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Modern drum set innovation allows the qualities and features of top-level drum sets to be found in more affordable drum sets. Cheap drum sets typically include everything you need to begin playing right away.
Drum kits can be rather expensive. Luckily, there are good cheap drum set options available from well-known brands that will provide a solid platform for people to learn on and develop a love for the instrument.
Cheap drum sets are great options for beginner drummers, as they typically come with everything you’ll need to begin playing right away. This includes all of the drums, hardware, and cymbals that make up a full setup.
In this guide, we’ll look at a few of the most popular cheap drum sets on the market. I’ve compared each of them according to sound quality, build quality, playability, and value.
In a Rush’ Round-Up
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Best Sounding Cheap Drums
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Best For Beginners
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Best For Children
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Best Quality Drum Shells
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Most Popular Drum Set
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Best Roadshow Alternative
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Cheap Drum Sets
Working as a drum instructor, I would often get asked for advice on what the best affordable drum sets were for students.
Along with cheap cymbals, I made it my mission to find out what every brand offered, and I narrowed the options down so that I could recommend those.
When testing the drum sets, I mainly looked at build quality. I think that is more important than tonal quality here, as you want to make sure that the kit lasts long and can take a good beating from a beginner.
After that, I looked at the sound quality and other features. I focused on finding drum sets that offer a balanced and musical sound, considering factors like shell material, size, and overall tonal characteristics
Ease of assembly and the quality of hardware included were also crucial for my selection of these affordable drum sets.
Cheap Drum Sets Reviews
Mapex Venus Complete Drum Set
Mapex Venus Complete Drum Set Review
Mapex has a fantastic reputation for providing high-quality sets with affordable price tags, and the Venus drum kit perfectly reflects that.
The Venus comes complete with everything you need to begin playing with right away, and these drums truly sound fantastic for their price point.
Each Poplar drum shell has nine plies, and the drums give you a decent amount of oomph from the low-end. The tones are also fairly balanced across the mids and highs.
These drums are cut with SONIClear bearing edges are rounded in a way to allow better contact between the shell and the drumhead. The effect of this design is a wider tuning range and a stronger sound from the drums.
I own a Mapex Saturn- which is Mapex’s professional-level drum set, and the bearing edges are cut similarly well, which is very impressive.
The Mapex Venus is also a lot of fun to play. It’s been designed in a way that makes it feel comfortable, and this is definitely helped by the 7 and 8-inch rack tom depths, which allow you to set up the kit low.
In terms of aesthetics, the kit I reviewed came in an Aqua Blue Sparkle, which I thought looked amazing, especially for a beginner-level drum set. It’s got a really nice sparkle to it, and it looks like a premium finish from far away.
Overall, I found the Mapex Venus to be an excellent and affordable drum set. The drums are easy to tune and deliver great tones, and the included hardware supremely functional and sturdy to use.
Pros
- Superb build quality across all of the drums
- The drums produce solid and well-rounded tones
- Very affordable complete drum set package
Cons
- Cymbals were the weakest part of this drum set
Pearl Roadshow Complete Drum Set
Pearl Roadshow Complete Drum Set Review
The Pearl Roadshow Drum Set has always been one of my top recommended kits to new drummers. This drum set offers amazing quality and value for money considering the price.
It comes included with all the drum hardware and cymbals you need to start playing right away. The hardware and stands are robust and the drums are well built. These Pearl Roadshow drum shells produce really nice warm tones that sound fantastic.
I’ve recommended the Pearl Roadshow to several of my students over the years, and I’ve got lots of experience playing this kit. It always tunes up nicely and I think the Poplar shells offer good tones.
The drums are made from poplar wood which is the same as Pearl use for the world’s best selling Export series – and they produce a strong tone. These are without a doubt some of the best-sounding beginner drums available.
Another thing that I’m always impressed by with the Pearl Roadshow is its build quality and the quality of the hardware.
Pearl has always produced excellent hardware, and it’s great to see such good hardware with a kit this cheap.
The drum hardware included is sturdy and durable and is far better than most beginner drum sets. The cymbals are not very good. Pro-level cymbals are expensive. You can expect any cheap drum set to have low-quality cymbals.
Pearl produces fantastic drums. They are the world’s best-selling drum manufacturer and the Pearl Roadshow is a fine example of the brand’s commitment to quality.
If you want a good entry level kit then the Pearl Roadshow is a fantastic offering.
Pros
- Drums produce fantastic sounds
- Outstanding build quality for the price
- Best affordable drum set from the world's most popular drum manufacturer
Cons
- Included cymbals and stock heads could be improved
- Slightly more expensive than some competitors
Ludwig Questlove Pocket Drum Set
Ludwig Questlove Pocket Drum Set Review
The Ludwig Questlove Pocket Drum Set is the cheapest drum set reviewed in this guide. It’s a pocket-sized drum set, with smaller drums but it’s still suitable to play for adults.
I mainly used to recommend this kit for young kids, as that’s who it would work best for. But I always had lots of fun playing it, so I can see how an adult would enjoy it if they were buying a drum kit for the first time.
This is a really great-sounding drum set despite the small-sized drum shells, and it’s offered with an incredible price tag. It’s amazingly affordable and includes everything you need to start playing.
Despite being a small drum set, the drums project quite a big sound and they are surprisingly fun to play even for adults.
This is a great-sounding drum set for new players. It provides a full-scale playing experience and I have very few complaints about this drum set.
The drum hardware is sturdy, and the cymbals sound acceptable for a beginner kit. Everything together just works great!
A bonus of this pocket-sized drum set is that it takes up much less space and is also more portable than a typical drum set.
If you’re on a budget, or you aren’t sure how much you want to spend on a new drum set, this is a fantastic cheap drum set to buy. Ludwig and Questlove knocked it out of the park with this drum set.
Pros
- Very affordable price tag
- Provides a full scale playing experience
- Great sounding package
Cons
- Smaller sizes might not be suitable for large adults
- Crash cymbal sounds poor quality
Tama Imperialstar Complete Drum Set
Tama Imperialstar Complete Drum Set Review
The Tama Imperialstar Drum Set is one of the more expensive cheap drum sets reviewed, but it is a high-quality drum kit and offers a really great playing experience.
I’ve seen plenty of drummers use this kit at live gigs, showing how much long-term value it offers. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, this is a kit that will last you many years of service.
Included with the Tama Imperialstar is a robust set of drum hardware and quality set of Meinl beginner cymbals to complement the drums. The hardware pack also includes a comfortable drum throne for added value.
The drums sound remarkably balanced and responsive, and it’s easy to find the tuning sweet spot. These drums sound impressive and they also project really well.
The Tama hardware included with the Imperialstar drum set is arguably the best found in any inexpensive drum set. It’s built to last and it’s rock solid. The included bass drum pedal and hi hat pedal are smooth in operation and everything holds up well.
The drums themselves are well constructed from poplar wood and feature precision bearing edges for enhanced sensitivity, tuning range, and resonance. These drums really sing!
If you are on a budget, you might not be prepared to spend the money on a Tama Imperialstar drum set, there are cheaper alternatives out there such as the Pearl Roadshow or Ludwig Questlove Pocket drum set. But the Tama Imperialstar also offers fantastic value for money and these drums will last you a long time.
Pros
- One of the best quality cheap drum sets available
- Outstanding build quality and sounds
- Will last a very long time before needing an upgrade
Cons
- A little on the pricey side compared to other cheap drum sets
Pearl Export Complete Drum Set
Pearl Export Complete Drum Set Review
The Pearl Export Complete Drum Set is a killer sounding package and is the world’s best selling drum set! These drums are inspired by Pearl’s flagship Reference Series to offer unbeatable tones and projection for the money.
I owned a Pearl Export kit in the earlier days of my drumming career, and I absolutely loved it. It was such a fun kit to play, and it’s always been one of the most loved kits in the world for beginner and intermediate players.
This really is a fantastic drum set for the money. The shells are a mix of poplar and warm Asian mahogany using SST (Superior Shell Technology) construction techniques for maximum durability and tonal response. This means stronger, longer-lasting shells and better sound across the spectrum.
The drums deliver a really nice tone, and it is clear they are very well constructed. The wood is poplar; which is the same as the Pearl Roadshow drum set. It’s definitely the best quality wood you can find on a cheap drum set.
Included with the Gretsch energy drum set is a set of Zildjian Planet Z cymbals and a durable set of drum hardware. The cymbals are by no means excellent, but they are adequate for a beginner drum set.
The drum hardware is strong and very easy to set up. Double-braced legs keep the stands stable as you play, and Uni-Lock tilters offer you infinite positioning flexibility.
Overall the Pearl Export drum set is the full package that offers unmatched durability and tones for the beginner drum set market.
If you are looking for the best cheap drum set and you want a quality musical instrument to start off your drumming journey, then this is just the ticket!
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Drums produce warm and resonant tones
- Killer sounding package all round
Cons
- Most expensive option reviewed, but sounds the best
PDP Centerstage Complete Drum Set
PDP Centerstage Complete Drum Set Review
Up next we have the PDP Centerstage Complete Drum Set, and this is a strong all-in-one package that will equip you with everything you need to start rocking right away.
Out of all the kits I tested, this was the most similar option to Pearl’s Roadshow. They sound slightly different from each other, but the overall performance was about the same.
Once again we have another cheap drum set that takes advantage of poplar wood for drum shells, and to no surprise, they sound great; delivering warm tones with strong projection.
The included drum hardware is good quality, but the cymbals are somewhat disappointing, albeit playable. The drum hardware is robust and holds up well to play.
For a cheap drum set, the PDP Centerstage is a solid choice. It’s definitely one of the better cheap drum sets on the market, but it doesn’t sound quite as good as the Pearl Roadshow, in my opinion.
But the PDP Centerstage is one of the best all-inclusive packages that is designed for the new drummer to help create a solid foundation right from the start.
It’s affordable and perfect for beginners, with good sounding drums and high-quality components from one of the best drum brands you can trust.
Pros
- Warm sounding poplar shells
- Quality hardware and hoops
- Cheap all inclusive package
Cons
- Some minor issues with bearing edges
- Poor quality cymbals
Things to Consider When Buying a Cheap Drum Set
Buy from a reputable drum brand
While it’s undeniable that cheap drum sets may not sound the best compared to top-tier ones, you’ll get the most value for your money if you get a cheap kit from Ludwig, Gretsch, Pearl, PDP, Tama, Yamaha, Mapex, or Sonor. These are the most established drum brands that offer cheap kits.
Choose a nice-looking finish
Picking a color is one of the most exciting aspects of getting a new drum set. Just note that cheap drum sets don’t have as many finish options as higher-quality sets. Most cheap drum sets have wraps, but they can look really good.
Look to see what the kit comes with
Most cheap kits come with everything you need to set up and play, but make sure to see what you might need that isn’t included. This might include things like drumsticks and a drum throne.
Cymbals are the worst part of cheap kits
Cheap drum kits typically come with brass cymbals, which don’t sound very good at all. If you want your cheap kit to sound great, consider investing in higher-quality bronze cymbals to go along with it.
What Features to Look for in a Cheap Drum Set
Shell Type
When it comes to cheap drum sets, the main shell type options are hardwood and poplar. Poplar drums have balanced tones with a bit of projection, but they aren’t as rich as drums with higher-quality shells.
Generic hardwood is a cheaper wood than poplar, so you’ll find it in the most inexpensive drum kits available. Hardwood drums sound punchy, but they lack a lot of depth in the low-frequency range.
Some higher-priced cheap drum sets have a mixture of poplar and another wood. The Pearl Export is a good example, as its shells have poplar mixed with mahogany. The added mahogany boosts the overall tonal quality.
Size
Checking the size of a cheap drum kit is especially important as off-shoot drum brands often sell kits with odd sizes.
If you want a standard drum kit setup, you should get a kit that has a 14-inch snare, 10 and 12-inch rack toms, a 16-inch floor tom, and a 20 or 22-inch bass drum.
All the affordable drum kits from the major drum brands have these standard sizes.
You may also find compact drum sets that have much smaller sizes, like the Ludwig Pocket Kit. They’ll be cheaper than full-sized kits, but they’re not the most ideal kits for learning to play the drums on.
Build Quality
The key aspect to determining build quality is to check what hardware a cheap kit has. The higher the cost of a cheap kit, the more pristine and durable the hardware will be.
While the shells determine how a kit sounds, the hardware determines how the kit feels to play. The hardware parts such as the counterhoops, tom mounts, lugs, bass drum pedal, and stands all make a big difference in how the kit feels.
Kits that come with double-braced stands will feel more solid to play on than ones with single-braced stands.
Cheap Drum Set FAQs
How Can You Make a Cheap Drum Set Sound Better?
The best ways to make a cheap kit sound better are to replace the stock drumheads, use a higher-quality snare drum, and use higher-quality cymbals.
Replacing the stock drumheads will make a massive difference, as good heads from Remo or Evans will bring out better tones from the drums.
The brass cymbals that come with cheap kits can’t be upgraded to sound better, so you’ll need to buy higher-quality cymbals to replace them.
Finally, a decent snare will be a better alternative to the cheap snare that comes with the kit. Toms are a lot easier to tune nicely, so the snare will pair well with them.
When Should You Upgrade Your Cheap Drum Set?
You should upgrade your cheap drum kit if you start performing live at gigs.
While the cheap kit is great to play at home, cheaper kits are often detrimental to the sound of a live band. The better your kit is, the better your band will sound.
If you’re not playing gigs yet, you should upgrade your cheap kit when you feel as though the sounds aren’t good enough for you and you find yourself wanting something better.
