Buying an electronic drum set can be confusing since prices of all your options range from around $200 to $10,000. The best way to narrow down your buying decision is by separating all the kits into categories, including entry-level, intermediate, and professional kits.
In this guide, we’ll show you what you can expect in each category when it comes to price, quality, design, and overall value.
After reading through our points, you should have a general idea of how much different electronic kits cost. You can then choose which one to buy based on your budget and drumming abilities.
Contents
Entry-Level Electronic Drum Sets
Entry-level electronic drum kits are designed for drummers who are buying a drum kit for the first time.
Much like acoustic kits, beginner electronic kits range from $200 to $1000. Brands like Roland and Yamaha offer beginner kits that sit on the higher end of that range, while brands like Alesis and Behringer offer affordable kits at the bottom of that range.
Beginner electronic drum kits are always the smallest options available. The drum and cymbal pads are small, and drum modules are fairly simplistic.
Alesis drum kits all have responsive mesh heads, but the most affordable Roland and Yamaha beginner kitshave rubber pads for their toms.
When it comes to sound quality, you don’t get a lot of responsiveness from kits at this price. The samples on their own sound great, but they’ll end up sounding quite robotic when you string a lot of notes together.
If you’re an experienced drummer, you won’t enjoy the playability that entry-level electronic kits offer. If you’re a new drummer, you’ll most likely love every minute of playing one of these.
Intermediate Electronic Drum Sets
Intermediate electronic drum sets have slightly larger pads, and all the pads are either made from mesh or silicone. You can adjust the tension of these pads to change the physical response that you get when playing them.
Most intermediate electronic drum sets range from $600 to $2000. The ones from Alesis that are under $1000 are considered intermediate, but the ones from Roland and Yamaha at that price are still considered beginner. The intermediate options from Roland and Yamaha cost between $1000 and $2000.
You’ll find more expansive drum modules with intermediate electronic sets. There will be more preset drum kit sounds, but most of them will also have decent sound editing tools to play around with.
Intermediate kits are decent to play on if you’re an experienced drummer, but they still have a few limitations that may make them feel inferior.
If you’re a new drummer, an intermediate electronic set is an amazing purchase that will last you several years of good use.
Professional Electronic Drum Sets
Professional electronic drum sets have the widest price range, as you can get them from anywhere between $2000 and $10 000.
The top kit from Alesis only costs around $2500, while the top kits from Roland cost close to $10 000. Yamaha and Pearl offer high-tier kits that cost between $5000 and $8000.
You get peak electronic drum kit technology with these sets. Roland offers digital pads with their models, which feel amazing to play.
Yamaha’s professional drum sets have incredible drum modules, along with high-end sound samples from pro Yamaha acoustic kits.
While the flagship Alesis kit is a lot more affordable, it’s an excellent budget option for professional drummerswho want a large electronic kit. It’s one of the largest e-kits available.
The biggest improvement you’ll find with professional electronic drum kits is with the drum modules. They all have seriously detailed sound editing tools, and these allow you to personalize the sounds an impressive amount.
The sound quality is also miles better than anything you’ll get from a beginner or intermediate drum module.
Unfortunately, these professional electronic sets are generally far more expensive than most professional acoustic sets.
Extra Purchases
Something to note about electronic drum sets is that they never come with everything you need to play. So, there will always be a few extra purchases to make to have a full and playable setup.
Here’s everything you need to know about.
Headphones and Amplifiers
If you want to hear what you’re playing on the drums, you’ll need headphones or an amp. Music stores like Sweetwater will sometimes offer package deals where headphones and amps are included, but most electronic kits don’t come with these.
Headphones are the more affordable option, as you can get a good pair from anywhere between $50 to $300. High-end professional pairs naturally cost a lot more.
Amps are a bit more expensive, costing between $100 and $800. You’ll need to get an amp if you want other people around you to hear what you’re playing on an electronic kit.
Drum Throne
A good drum throne is another accessory that you need to have. All the most affordable electronic drum kits tend to come with these, but any electronic kit that costs above $500 most likely won’t come with one.
If you already own an acoustic kit, you can just use your current one on your new electronic kit. If you don’t own a kit, you’re going to need to get one.
Good drum thrones cost between $50 and $400. Just note that higher-priced thrones are better for your back, as they have more ergonomic designs.
Snare Drum Stand
A snare drum stand is something that you only need to consider when purchasing a professional electronic drum set. All beginner kits and most intermediate kits have snare pads that mount to the rack that holds everything together.
A lot of professional e-kits have larger snare drums that need to be mounted to a standard snare stand. These often feel better to play, but it also means that you need to get a snare stand for the kit, and snare stands are never included.
Since these snare pads are lighter than acoustic snares, you don’t need to get anything heavy-duty. A decent snare stand will cost anywhere between $60 and $100.
Hi-Hat Stand
A hi-hat stand is another component that you only need to worry about with professional e-kits. All entry-level and intermediate kits have a hi-hat pad that gets controlled with a standalone pedal.
Professional e-kits have large hi-hat pads that mount to hi-hat stands in the same way that acoustic hi-hat cymbals do. These feel much better to play, but it’s the same story of the kits never including a stand when you buy one of them.
Any decent hi-hat stand will work, so you only need to spend between $50 and $150 for one.
Bass Drum Pedal
A bass drum pedal is the last thing to worry about when buying an electronic drum kit. You’ll also get one of these included with the most affordable beginner kits, but no intermediate or professional kit will come with one.
All electronic drum sets can easily handle a double bass drum pedal, so you need to choose whether to get a single or double pedal option.
Since your bass drum pedal has a big effect on playability, we’d suggest that you put more of your budget into this than a hi-hat or snare drum stand.
A good bass drum pedal will cost anywhere between $100 and $1000.
Final Thoughts on How Much Electronic Drum Sets Cost
The amount of money you should spend on an electronic drum set will depend on what level you’re at with your drumming. It will also depend on what you need the drum set for.
If you’re new to drumming, you’ll get plenty of playability out of an entry-level kit. If you’re more experienced, you’ll need to get an intermediate or professional kit to have a better playing experience.
Most kits that cost between $2000 and $3000 are fantastic. Anything that costs more than that is a luxury option.