3 Arcade Buttons: Sizes, Switches and Panel Fit in 2026

Arcade buttons should be chosen by the hole and panel they must fit. Color comes later. The three sets below cover different mounting sizes and switch arrangements. They are not interchangeable.

Start with a record of your panel, then compare the exact part with its drawing before ordering or cutting wood.

#1. EG Starts 30mm Illuminated Arcade Push Buttons

EG Starts 30mm Illuminated Arcade Push Buttons EG Starts 30mm Illuminated Arcade Push Buttons

Our verdict:

Illuminated panel

For a lighted panel whose hole and separate LED supply match the stated part.

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• Catalog specifies a 30mm mounting hole
• LED supply listed as 5V
• Plunger width listed as 33mm

Keep in mind: Check the exact retaining range; no other button's voltage rule applies.

This set is the illuminated option. Its listing specifies a 30mm mounting hole and a 5V LED supply. It lists a 33mm width across the plunger. The visible top is therefore wider than the stated hole.

Measure each part of the button separately rather than tracing around its top.

Choose it when lighting is part of the project and the stated power needs match your parts. The added check is LED wiring: a switch input and a lamp supply do different jobs. A button lighting up does not prove the switch reaches the game. The exact thread length and space below the panel still need confirmation.

Do not apply another button maker's voltage guidance to this part.

#2. EG STARTS American Style Standard Arcade Buttons

EG STARTS American Style Standard Arcade Buttons EG STARTS American Style Standard Arcade Buttons

Our verdict:

Concave button layout

A concave-button candidate after the catalog hole-size conflict is resolved.

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• Concave button top with separate switch
• Title says 30mm; feature says 28mm cutout
• Switch terminal listed as 3/16 inch

Keep in mind: The title says 30mm while a feature says 28mm; confirm before cutting.

The concave top and separate vertical switch suit a different panel plan. The catalog describes mounting in wood or metal. It lists a 3/16-inch switch terminal, which must match the cable connector. A connector that looks close may still be the wrong size.

There is a useful warning in this record: the product title says 30mm, while a feature states a 28mm mounting hole. Treat that conflict as unresolved. Obtain the exact drawing or measure the supplied body before making a cut. A switch durability claim does not establish the feel of a button or its fit in your panel.

This set should not win a durability contest on that number alone.

#3. EG STARTS 24mm OEM Arcade Push Buttons

EG STARTS 24mm OEM Arcade Push Buttons EG STARTS 24mm OEM Arcade Push Buttons

Our verdict:

Smaller panel opening

A smaller EG STARTS button with an internal switch, subject to exact panel checks.

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• EG STARTS 24mm button set
• Switch is inside the body
• Sanwa replacement codes are seller claims

Keep in mind: It is not a genuine Sanwa part; replacement codes do not establish identical fit.

This is the smaller option, with a switch inside the button body. It is sold by EG STARTS. The listing names Sanwa part codes as replacements, but the buttons are not genuine Sanwa products. Keep that distinction in your parts list.

A stated replacement claim is only a starting point for a repair. Check the panel thickness and holding method, then the terminals and space behind them. A button can enter the hole yet fail to stay secure. For a replacement in an existing controller shell, match the exact shell revision rather than relying on a broad brand-level fit claim.

What to check before ordering

The panel is the fixed part of a replacement job. Record the hole before browsing. For a new panel, keep the hole size undecided until the chosen button has a drawing. A named diameter can describe the opening or the top; they are different measurements.

Panel thickness includes every layer. An overlay or clear cover can leave less thread for the nut. Check the finished stack, with the real holding parts, rather than bare wood alone. A snap-in mount needs its own thickness range; do not borrow the range from a screw-in button.

The switch and cable need room beneath the panel. Include the connector as well as the body. A shelf directly below the controls can block the cable even when the button itself clears it. Leave service access so a failed switch can be reached later.

Match arcade buttons to the encoder and game

A button is an input, not a complete control system. The encoder turns a switch event into a signal for the host. Check the encoder instructions and the game's mapping separately. An advertised list of computers does not confirm the whole cabinet.

For an illuminated build, keep the lamp circuit separate from the switch record. Use the exact part's instructions for its supply and connections. No shared rule about LED voltage applies to every button here. If those instructions are missing, resolve them before connecting power.

Use a paper layout to compare reach and spacing. This helps decide where the controls should sit without making a hole. The final cut still depends on the selected part. Our button layout guide keeps that planning task separate from the purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Is the button's top width the hole size?

No. A rim or plunger can be wider than the body that passes through the panel. Use the specified cutout for the exact part. The American-style set has conflicting catalog values, so confirm its drawing first.

Are the OEM buttons genuine Sanwa parts?

No. They are EG STARTS buttons marketed with replacement claims. Check the original part and the panel rather than treating the named Sanwa codes as proof of identical construction.

Does a switch-cycle rating prove better feel?

No. It is not a measurement of feel or of lifespan in your cabinet. We have not run a comparison test. Choose using stated fit and the switch arrangement you need.

Verdict

Choose arcade buttons only after resolving the panel and cable fit. The illuminated set adds a lamp-supply check. The American-style set needs its hole-size conflict settled before a cut.

The smaller OEM set needs exact replacement confirmation. No set is the right choice for every panel. If you cannot obtain the missing drawing, keep that part off the cutting list. Continue with arcade controls and the control-system guide to check the rest of the signal path.