How Much Does a Drum Set Cost? (2024 Price Guide)
A drum kit can cost anywhere from $200 to north of $8000, whereas the average cost is between $300 to $1500. The price of a drum set depends on the wood that the drums are made of, production methods, and the quality of the cymbals, drum heads, and hardware.
Drum kits designed for kids (junior drum sets) can generally be found even cheaper (from as little as ($80). Of course, the number of drums and cymbals also greatly influences the cost of a drum set. For now, let’s take a look at the different kinds of kits that are available in the market and their average price ranges.
Contents
How Much Does a Drum Set Cost – At a Glance
- Price Range: Drum sets range from $200 for beginner sets to over $8000 for professional kits, with variations depending on materials, components, and customization options.
- Junior vs Professional Kits: Junior sets cost less and focus on building fundamentals, while professional kits offer high-quality materials, superior sound, and extensive customization, thus having a higher price tag.
- Drum Set Configurations: Full drum sets are ideal for beginners due to their all-inclusive nature, whereas shell packs cater to more experienced drummers looking for personalization.
- Electronic Drum Sets: These kits, ranging from $300 to $8000, offer quiet practice, mobility, and extensive sound options, ideal for various living conditions and artistic demands.
- Second-hand Options: Purchasing a pre-owned drum set can provide quality at a reduced price, making it a viable option for budget-conscious drummers.
Junior Drum Kits
Junior drum sets usually cost between $80 to $300.
It’s always a good thing when kids start playing the drums at an early age. But there are some limitations like the very obvious size difference. Smaller kids can’t play on a traditional kit. However, there are plenty of decent junior drum kits available today that can help your young one get started.
The purpose of these kits isn’t to produce studio-level sounds. These kits are made to help children get used to the percussive feel and develop fundamentals on the drums. They are definitely something to look into if your child is showing interest in drums.
For more information check out our article on the best junior drum sets.
Beginner Drum Kits
Beginner drum sets can cost between the $200 to $1000 range. It all depends on your budget. These kits are specifically made for beginner drummers. The wood and hardware are cheaper and they generally come with entry-level drum heads and cymbals.
Some established brands like Tama, Pearl, and Ludwig have excellent beginner kits. They have solid hardware and can produce quality sound. These kits may come with stock cymbals and drum heads but some upgrades and fine-tuning can give you great value for money.
For more information check out our article on the best drum sets for beginners.
Intermediate Drum Kits
Intermediate kits can cost between $600 to $2000. Mid-range drum kits have a much better tone since they’re made of better woods like maple and birch. They also come with much sturdier hardware and better cymbals, so you don’t have to spend extra on that. Although, it’s your choice.
Many intermediate kits are offered as shell packs. Which means only the drums. This is generally because most players have their own set of cymbals and other accessories at that level of playing. Plenty of drummers even buy a new snare according to their needs.
With a good set of well-tuned heads, intermediate drum sets generally sound great, and can be serious options for touring drummers.
Professional Drum Sets
Professional drum sets can cost anywhere above $3000. Almost all professional drum kits come as shell packs since most pro drummers will already have built up their own collection of cymbals and hardware.
Kits in this range are made with excellent wood and tend to have intricate finishes. They generally both sound and look amazing.
A stand-out feature in these kits is that they are often offered with customizations like how many pieces you want to buy, their sizes, and colors. This is something touring drummers look for since each player has their specific sound by this stage. Therefore, they have to configure their own kit instead of buying a generic one.
Shell Packs vs Full Drum Sets
A full drum set consists of everything you need to get started. The drums, drum heads, cymbals, hi-hat stand, boom stand, kick pedal, and sometimes, even the throne.
Complete kits are ideal for beginner players who are yet to develop a sense of taste in drum kits. The kits are a complete package in themselves and don’t require any extra purchase unless you want to add some things. For this reason, full drum sets are considered an affordable choice during the early stages of drumming.
On the other hand, shell packs are simply drum shells, drum heads, and tom mounts if needed. Many shell packs exclude the snare drum as well. So, you will have to buy your own stands, pedals, throne, and racks.
Shell packs are more suited to intermediate and professional players who have a good amount of experience in setting up drum kits. Most players at this level are already equipped with their own hardware and cymbals or looking to buy specific ones. The same goes for the snare drum. Snares are available in multiple widths, depths, and shell materials, giving drummers options to choose from instead of having to stick with the full kit.
How Much Does An Electronic Drum Set Cost?
Electronic drum sets can range from between $300 to $8000. Entry-level electronic drum sets have become a lot more affordable in recent years.
The sweet spot between value and features is around the intermediate range of e-drum sets offered by Roland, Yamaha, and Alesis, such as the Roland TD-17KV2 and Roland TD-27KV2.
Electronic drum sets have become widely accepted in the drumming world mainly due to their silence and mobility. These kits are smaller and topped with mesh. They make the noise levels of practice pads, which is great for those living in close-quarter apartments.
Higher-end kits can replicate acoustic drums since they’re made with sensitivity in mind. Different parts of the drum head and cymbals produce different sounds, much like an acoustic kit. Even the lower-end models are starting to get better by the day when it comes to this.
Another advantage of electronic drum sets is that they can be configured to provide thousands of different sounds. All you have to do is program sound libraries into it.
They’re also very easy to record music in since plenty of samples are pre-installed. You don’t need mics and a ton of other recording equipment either. Just plug into your computer and you’re ready to go.
For more information check out our article on the best electronic drum sets.
Second-hand Drum Sets
You don’t need to shell out a ton of money for a shiny new kit. There are so many great used kits for sale that it makes perfect sense to buy a high-end kit at a much lower price than a new one.
Websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook groups are always filled with listings. If you know what you want from your kit, it’s a great option to look into buying a used set. The same goes for cymbals and other hardware as well.
If you’re not eyeing a new drum set with tunnel vision, you might want to consider a second-hand kit. They can prove to be good money-savers.
Summary
As you can see, drum sets come in shapes and forms. Different sizes, configurations, woods, and even modes. There are quality drums for children and for every phase of your drumming career.
Before buying a kit, take factors like your budget, where you stand as a drummer, and what your end goal is before buying a drum. Try to be open-minded and explore used kits or electronic kits if circumstances dictate. There are top-tier options available today. No reason to limit yourself.
Don’t focus too much on hardware, though. Those can always be upgraded. Oh, and always remember to go to your local music store to listen to your preferred drum kit in person to see what it really sounds like. If you don’t have that option, put on good headphones and listen to demos online.
