step 4: Choosing your cable connector. Aviator or push-pull one?

 

1. The connector you choose is an important part of your coiled USB cable. I always advise our clients to pick the one they like most.  At King Cables, we offer several premium options:

- Gx16 & Gx12 → Reliable, robust connectors commonly used in custom builds. Also known as Aviator connectors, or detachables.

- YC8 → Compact and versatile, with push-pull mechanism. With a minimal look.

- Mini XLR → More subtle but stylish. It has a small button that locks and unlocks.

Lemo → Premium connectors. Known for its stellar looks. With a push-pull mechanism.

If you disconnect/reconnect your cable frequently, and maybe travel with your keyboard, the smaller push-pull connectors like Yc8, Lemo, Mini XLR are a slightly better option.  The Gx16 Aviator is on the heavy side, but still unlocks pretty fast.

2. After determining your cable connector, it's time to choose a color for it. We offer a variety of colors. Pick the color that works best with our custom keycaps or keyboard.

Step 5: Choose a USB connection for your wire. And do you need an extension?

 

  This is a pretty straightforward process. Most people need a custom USB C cable. For your host connection, a coiled type C to type A is the most common purchase, but USB C to USB C devices is also very much needed. Especially for our Mac users.  They are all good at transferring data, but for speed, USB C to C or A is best. We offer:

- USB C to USB A or USB C

- USB Micro to USB A or USB C

- USB Mini to USB A or USB C

  If you need a second connection, you can get an extension. That's a short cable that connects to your host cable by the cable connector. For example, if you have a mechanical keyboard with USB-C port and one with a USB Micro port. You buy a USB-C coil cable and add a short extension with a USB Micro. It can be coiled or straight. 
  The same way you can get an extension for your host connection - the long cable that connects to your PC or other USB devices. If you want to switch daily, for example, from home to work, it good idea to have 2 host cables stationed permanently and switch from the cable connector. It's very convenient, and you won't have to carry the host cable with you to work.

 

Step 6: Pick heat-shrink for your USB-C and other connections.

 

 The final touch on every custom cable is the heatshrink. More than just a color accent, this durable, polyolefin sleeve is essential for structural integrity. It provides a clean, professional finish at all connector points while also reinforcing the connection against mechanical stress. This small but vital detail helps to protect your investment, reducing the risk of wear and tear and ensuring a long-lasting and beautiful cable.

  

Do you want to learn what's what? Read more about frequently asked questions about coiled keyboard cables (FAQ)

Now that you have all the knowledge, it's time to bring your vision to life and design a cable that's perfectly you. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to message us!