7 Cheap Drum Sets – Affordable Kits to Get Started!

Author: Brett Clur | Updated: | This post may contain affiliate links.

Though drumming can be an expensive hobby, getting a great set of drums doesn’t always need to be an expensive affair.

There are so many high-quality kits that even professionals use that come at seriously affordable prices. Some of them are shell packs while others include hardware and cymbals.

When looking for an affordable drum kit to get started, you don’t actually need many high-quality features.

However, the kits that I’m about to list are loaded with them, giving you more bang for your buck than any low-quality drum set will. Let’s get right into it.

Cheap Drum Sets - 7 Great Sounding Affordable Kits

Pearl is famous for producing one of the most sold budget drum kits of all time. We’ll get to that specific kit later, but the Roadshow takes inspiration from it while offering even more affordability and access.

This Roadshow kit is the perfect setup for beginners. It comes with standard sized drum shells, hardware, and some cymbals. Everything to get you to start playing immediately.

It’s great for players of all ages. However, intermediate and pro players may find the tone lacking in certain areas. That’s totally okay though since we’re looking through the lens of a beginner.

Speaking of tone, the Roadshow drums are made from 9-ply poplar wood that gives them a resonating tone that holds up quite well when playing. The 10” and 12” rack toms sound punchy while the 16” rack tom sounds beefy.

The 14” snare drum takes some time to tune to get a great sound, but once it’s tuned right it sounds fantastic. Supporting these shells is the big 22” bass drum.

I also found the drums to sound fairly paper-like with the stock drum heads. You may not mind this at first, but switching the heads out with some high-quality ones will provide a massive improvement that will make you wonder how you ever played without them in the first place.

The cymbals are nothing to write home about. You’ll find yourself wanting to replace them or at least add another crash cymbal into the mix. The included cymbal stands on the other hand are immaculate. They’re so sturdy, a classic feature of any Pearl drum kit.

Some other things that are included with the kit are a pair of sticks, a drum throne, a stick bag, and a Pearl Drums poster. Overall, it’s one of the best deals you could get for a beginner.

This kit is arguably the best cheap drum kit for beginners, sitting at a low price range. I especially love the solid hardware along with the full-sized drums.

PROS

  • Includes sturdy hardware and cymbals
  • One of the best kit deals for beginners
  • Great value-for-money

CONS

  • Although it includes cymbals, they aren’t great

The PDP Centerstage is a wonderful starter kit for anyone looking for that famous DW quality craftsmanship. The drums have poplar shells that are warm and resonating. They produce a beautiful round tone that isn’t common in cheap kits.

One of the DW features that this kit borrows are the True-Pitch tuning rods. These rods make it extremely easy to tune the drums to get a good sound. This is great for anyone who is new to tuning as it can be quite daunting and difficult to learn.

I personally don’t enjoy tuning the drums all the time, so I found the True-Pitch rods to be a lifesaver on many different occasions.

The standout feature of this kit is actually the hardware. They’ve somehow managed to include PDP’s most rigid hardware while keeping the cost at an affordable price. You’ll be using these stands for years. You could even use them when you upgrade to a better kit in the future.

The reason the hardware is so good is because it’s double-braced. This means that the legs of the stands are heavily reinforced and don’t move around a lot. I’ve had many students tell me that their stands are flimsy because they’re single-braced. Double-braced hardware is always the best option when it comes to buying drum gear.

The kit comes with a pair of hi-hats and a crash. They’re made of brass and similar to the cymbals from the Pearl Roadshow, they’re not too great. However, they’ll get the job done for any beginner drummer.

I found that the hi-hats were a bit better than the crash. So, I’d suggest getting a new crash cymbal before you think about upgrading the hi-hats. Or you could buy a ride cymbal so that you have a full cymbal setup.

There are several finishes to choose from with the Centerstage kit and every single one has a shiny sparkle to it, causing it to look beautiful under stage lights. I really appreciated the choices given as most entry-level kits only come in one or two colors.

PROS

  • DW quality at an affordable price
  • True-Pitch tuning rods make tuning easy
  • Extremely rigid and sturdy hardware

CONS

  • Included cymbals aren’t that great

The Yamaha Stage Custom is the highest-priced kit on this list of the cheapest drum sets. However, it’s one of the best deals on the market considering how good it sounds. If you closed your eyes and listened to the tones it produced, you would think it costs close to $2,000 like some high-end kits.

It’s an extremely popular drum set thanks to the strong price-to-value ratio. It can confidently be used by professional drummers on the biggest stages. So, what makes it sound so good?

The answer is in the birch drum shells. They produce an extremely warm tone with great attack and a deep bass. It makes them sound amazing through microphones, meaning this kit is a great option for playing on stages and using in recording studios.

The 10” and 12” toms are mounted using Yamaha’s YESS mounting system. This system is used throughout all of Yamaha’s drum kits and it makes positioning the toms comfortably an extremely easy process. Compare that to the Pearl Export’s mounts and you have a clear winner here.

The 16” floor tom and 22” kick drum both exhibit a deep bellowing tone thanks to the birch wood. The 14” snare drum compliments it well with its tight crack and ring.

Although you’ll be spending a bit more on this kit, you’ll be thanking yourself in the long run as you may just never need to upgrade it as your skills improve.

Something that I love about the Stage Custom is the fact that it allows you to own an incredibly good sounding drum set at a reasonable price. It opens up your budget to invest in high-quality cymbals, which is the real money dump when it comes to drum gear.

If you want the best drum setup you can get, I highly suggest the strategy of getting a Stage Custom and then spending more money on cymbals. So many drummers do this, and it works very well.

PROS

  • Wonderful birch shell tone
  • YESS mounting system is amazing
  • Good kit even for professionals
  • Excellent price-to-value ratio

CONS

  • Costs more than the other kits on this list

The Pearl Export is the kit that I alluded to earlier. Pearl holds the record for the most sold drum kit of all time with this baby. The reason for that is that it produces professional tones yet it comes at a seriously affordable price. There are so many great qualities in this kit.

Firstly, the shells are made from a mixture of mahogany and poplar. You would have noticed by now that most cheaper kits are made from poplar. These shells have an added edge with the inclusion of mahogany, giving them some extra sustain that is music to the ears.

While poplar shells produce a boxy sound, the mahogany adds a sense of darkness and complexity to the drums. I remember so many people complimenting me on my tom sounds when I used to gig with an Export kit. They had the right amount of boom to be very effective.

The EXL is an upgraded version of the standard Export kit. It uses newer Pearl technologies for the shells and mounting system. The shell technology basically makes the drums extremely durable. So durable that they could pretty much last you a lifetime.

The mounting system allows the rack toms to be mounted without losing any of their tone. However, they tend to be difficult to position comfortably, especially with the 22” bass drum. This is something that has always frustrated me about Pearl drum sets. 

All the rack toms are mounted with the use of long tom arms. You have a twisting mount at the top of the arm that isn’t as maneuverable as the mounts on other drum set brands. 

The drums are easily tunable and tend to sound great right out the box. You’re getting years of manufacturing experience with this kit. There’s a good reason for the Exports being so popular.

PROS

  • Most sold drum kit in history
  • Superior Shell Technology
  • Mahogany/popular shells sound fantastic

CONS

  • Toms can be difficult to position nicely

The Pearl Midtown is Pearl’s version of a compact drum set. It’s a great little kit that packs a huge punch. I’m always surprised at how loud and present it sounds when I hear it. It’s been my personal gigging kit for several years now, allowing me to use a small drum set whenever I know there won’t be much space to set up at.

The shell pack includes a 13” snare drum, 10” rack tom, 13” floor tom, and a 16” bass drum. The toms sound incredibly punchy thanks to the poplar shells while the bass drum provides a bigger sound than you think it would.

I’ve discovered that putting a good 16” bass drum head such as an Evans EMAD has the power to make the bass drum sound massive. This sound is the big differentiating factor between this kit and the Ludwig Breakbeats. This bass drum sounds bigger. However, it’s a lot heavier.

Something that I really appreciate about the Midtown is the versatility in its sound. I’ve been able to tune it high and resonating for jazz gigs. The toms sing beautifully and musically. I’ve also been able to tune the drums low and booming for rock gigs. While they’re not as powerful as a full-sized kit, they’re surprisingly powerful for how small they are.

The weak point of this kit is the snare drum. It doesn’t have the greatest sound in the world. That’s why most people swap it out when they play on a Midtown. Weak snare drums are a common trend amongst most compact kits.

This kit has bags that are similar to the Breakbeats bags. However, they’re not included when purchasing the shell pack. So, you’re getting a louder bass drum but not a set of bags. Overall, it’s a great small kit that would work for small children or anyone tight on space.

PROS

  • Compact size
  • The 16” bass drum sounds very big
  • Great for children or anyone with little space to play in

CONS

  • Snare drum is pretty weak

Finishing off the list is a kit from Ludwig that is very similar to the Pearl Roadshow and PDP Centerstage. The Ludwig Accent is a full kit that includes a set of standard size shells as well as cymbals and hardware.

It has poplar shells that make the drums sound strong and punchy. The 10” and 12” rack toms sound best when tuned medium to low while the 16” floor tom sounds best when tuned low.

I found that it wasn’t the easiest kit in the world to tune. The more muffling I put on the drums, the easier it got. However, too much muffling would kill the tones, so a balance needed to be found. The hardest drum to get a good sound from was the bass drum. It sounded killer after a few blankets were added though.

The included hardware is a great bonus. All the stands are double-braced and sturdy except for the drum throne. The drum throne is only single-braced and has a thick black finish. Although the drum throne isn’t the highest-quality one around, I appreciate that this kit comes with one whereas the other entry-level kits on the list don’t.

The best way to get a good sound out of this kit would be to upgrade the drum heads with some better 2-ply ones from Evans or Remo. The stock heads don’t do the kit any justice.

Similar to the Roadshow and Centerstage, the included brass cymbals are lacking in many areas and would need to be upgraded quite soon after buying the kit.

If you’re a beginner, the cymbals won’t matter too much as you just need to focus on learning how to play. If you’re a bit more experienced, the cymbal sounds may start to bother you, leading you to get some better cymbals.

Overall, it’s a fantastic choice for a beginner drummer. It has that great Ludwig construction and sound, giving you a drum kit that you can be proud of.

PROS

  • Great Ludwig construction
  • Drums are strong and punchy
  • Includes a set of sturdy double-braced stands

CONS

  • Stock drumheads and cymbals aren’t amazing

The Ludwig Breakbeats kit is a product of innovation from Ludwig and Questlove. Questlove is a busy drummer from New York who gigs all over the city. He helped design this kit with the intention of portability.

The first focus is portability. However, the kit comes at a great price that makes it good for any budget drummer. The shells are lightweight and easy to carry around, making the kit good for gigging drummers and children.

The shell pack includes a 14” snare, 10” rack tom, 13” floor tom, and a 16” bass drum. Although the kit is compact, it feels very similar to a full-sized kit when playing.

The shells are made from hardwood and are equipped with Remo Pinstripe heads. The Pinstripes give them a large punchy tone. While the last kit needs replacement heads, this kit provides you with amazing heads to get the best sound possible as soon as you set the kit up.

The shell pack also comes with a set of bags to carry the drums around. Since the kit is so small, it’s a great option for fitting in tight corners of the house where space is limited. Thankfully it’s versatile in its uses, meaning a everyone will be able to use it all throughout their drum journey as they become intermediate or advanced eventually.

Although the kit can be used by everyone, I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners as the small sizes are not what you would typically play on.

Learning the drums with a small bass drum will make using a larger bass drum difficult to get accustomed to. The same can be said with all the other drums in the setup. If you are a beginner, I’d suggest only using it when you have to, and learning to play on a full-sized kit in every other situation.

The original Ludwig Breakbeats kit only had one finish to choose from. This updated version from Ludwig has 3 which are black sparkle, azure sparkle, and Sahara swirl. Each finish looks wonderful and would be a worthy choice for any drummer.

The only downside of this kit is that the kick drum isn’t as beefy as some drummers may like. You won’t feel it when you play it like you would with a larger kick drum.

PROS

  • Portable
  • Includes high-quality drum heads
  • Includes a set of drum bags

CONS

  • 16” bass drum lacks some oomph

Buying Cheap Drum Sets - Key Factors

There are quite a few things that you need to consider when picking a cheap drum kit.

After setting a budget, you need to determine what you want within that limited amount of money. If you're mainly after impressive sound quality at a budget, shell packs are going to be your only option.

On the other hand, let's say you're simply looking for the best cheap drum set. If you have a strict $500 budget and can't afford a penny more on cymbals, hardware and other accessories, you can go for a complete budget drum set like the Pearl Roadshow that I've talked about above.

Keep in mind, though, there's a reason kits like the Roadshow are considered 'budget' kits. The stock cymbals, especially, are not going to impress seasoned drummers. They'll be easily able to tell that the cymbals are basic and lack any serious tonal depth.

Qualities Not to Miss

Many drum sets are cheaper because they have certain qualities that are omitted from the purchase. For example, a shell pack might be cheaper because it comes with drums and no snare drum.

There are certain qualities to look for that you can’t miss when buying a drum set. These are largely dependent on what you’re buying the drum set for.

If you’re a beginner who is looking for your first drum set, you’ll need to get one that comes with drums, cymbals, and hardware. Getting a shell pack will mean you’re missing a few things that will need to be bought separately, ending in you paying more money.

If you’re not a beginner and you already have a drum kit and some parts lying around, this aspect won’t be as important to you. Instead, you should make sure the kit is supplementing whatever you’re looking for.

If you don’t need a snare drum, you could focus on finding a kit that doesn’t have a snare but has high-quality toms and a bass drum.

Recording Capabilities

One of the biggest questions when it comes to cheaper drum sets is whether they’re capable of handling professional situations. Some of them are more than capable while others just won’t cut it.

The two drum sets from the list that I’ll bring attention to are the Yamaha Stage Custom and the PDP Centerstage. The Stage Custom is basically a pro kit. I know several drummers that use it on tours and to record sessions.

The Centerstage is a complete beginner kit and most likely won’t provide the sound quality needed for professional situations. If you’re a beginner, it won’t matter. I just wouldn’t suggest getting a kit like that if you’re planning on doing studio recordings.

Cymbals

This brings me onto the topic of cymbals. The overall sound quality of your drum setup is largely dependent on the quality of your cymbals.

If you have the best sounding drums in the world, but the worst sounding cymbals, your drum set isn’t going to sound good.

The unfortunate reality of being a drummer is that you need to get some good cymbals to have a good drum sound.

Luckily, there are plenty of affordable yet high-quality cymbals on the market. It’s just better to invest more in a cymbal setup and less on a drum kit.

Do You Plan to Gig With It?

If you do, then I'll advise you to strictly stick with kits from known, reputable brands and avoid any of these horrible no-name brands. For construction, don't go for anything other than solid (max. 1-2 type high-quality wood). After all, it needs to take the beating of regularly going from one gig to another.

Choosing a compact kit is okay, as long as it's already established as a good gigging kit. I'd specifically recommend the Pearl Midtown and Ludwig Breakbeats for this purpose.

Buying a Very Cheap New Kit vs Good Used Kit

In this case, I'd always advise you to suppress your shiny object syndrome and get a high-quality used kit for the same (or slightly higher) price than a brand new cheap kit from a no-name brand.

Apart from Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, you can often find great deals for high-quality drums sets that aren't even used that heavily, on sites like Reverb. You can also check your local Guitar Center for any potentially great used deal.

Best Cheap Drum Set Brands?

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a budget drum kit from established brands like Pearl, PDP, Ludwig and Yamaha. I've also used a couple of affordable kits from ddrum which I found quite decent for the money. 

When it comes to the absolute bottom end of the price range, I personally wouldn't go for anything costing less than $300 (for a shell pack) and $400 (for a complete kit with cymbals).

However, there are many little known brands on sites like Amazon that offer even cheaper kits. I would strongly recommend you to stay away from them, since they're often rebranded cheap Chinese products.

Those brands are often not even the original manufacturers of those kits, and lack any expertise when it comes to making drum kits.

I could just write the names of a few such brands, but it's not going to be helpful in the long run, because they always tend to come up with new brand names and sell the same rehashed product, every now and then.

To be sure, you shouldn't buy a complete drum set (including cymbals) for under $300 on Amazon, no matter how lucrative the deal seems and how many positive reviews the particular product has (hint: it's easy to fake online reviews).

If you're looking to shop drums and drumming gear online, these are the best places, in my personal experience.

Conclusion

As you can see from this list of cheap drum sets, there are plenty of great drum kits out there that you won’t need to spend too much money on. The expensive part of being a drummer comes when you buy cymbals, but that’s a story for another day.

If you’re looking to buy an inexpensive drum set, consider getting one from the list above. None of them will let you down and they’ll provide a solid base to start working on your drumming skills.

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About Brett Clur

Brett has been drumming for almost two decades. He also helps his students get better at drumming. He can be found on Instagram (@brettclurdrums), where you can regularly catch glimpses of his drumming.

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