When you think of a drum kit, you probably think of an acoustic set. More and more people, though, are discovering the benefits and joy of electronic drum kits.
These convenient instruments are great in all sorts of environments, from small home spaces to upstairs flats to recording studios and practice rooms. Their main USP is that they’re quiet. You can practice at all hours, honing your technique without waking the neighbours.
They also tend to be much sleeker than acoustic drums, meaning you can set one up in your bedroom or recording space much more easily, and they usually come with a drum module that contains a range of sounds to try.
If you’re shopping for a drummer in your life, and you think an e-kit is the way to go but don’t want to break the bank, here’s our list of the best electronic drum kits under £500.
In a hurry?
Here are our absolute favourites.
| Alesis Nitro Max Electronic Drum Kit | A great balance of acoustic-like playability and creative features (440 sounds!). | Check the current price |
| TOUCHBEAT Electronic Drum Kit | A sturdy, silent kit with AnchorLok hardware that enables you to play wildly — the kit won't budge. | Check the current price |
| Digital Drums 520 Electronic Drum Kit | There's a lot to explore with this kit: 329 customisable sounds, 15 preset kits, and 10 user kits. | Check the current price |
The best electronic drum sets under £500
1. Alesis Nitro Max Electronic Drum Kit
Key features
- 10″ dual-zone mesh snare and three 8″ mesh toms
- 32 drum kits, 16 user kits, and 440 sounds
- Includes BFD Player software and a 90-day Drumeo subscription
Pros
- Responsive mesh heads provide a natural playing feel with reduced noise
- Extensive sound library and practice features
- Bluetooth connectivity makes practising with your favourite tracks easy
Cons
- Drum stool and headphones aren’t included as standard
The Alesis Nitro Max Electronic Drum Kit is one of the most popular drum kits for beginners. It’s responsive, has an extensive sound library, and offers plenty of customisation options at an affordable price.
The kit features a 10″ dual-zone mesh snare, which allows you to trigger separate head and rim sounds for more expressive playing. Then there are three 8″ mesh toms, giving you a versatile setup for developing your technique and exploring different playing styles.
The module offers 440 sounds across 32 preset kits, plus 16 user kit slots for creating and saving your own setups. And to further help you in those beginning stages of learning, there are 60 play-along tracks, built-in coaching tools and Bluetooth connectivity. You also get BFD Player software, which provides additional drum sounds when connected to a computer.
2. TOUCHBEAT Electronic Drum Kit
Key features
- 7″ HD touchscreen with 950 samples and 30 drum kits
- Dual-zone, chokeable crash and ride cymbals
- Bluetooth connectivity, USB-MIDI, and 15 built-in backing tracks
Pros
- Intuitive touchscreen makes sound editing easy
- Responsive mesh pads and multi-zone cymbals support expressive playing
- Extensive sound library and useful practice tools
Cons
- May lack some advanced features found on higher-end kits
The TOUCHBEAT Electronic Drum Kit is designed by drummers, for drummers. This is a sturdy, silent kit that enables you to really hone your skills and practise wildly — without disturbing neighbours or housemates. The AnchorLock hardware keeps everything securely in place as you play. It’s designed to be the next step up from beginner kit, offering a modern eight-piece setup with plenty of useful features.
Its seven-inch HD touchscreen gives you easy access to 25 preset kits, five custom kits, and 950 studio-grade samples, while Bluetooth connectivity lets you play along to your favourite tracks.
Then there are the dual-zone mesh pads — these provide realistic stick rebound that builds good technique. Chokeable crash and ride cymbals also let you practise more expressive techniques.
If you’re after a capable e-kit on a budget that lets you practise stage-commanding drumming from the comfort of your own home, the TOUCHBEAT is excellent.
3. Digital Drums 520 Electronic Drum Kit
Key features
- Three chokeable cymbals and mesh kick pad with included pedal
- 329 customisable sounds, 15 preset kits, and 10 user kit slots
- Onboard sound editing and DSP effects
Pros
- Realistic playing response with mesh pads and chokeable cymbals
- Extensive sound customisation options
- USB-MIDI support for recording and triggering virtual instruments
Cons
- Smaller 8″ drum pads may feel restrictive if you’re used to an acoustic kit
To get creative and experimental with your style, you need a good sound library to play with.
The DD520 module of the Digital Drums 520 Electronic Drum Kit gives you 329 customisable sounds, 15 preset kits, and 10 user kits — a lot to explore. There are also onboard effects that let you adjust pitch, tone, and reverb.
The kit’s dual-zone mesh snare and tom pads let you incorporate rim clicks into your playing, while three chokeable cymbals and a mesh kick pad provide a more natural playing experience. It’s a jam-packed drum set under £500.
4. Alesis Turbo Pro Electronic Drum Kit
Key features
- 12 preset drum kits, 110 sounds, and 20 built-in songs
- Bluetooth audio, USB-MIDI, metronome, and onboard recording
- Includes drum throne, headphones, drumsticks, and 90 days of Drumeo access
Pros
- Mesh pads and kick tower support realistic playing technique
- Bluetooth connectivity makes playing along to music easy
- Onboard recording and Drumeo lessons help you track your progress
Cons
- Limited sound library compared to some similarly priced kits
The Turbo Pro is another excellent Alesis kit. This one comes with four 8″ mesh pads, three cymbals, and — best of all — a 6″ kick tower, which means you can practise bass drum techniques using a physical pedal setup. Once you’ve got your technique mastered here, you’ll find it relatively easy to transfer to an acoustic set.
The module includes 12 drum kits, 110 sounds, and 20 built-in songs, with Bluetooth connectivity for playing along to your favourite tracks. There’s also an onboard recording function, so you can listen back to your performances and identify areas to improve.
Plus, most conveniently, this is a complete package. You get a drum throne, headphones, drumsticks, and 90 days of Drumeo access included.
5. VISIONDRUM Electronic Drum Kit with Stool and Headphones
Key features
- 7-piece kit with mesh drum pads
- 12 drum kits and 10 play-along songs
- Adjustable frame with compact, fold-away design
Pros
- Suitable for different ages and heights
- Great range of accessories included
- Headphone output for quieter practice
Cons
- Requires an external amplifier for playing without headphones
The VISIONDRUM Electronic Drum Kit is a great introduction to drumming at a very reasonable price. This compact, seven-piece setup gives you everything you need to get started.
Its mesh drum pads provide realistic stick rebound to help you develop your technique, while the rubber cymbals’ 360-degree triggering provides a consistent response. And to ensure you feel super comfortable behind the kit, the frame is height adjustable.
You get 12 preset drum kits, 10 play-along songs, and USB MIDI connectivity for accessing additional sounds through your computer.
At its price point, the VISIONDRUM really is a great package for new drummers.
Electronic vs. acoustic drums
With advances in technology, electronic drums are becoming a fantastic alternative to acoustic kits. For example, the high-grade mesh and silicone rubber materials used for electronic drum and cymbal pads respond just like a classic drum skin, with plenty of rebound.
While acoustic kits might have more aesthetic options, premium electronic drum kits can easily steal the show in the creative department. With a vast array of drum sounds, samples, and innovations at your fingertips, electronic drums are the ultimate form of percussive expression.
What next?
Once you’ve decided on your electronic kit, all you need is a reliable pair of headphones to plug into your module to hear your performance. For some kits where a module isn’t included as standard, we have an excellent range of drum modules available.
If you plan on using your kit on the stage or in another live setting, we also have a number of fantastic electronic drum kit amp bundles that will allow you to play your kit at full volume. Most of these are modest in size and wattage, so they’re also well-suited for home use. You can also purchase a separate drum monitor to augment your current kit.
Now just grab a pair of drumsticks, and you’re ready to play! We recommend thinner types, such as 7A, as heavier, thicker sticks can cause unnecessary wear and tear on your pads. Happy e-drumming!
FAQs
What is an electronic drum kit?
Electronic drums are a modern take on the age-old acoustic drum kit. Instead of drum shells, electronic kits comprise a series of pads or sensors that produce sounds when struck. Each strike is detected by a trigger and turned into drum sounds by a sound module – giving classic drum sounds, alongside enhanced modern possibilities. Electronic kit configurations are often faithful visual representations of acoustic drum sets, but there are a number of functional contrasts between each style of kit.
What are the benefits of electronic drums?
The most obvious benefit of electronic drum kits is that they’re much smaller and more compact than full-size acoustic drums. Not to mention the all-important noise control. Using a sound module to generate sounds, you can simply plug in your headphones and play in near silence, long into the night. The only noise you’ll hear is the strike of the pads/mesh heads, which is far quieter than an acoustic kit. This makes electronic drums great for bedroom practice and home recording.
What is a drum module?
Drum modules are powerful pieces of technology, packed with dozens, sometimes hundreds of unique drum and percussion sounds — all of which can be assigned to different parts of your kit at the touch of a button — as well as metronomes, MIDI output (to control music software and plugin instruments), the ability to load your own samples, and more. Some drummers call drum modules the “brain” of an electronic drum kit. You might also find onboard recording that allows you to record your own samples and loops. You’ll also find
Final thoughts
The best electronic drum kits under £500 aren’t the ones that give you the basics you need to play; they’re the ones that inspire you to keep playing. Whether it’s a broad selection of drum kits and sounds to mess about with or a strikingly realistic response that enables you to play as you would on stage, we hope these e-kits have the features you’re looking for — and prove that you don’t need to break the bank to get an instrument that suits you.
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