Best drum kits under $1000: You don’t need to spend a lot for great sound

Drum kits come in different setups. Some are full kits that include shells, cymbals and hardware, and some are just shell kits. The options here for the best drum kits under $1000 are a little bit of both, but they all provide great value for the cost. They are masterfully built, sound amazing, and best of all – affordable. So if you’re working with a limited budget these are some of our top choices.

There are a few things to consider before you buy a new kit. You’ll want to make sure it has your preferred drum sizes, and take a look at the construction of the shells to get an idea of how the drums might sound. You’ll also want to buy from a brand that you trust. Luckily, all the brands on this list make amazing products.

Here are seven of the best drum kits under $1000.

Best drum kit under $1,000 overall: Pearl Export EXX

Best drum kit under $1,000 overall

Pearl Export EXX

For around $1,000 you won’t find a better mix of quality and sound in this 5-piece kit that includes cymbals and hardware.

Pros

Includes shells, cymbals, and hardware

Superior Shell design gives enhanced resonance

Cons

Just a little over $1,000

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It’s never easy to choose a “best overall” category. But all things considered, the Export EXX is high-quality and sounds great. It even includes Zildjian cymbals and 830 series hardware!

The shell tone woods are a poplar and mahogany mix. This provides solid attack with a warm, round bottom perfect for cutting through the mix while providing a strong lower-end fundamental. They’re forged with Pearl’s proprietary Superior Shell Technology that helps maintain a balanced resonance.

It costs a little over $1,000 but considering all features this is a non-issue.

Best compact drum kit under $1,000: Gretsch Catalina Club

Best compact drum kit under $1,000

Gretsch Catalina Club

The Catalina Club is just a shell kit, but it’s easy to transport, has a warm and balanced sound, and a classy look.

Pros

Easy to transport

Warm tone with good attack

Classy glaze finish

Cons

Doesn’t include cymbals or hardware

Buy From

musician’s friend

guitar center

reverb

amazon

Gretsch is renowned for the punchy presence of their compact kits, and the Catalina Club is one of their best-sellers. The mahogany shells provide warmth and a rounded tone while the smaller profile gives them a pleasing attack that can hang with the best kits.

The small profile and portability of the Catalina Club makes it the perfect choice for setting up and tearing down quickly. And if you travel, they take up a lot less space in transit than others. To top it off, the retro satin wrap finish adds a sexy aesthetic.

Best drum kit under $1,000 for big sounds: PDP Concept Maple Classic

Best drum kit under $1,000 for big sounds

PDP Concept Maple Classic

While it’s only a 3-piece, this kit with larger shells provides great volume and sustain with a sound that’s a little bit vintage and a little bit modern.

Pros

Sound has a lot of volume and projection

Walnut hoops provide a rounded, warm sound

Sound is hybrid of vintage and modern

Cons

Only a 3-piece kit

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Conversely to the Gretsch listed above, the Concept Maple Classic is purpose-built for massive sounds that could fill an arena. This 3-piece kit comes with a 22” kick and 16” and 12” toms that will play nicely with your favorite snare. Walnut counter hoops provide a warm, rounded sound that is a little bit vintage and a little bit modern.

It might only be a 3-piece, but you won’t have any volume problems with a sound this massive.

Best 5-piece drum kit under $1,000: Yamaha Stage Custom Birch

Best 5-piece drum kit under $1,000

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch

This 5-piece birch kit gives you plenty of sound options. The birch shells are warm with great fundamentals. It doesn’t come with cymbals or hardware though.

Pros

5-piece kit provides good sound options

Birch wood has great fundamentals

Cons

Doesn’t include cymbals or hardware

Buy From

musician’s friend

guitar center

reverb

amazon

For the drummer who likes to have a few more kit piece options comes this Custom model from Yamaha. Included pieces are a snare, kick, dual rack toms, and floor tom. The Birch wood shells provide warmth with a very pleasing fundamental.

Yamaha’s low mass lugs allow for more resonance than other types. You’ll need some other items to make for a full set, but this is a great starting point.

Best drum kit under $1,000 for heavy styles: Mapex Armory Studioease

Best drum kit under $1,000 for heavy styles

Mapex Armory Studioease

Heavy drummers like to have options, and this 6-piece kit is perfectly suited for them. The snare cuts, the drums punch, and the sound is tight and focused.

Pros

Sound cuts through dense band mixes

SONIClear edges provide increased responsiveness

Tomahawk steel snare has great punch

6-piece kit that includes four toms

Cons

Might be too large of a kit for some players

Not as easy to transport as smaller kits

Buy From

musician’s friend

guitar center

reverb

amazon

If you’re the type of drummer who needs to cut through a dense mix with ease this model might be perfect for you. This is in part to the hybrid birch/maple/birch shell design. SONIClear bearing edges add increased responsiveness, which is necessary in modern heavier styles of music like metal and hard rock.

This 6-piece kit that includes a Tomahawk steel snare that has no problem getting above the other instruments in the mix with a higher pitch than traditional wooden snares.

Best drum kit under $500: Tama Club-JAM Flyer

Best drum kit under $500

Tama Club-JAM Flyer

A smaller-profile 4-piece kit that’s easy to transport and packs punch and tightness at under $500.

Pros

Easy to transport

Classic look

Classy, throwback look

Cons

Shells only, doesn’t include cymbals or hardware

Buy From

musician’s friend

guitar center

reverb

sam ash

amazon

Yes, you can get a great kit for under $500! Tama has long been one of the premier drum manufacturers, and even though this kit only costs a few hundred it’s not just for beginners.

You get a compact kit that is easy to set up and tear down, is easily portable, and sounds great. With the 6-ply poplar shells you get a deep sound that doesn’t skimp on clarity. There is a focus on the lows, while the mids and highs are a little bit softer than other builds.

Natural wood hoops give you a classic feel, just what you might expect from a legacy company like Tama. It’s a smaller kit but this translates in how it punches. So it doesn’t sound small, even though it’s a great travel kit.

Best drum kit under $1,000 for beginners: Pearl Roadshow

Best drum kit under $1,000 for beginners

Pearl Roadshow

This 4-piece kit is great for beginners. The shells have great attack, but they’re smaller so don’t provide as much projection.

Pros

A great-sounding, affordable kit for beginners

Poplar shells have great attack

Only $500

Cons

Smaller shells don’t have as much projection

Buy From

musician’s friend

guitar center

reverb

amazon

Some of the best drum kits under $1000 are great for beginners. So, if you’re just starting out your drumming career it might not make sense to invest a lot of money into your first kit. But that doesn’t mean you have to necessarily sacrifice sound or quality.

The multi-ply poplar shells have a great attack that works across a number of genres and styles. The 4-piece kit even ships with everything a drummer needs to get started. This includes cymbals, stands, even the throne! At only $500 it is a solid choice for budding drummers and the intermediate alike.

FAQ

How much is a good quality drum kit?

At around $500 and above you’ll start to see the kit quality improve significantly. But any kit by good manufacturers like Pearl, Ludwig, PDP, DW, and Gretsch is a great starting point.

What are the best drums for the money?

This totally depends on your budget. The Pearl Export EXX is our pick for the best drum kit under $1,000.

What are good cheap drum sets?

Every option on this list is a great choice. You have to consider your budget and keep in mind, some drum kits only come with the shells. So you’ll have to factor in the other things you’ll need to complete the kit like cymbals, hardware, and a throne.