Are you looking for the best kids drum set to inspire your child’s musical journey? Finding the right drum set can make all the difference, it can turn a passing curiosity into a lifelong love for music.
4-Piece Junior Drum Sets | 4-Piece Junior Drum Sets Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
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5-Piece Junior Drum Sets | 5-Piece Junior Drum Sets Product Image | Product Title | *GEARANK | **Sources | Check Prices |
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*Gearank = Rating score out of 100.
**Sources = Number of gear owner and user opinions analyzed for these product Gearank Ratings.
Research Process: How Gearank Works
Whether your child dreams of being the next big drummer or just wants a fun, creative outlet, the right drum kit can set the stage for success.
This guide is designed to help parents navigate the options and find a high-quality, affordable drum set for kids. We’ve carefully curated a list of junior drum kits based on real-world feedback and expert reviews to ensure an unbiased selection.
These sets aren’t just toys—they’re real instruments built to handle the enthusiasm of budding drummers while offering great sound and playability.
Some of the options here are so versatile that they can double as compact kits for adults, perfect for jazz or small-space setups.
If your child is older than 10, or if they’re tall for their age, please refer to our guide for full-sized beginner drum sets.
Best Kids Drum Set – 4 piece Junior Drum Sets
Pearl Roadshow RS584C/C 4-piece Drum Set w/ 18” Kick
The Pearl Roadshow RS584C/C delivers exceptional sound quality in a compact package, making it perfect for kids or adults needing a smaller setup. With durable construction and versatile tone, it’s a kit that outperforms most junior-sized alternatives, though the higher price may deter budget-conscious buyers.
Pros:
- Compact size with excellent sound quality.
- Durable double-braced hardware.
- Versatile enough for various musical styles.
- Includes a responsive and punchy 18” kick drum.
- Well-suited for both kids and adults.
- Higher prices compared to entry-level kits.
- Included cymbals may need upgrading for advanced players.
- Not as portable as some electronic alternatives.
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The Pearl Roadshow RS584C/C is a compact drum kit that delivers professional-grade performance in a smaller form factor. It’s designed for both aspiring young drummers and adults who need a portable kit without sacrificing quality. The 18” kick drum produces a surprisingly deep and punchy tone, complemented by responsive toms and a crisp snare. From jazz to rock, this versatile set adapts beautifully, making it more than just a practice kit—it’s stage-ready, too.
One of the highlights of this drum set is its excellent craftsmanship and durability. Pearl has included double-braced hardware, making the kit stable during intense practice or performances. The cymbals included are decent for beginners, though more experienced players may want to upgrade them. Setting it up can take a bit of time, but the included instructions are detailed and easy to follow.
On the downside, the price point is higher than many other compact kits, which may deter budget-conscious buyers. This is especially true for those buying their first drum kit. Additionally, while the kit is compact, it still requires adequate space and isn’t as portable as some smaller electronic drum alternatives.
That said, the Pearl Roadshow RS584C/C remains a standout choice for those looking for a premium acoustic drum kit in a small package.
Items Included in this Drum Set:
- 18” x 12′” Bass drum
- 10″ x 7” Tom tom
- 14” x 10” Floor tom
- 13” x 5” Snare drum
- 14″ Hi-hats
- 16″ Crash/Ride Cymbal
- Hi-hat stand
- Cymbal arm
- Snare stand
- Drum Throne
- Foot pedal
- Drum Sticks and stick bag
- 5 Available finishes (Aqua Blue, Charcoal Metallic, Bronze Metallic, Jet Black, Red Wine)
- 9-ply poplar wood shells
- Tunable and replaceable drumheads
Best Kids Drum Set – 5 piece Junior Drum Sets
Gammon 5-Piece Junior Starter Drum Kit
The Gammon 5-Piece Junior Kit is an affordable entry-level drum set ideal for younger players just starting out. While its sound and durability are modest compared to pricier options, it offers everything needed to ignite a child’s interest in drumming without a hefty investment.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Great finish and build
- Easy assembly
- Drum tones are just decent
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Of all the 5-piece drum sets here, the cheapest among them is the Gammon 5-piece Junior Drum Kit. This kid’s drumset has been receiving a lot of good reviews lately and deservingly so. Even though Gammond isn’t a known brand compared to other drum kits, you’re assured that its quality is good.
The build quality and finish of this junior drum kit look professional and sleek, very much a like full-fledged drum set for 10-year-old kids and below. Out of the box, they’re already tuned with a little bit of fine-tuning.
It comes with an instruction manual for the assembly it’s a straightforward process that will only take about an hour or less to complete.
In terms of the tone of the drums, I find that the toms are good enough but a bit boxy at times. It’s best to tune them a bit to get a more professional sound. The cymbals and hit hats, however, sound a bit thin and lack that sustain.
As for the kick, it is decent and does deliver a good low end. The snare, for me though, doesn’t have a lot of body but is still passable. It’s understandable, however, because of how cheap it is.
Nonetheless, these are great drums for 8-year-olds and up. This kit allows them to practice those fundamentals and get a feel for it before they transition to an adult-sized drum kit.
Items Included in this Drum Set:
- 16″ x 11″ Bass drum
- 10″ x 6″ & 8″ x 6″ toms
- 12″ x 10″ Floor tom
- 10″ x 5″ Snare drum
- 8″ Hi-hats
- 12″ Crash/Ride Cymbal
- Hi-hat stand
- Cymbal stand
- Snare stand
- Foot pedal
- Drum throne
- Drum sticks
- 7 Available finishes (Green, Black, Blue, Purple, Red, Silver, Pink)
- Poplar wood shells
- Tuneable and replaceable drum heads
Ashthorpe DRUM-S-JA-5327
The Ashthorpe Beginner Drum Kit strikes a balance between value and quality, providing a well-rounded set for younger players. Its sturdy build and included accessories make it a solid choice, though the cymbals and hardware could be improved.
Pros:
- Complete ready to play package
- Good overall quality for the price
- Nice looking finish and hardware accents
- Multiple color choices for young drummers
- Small cymbals and hi-hats
- Can take longer to assemble for first timers
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The Ashthorpe Drums-S-JA-5327 is a junior sized drum set meant for drummers from 3 to 12 years old.
It comes complete with everything needed to play, including snare, two toms, one-floor tom, a crash/ride cymbal, and a hi-hat.
Overall quality and build is quite nice for the price, good enough for kids and even adults who are looking for a compact and affordable kit to test the waters for drumming.
To be able to play it right out of the box, it comes with important accessories like drumsticks and a drum throne.
When properly set up, it doesn’t look like a toy kit at all, while still being compact enough for kids of different ages.
It also helps that it doesn’t look cheap. It comes with a nice sparkly finish and all-chrome hardware and accents. And to accommodate more kids, it comes in 7 different color finishes, including hues like purple and pink. Getting a baby black drum finish set would still be the safest pick if you’re not sure what your child’s favorite color is.
Being a complete 5-piece package means that assembly can be daunting for first timers, but it is doable with the help of the instruction manual.
Like most kits in this price range, the cymbal and hi-hat are small, resulting in a trebly sound that lacks sustain.
If you’re looking for a budget friendly 5-piece drum set for your young ones to learn the ropes on, this one is highly recommended.
Items Included in this Drum Set:
- 16″ x 11″ Bass drum
- 11″ x 7″ & 10″ x 7″ Toms
- 13″ x 10″ Floor tom
- 12″ x 5″ Snare drum
- 10″ Hi-hats
- 12″ Crash/Ride Cymbal
- Hi-hat stand
- Cymbal Arm
- Snare stand
- Foot pedal
- Drum throne
- Drum sticks
- 7 Available finishes (Green, Black, Blue, Purple, Red, Silver, Pink)
- Poplar wood shells
- Tunable and replaceable drum heads
Mendini MJDS-5 Acoustic Junior 5-Piece Drum Set w/ 16″ Kick
The Mendini MJDS-5 is a reliable and visually appealing drum set that caters to kids ready to start their musical journey. With its beginner-friendly design and complete package, it’s a great choice, though advanced players may quickly outgrow its capabilities.
Pros:
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The Mendini by Cecilio brand is known for affordable beginner instruments, and this includes their MJDS-5 Junior Drum Set. While they don’t have the same prestige as brands like Ludwig and Pearl, they provide good value at a lower price point which is important if you’re not sure whether your junior drummer will want to continue playing once the novelty factor wears off.
The snare and toms have good bounce, and they all sound good, if not decent. Note that snare wires are positioned inside, so there is no way to adjust the wire tension. This is said to make the snare more child safe, compared to conventional designs.
The cymbals and hi-hats are quite small as expected, they won’t be sounding as full and responsive as bigger counterparts.
Still the overall quality of its parts together with its compact size make it a good starter kit for the price. It is one of the best drumsets for kids ranging in age from 2.5 to 10 years old.
Another plus for this 5-piece kit, is that it’s not that hard to assemble, although it will take some time for first timers.
This is a good option for a kid’s first drum set, however if you’re looking to upgrade from a 3-piece set then try to see if your budget can stretch to the Pearl kit below.
Items Included in this Drum Set:
- 16″ x 11″ Bass drum
- 10″ x 5″ Tom tom
- 8″ x 6″ Tom tom
- 12″ x 10″ Floor tom
- 10″ x 6″Snare drum
- Bass Drum pedal
- Hi hat stand
- Cymbal arm
- Snare stand
- Drum throne
- Drum sticks
- Drum key
- 8″ Hi-hats
- 10″ Crash Cymbal
- Laminated wood shells
- Comes in a range of colors, including metallic silver, metallic black, metallic green, metallic blue, metallic wine red, and metallic bright red.
Pearl Roadshow Jr. RSJ465/C 5-piece Acoustic Drum Set 16″ Kick
The Pearl Roadshow Jr. RSJ465/C offers top-notch build quality and sound, making it one of the best junior drum kits for serious young players. While pricier than most, its performance and durability make it a worthy investment for long-term use.
At publication time, this was the Highest Rated 5-Piece Junior Drum Set
Pros:
- Pro quality build and hardware
- Big and beefy sound
- Responsive drum heads with good bounce
- Quality finish and aesthetics
- Compact gig worthy kit after a few upgrades
- Small cymbals and hi-hats
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As the name implies, this drum set is a slightly smaller version of their popular Roadshow series, meant to save space and make younger, smaller drummers more comfortable while playing.
While its size is small, it does carry with it the same quality shell material found on regular sized Pearl drums. It is not a toy meant to look like drum sets, it’s a real, serious drum set scaled down for kids.
This means that it retains the playing feel and drumming experience of a pro quality kit, but at a more kid-friendly size.
For something small, the Roadshow Jr. has a big beefy sound with good volume. It features shells made of poplar, resulting in authentic vintage style drum sounds.
The drum heads are also responsive, great for learning technique and dynamic nuances.
The cymbals and hi-hat are also small, but the ones included in this kit are better than what you’d normally get from similarly priced junior kits.
Still if you want to gig with this kit, you’ll have to swap them out for something bigger.
Build quality and finish are top-notch, as expected from Pearl; it really has the sharp and clean look of a pro kit. Regardless of your personal preference in style and genre, you’ll appreciate the overall look and sound of this kit.
If you’re looking to get your young children a good sounding drum set, their own quality 5-piece junior drum set, then this is one of the better options on the market today.
Items Included in this Drum Set:
- 16” x 10″ Bass drum
- 8″ x 5″ & 10″ x 5.5″ Toms
- 13” x 8” Floor tom
- 12” x 4” Snare drum
- 10″ Hi-hats
- 13″ Crash/Ride Cymbal
- Hi-hat stand
- Cymbal stand
- Snare stand
- Foot pedal
- Drum throne
- Drum sticks
- 2 Available finishes (Grind Stone Sparkle, Jet Black)
- 6-ply poplar shells
- Tuneable and replaceable drumheads
Things to Know Before You Buy a Drum Set for Kids
What is a junior drum set?
While there is no ‘official’ definition, we characterize drums for 8-year-olds and up as being smaller versions of adult drum sets to accommodate small children. For this guide, we only considered drum kits with 18-inch or smaller diameter bass drums (usually the largest drum piece in the set), including some ‘Jazz’ kits (which traditionally come in smaller sizes) that adults also play. In contrast, full-sized kits usually have kick drums that are 20 inches or larger.
What age groups are junior drum sets for?
There’s no exact answer here because it depends partly on their height but these are best suited for children aged from 3 to 10. For children who are taller than average or older than this range, then we recommend getting a full-sized kit – see our guide to The Best Beginner Drum Sets.
Does it have everything kids need?
Some junior drum sets and beginner drum kits on the market don’t come with hi-hat cymbals. If you want your kid’s drum set to help them to learn to play properly then you need to get a basic drum set. It should have hi-hats, at least 1 crash cymbal, at least 1 tom, a snare, a bass/kick drum, and a throne/stool to sit on. All of the drum sets we’ve recommended below are full kits, including the shell packs, cymbals, a stool, and cymbal stands.
Should you get ear protection for kid drummers?
Yes. Drums and cymbals are loud and prolonged exposure can lead to hearing damage. You can find a list of the highest-rated earplugs in our guide to The Best Earplugs For Musicians. Another quiet way of learning the drums is the use of a practice drum pad.
What does the number of pieces mean?
Only the drums are counted as the pieces – cymbals and other items are not included in the count. So when a drum set has a snare, kick drum and 3 tom drums, this adds up to 5 pieces. This is what you’d expect from a typical 5 piece drum kit.
How many pieces are best?
A 5-piece beginner drum kit is best because if the child really gets into drumming this will give them a better grounding in drumming techniques. However, if space is limited, a 3-piece kit will take up a bit less space both when set up and when packed up for transport to play with others. A 4-piece kit would be a good compromise between space requirements and being a ‘complete’ drum set.
Drum Sticks
Usually, these are included when you buy a junior drum set at an online or local music store, but not always, and it’s frustrating to have your kit delivered without sticks. When buying drums, we recommend also buying a couple of sets of different stick sizes and weights: Vic Firth Kidsticks (light) at Amazon – Vic Firth 5A (medium) at Amazon – Vic Firth 5B (heavy) at Amazon. It’s important to know that sticks wear out and break so you really should have a spare set on hand for when the inevitable happens.
Drum Sizes
In this guide, we state the diameter first, then the depth. So a 10″ x 5″ snare is 10″ in diameter and 5″ deep. Some manufacturers and retailers state the measurements the other way around. If a junior drum kit is still too big for your child, you can go for a toddler drum set, just note that fast growing kids may quickly outgrow them.
What age groups are junior drum sets for?
There’s no exact answer here because it depends partly on their height, but these are best suited for children aged 3 to 10. For children who are taller than average, or if you’re looking for a drum set for teenager, then we recommend getting a full-sized kit – see our guide to The Best Beginner Drum Sets.
Some Helpful Drum Set Terminology
Electronic Drum Set – Also called “e-kit”, these are quieter alternatives to an acoustic drum set. Electronic Drums use drum pads that trigger a drum module, which produces drum sounds through an amplifier or headphones. This makes them ideal for student drummers. Our guide to the best electronic drum sets for beginners looks at the top rated e-drum kits in more detail.
Drum Kit vs Drum Set – These terms are essentially interchangeable and mean the same thing at music retailers. Another term used is percussion drums set
Hardware – This refers to the stands, pedals and other metal parts of a drum set that aren’t the actual drums or cymbals. Don’t expect premium hardware in a Childs drum set
Ply – A ply is a single layer of wood. Wooden drum shells are typically made from multiple layers of wood so a 9 Ply shell means it has 9 layers. Hardwood shells are priced at a premium.
Drum Shell Pack – This refers to a package that only includes the drum shells. It may or may not include mounting hardware.
Drum Throne vs Drum Stool – Both these terms mean the same thing, it’s the seat you sit on to play drums.
Kick Drum vs Bass Drum – In terms of drum sets these terms are also interchangeable and mean the same thing. Technically, a kick drum is designed to be used with a kick pedal, but there are bass drums not designed for that purpose, such as ones you might see played in an orchestra or marching band.
Drum Key – This is used to loosen and tighten the lugs on your drums to tension and tune them to the pitch you want.
Best Junior Drum Set Selection Methodology
The first edition was published in 2017. This current edition was published in January of 2025.
For this edition, we looked at all the junior 3 to 5-piece drum sets listed for sale at the major online music equipment retailers in the USA. Note that we didn’t include electronic drum kits, so you won’t be seeing popular beginner e-drums like the Roland TD 02k.
Focusing on beginner acoustic drum kits, we ended up with a short-list of 12 kits for detailed analysis. We gathered information from both customer and expert reviews which we have analyzed and summarized in the descriptions above. Note that there are other different types of drum sets that we didn’t cover in this guide.
We then fed that data into the Gearank Algorithm to produce the Gearank Rating scores out of 100 that you see above – over 7,100 individual rating sources were examined during this process. We took all the data into account and selected the best kids’ drum set to recommend in each category of 3, 4, and 5-piece kits. For more information about our methods, see How Gearank Works.
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide’s production – click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Contributors
Allen Articulo: Co-writer and Product Research.
Alexander Briones: Supplemental writing.
Jason Horton: Supplemental writing, Editing, and Illustrating.
Media / Image Credit
Main/Top Image: Compiled using photographs of the Ludwig Questlove Pocket Kit and Pearl Roadshow Jr. RSJ465/C.
The individual product images were sourced from websites, promotional materials, or supporting documentation provided by their respective manufacturers.
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Best Drum Machine for 2025: Expert Reviews and Rankings
Comments:
17 responses
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Publication of our November 2022 Edition resulted in the Pearl Roadshow RS584C/C coming off the recommended list above.
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We have removed the GP Percussion GP50 from the recommended list above due to a lack of availability.
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Publication of our September 2021 Edition resulted in the Sound Percussion Labs Lil Kicker D1316 being removed from the recommended list above.
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Hello, I have an average sized 7 year old who is recently started taking lessons, using the schools Mapex Tornado set. Would any or all of the above kits work with the Tornado as a home practice kit? Thank you
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Although you could get any of the 5-piece kits above, the Mapex Tornado is actually a full size adult kit, and the nearest one to that in terms of size and layout that we recommend is the Tama Imperialstar IE52C.
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We have removed the GP Percussion GP50 from the recommended list above due to it no longer being available.
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As a result of our October 2020 update, the following drum set came of the recommended list above: Ludwig LJR106.
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At that age, unless they are unusually small for a 12yo, we recommend moving up to an adult sized kit.
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Hi, I have a junior’s drum kit now that I got from a family member, but the hi hat stand isn’t working. I just discovered that the reason for this is that the hi hat cymbals are too heavy for the junior stand, and they were weighing it down. I’m going to get new hi hat cymbals soon, but I’m not sure what to get. Should I get extra thin or thin? Does the width make a difference in the weight?
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Hi, my son is almost 7 but is already about 4′ 3″ and growing about 2.5 – 3.0 inches per year. He is having lessons on a full size kit and copes OK but it is a little wide for him. If he keeps going as he is presently, I expect to buy his first kit at the end of the year, would you agree I’m best choosing a full kit for him that he will soon grow into? Many thanks!
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It sounds like he might be on the cusp of moving up to a full size kit – I would suggest asking his drum teacher whether or not a bigger kit would be best to save having to buy another larger kit too soon afterwards.
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My son has turned everywhere to drum in the house since he was 20 months. Can I get a drum for him for his birthday? The passion was too much. He will be 2yrs old in few days.
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My son is 9 years old but the size of an 11 year old. This would be his 1st drum set. What would be your recommendation? He is 5ft weighing 125pd…
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Your son is already getting too tall for one of these small drum kits, so he would be much better served with a full adult sized kit which he won’t outgrow.
Take a look at our guide to Beginner Drum Sets.
Unless you’re absolutely certain he’s going to stick with playing drums, I’d go for one of the less expensive options in that guide.
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All of the options listed above are suitable, however I wouldn’t get the more expensive ones unless you know they are committed to playing long term.
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Disclosure
About the Author and Contributors
Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.
Lead Author & Researcher
Alden Acosta
I'm a drummer and former lead guitarist of the band Callalily, a platinum selling multi-awarded band from the Philippines. I also studied music for 6 years majoring in percussion and jazz studies with a minor in classical piano.
As an experienced producer and musician, Alden loves to help fellow musicians find the right music gear for the job. Aside from music, Alden's interests include: CS:GO and MLBB.
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