Best 12" Toms 2026
Top-rated 12" toms 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sonor ProLite 12"x09" TT Nussbaum
by
Sonor
Pop
Standard Setup
Rock
Key Feature:
• Standard in most drum configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard in most drum configurations
- • Excellent balance of pitch and body
✗ CONS
- • Mounting requirements for rack setup
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
Sonor ProLite 12"x09" TT NussbaumTom TomProLite series12" x 09"Colour: Nussbaum (-75)Finish: Matt /...
⭐
4.6/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 292254
$802
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sonor 12"x08" Vintage Series Red
by
Sonor
Recording
Standard Setup
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Excellent balance of pitch and body
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Most common rack tom size
✗ CONS
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
Sonor 12"x08" Vintage Series RedTom TomVintage SeriesSize: 12" x 08"Shell material: BeechSquare...
⭐
4.9/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 513782
$692
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sonor SQ1 12"x08" Tom Tom GT Black
by
Sonor
All Genres
Jazz
Pop
Key Feature:
• Wide selection of models available
✓ PROS
- • Standard in most drum configurations
- • Great for all musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Mounting requirements for rack setup
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
Sonor SQ1 12"x08" Tom Tom GT BlackTom TomSize: 12" x 08"SQ1 SeriesShells made from 100% European...
⭐
4.5/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 576317
$582
#4
⭐
4.6/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Gretsch Drums 12"x08" TT Renown Maple -SOP
Jazz
Standard Setup
Recording
Key Feature:
• Wide selection of models available
✓ PROS
- • Excellent balance of pitch and body
- • Great for all musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
Gretsch Drums 12"x 08" TT Renown Maple -SOPTom TomSize: 12" x 08"Renown MapleRN1-0812T SOPWrap...
⭐
4.6/5
(39 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 410130
$362
#5
⭐
4.5/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Gretsch Drums 12"x08" TT Renown Maple -GN
Rock
All Genres
Standard Setup
Key Feature:
• Wide selection of models available
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Most common rack tom size
✗ CONS
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
Gretsch Drums 12"x08" TT Renown Maple -GNTom TomSeries: Gretsch Renown12" x 08"RN2-0812TGNDrum...
⭐
4.5/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 452581
$362
#6
⭐
4.4/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Gretsch Drums 12"x08" TT Renown Maple VP
Pop
Recording
Rock
Key Feature:
• Standard in most drum configurations
✓ PROS
- • Excellent balance of pitch and body
- • Great for all musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
Gretsch Drums 12"x08" TT Renown Maple VPTom TomSize: 12" x 08"7-Ply 100% maple wood shell with 30°...
⭐
4.4/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 463730
$351
#7
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Sonor 12"x08" Vintage Series Pearl
by
Sonor
Recording
Rock
All Genres
Key Feature:
• Great for all musical styles
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Most common rack tom size
✗ CONS
- • Quality varies significantly by manufacturer
- • May need careful positioning to avoid sympathetic vibration
Sonor 12"x08" Vintage Series PearlTom TomSize: 12" x 08"Vintage SeriesDrum shell material:...
⭐
4.7/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 489675
$611
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Sonor 12"x08" AQ2 Tom Tom WHP
by
Sonor
Rock
Recording
All Genres
Key Feature:
• Excellent balance of pitch and body
✓ PROS
- • Wide selection of models available
- • Most common rack tom size
✗ CONS
- • May need careful positioning to avoid sympathetic vibration
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
Sonor 12"x08" AQ2 Tom Tom WHPTom TomSize: 12" x 08"AQ2 Series7-Plyfoiled maple shellNew SmartMount...
⭐
4.8/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 460631
$252
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sonor 12"x08" AQ2 Tom Tom TQZ
by
Sonor
Standard Setup
Rock
All Genres
Key Feature:
• Standard in most drum configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard in most drum configurations
- • Most common rack tom size
✗ CONS
- • Quality varies significantly by manufacturer
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
Sonor 12"x08" AQ2 Tom Tom TQZTom TomSize: 12" x 08"AQ2 seriesDrum shell material: 7-ply maple...
⭐
4.9/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 453457
$252
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Yamaha 12"x10" Recording Custom SOB
by
Yamaha
All Genres
Pop
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Wide selection of models available
✓ PROS
- • Great for all musical styles
- • Wide selection of models available
✗ CONS
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
Yamaha 12"x10" Recording Custom SOBTom TomSize: 12" x 10"6-Ply shellShell material: 100%...
⭐
4.5/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 595376
$703
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Pearl Crystal Beat 12"x08" Tom #730
by
Pearl
Jazz
Standard Setup
Recording
Key Feature:
• Most common rack tom size
✓ PROS
- • Standard in most drum configurations
- • Wide selection of models available
✗ CONS
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
- • Quality varies significantly by manufacturer
Pearl Crystal Beat 12"x08" Tom #730Tom TomColour: Ultra Clear (#730)Seamless acrylic 6 mm shellChrome...
⭐
4.5/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 531657
$417
#12
⭐
4.7/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sonor 12"x08" Vintage Series Blue
by
Sonor
Pop
Standard Setup
Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent balance of pitch and body
✓ PROS
- • Excellent balance of pitch and body
- • Standard in most drum configurations
✗ CONS
- • Mounting requirements for rack setup
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
Sonor 12"x08" Vintage Series BlueTom TomSize: 12" x 08"Vintage SeriesShell material: BeechChrome...
⭐
4.7/5
(31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 598466
$692
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
DrumCraft Series 6 12"x08" Tom Tom SN
by
DrumCraft
Recording
Pop
Standard Setup
Key Feature:
• Most common rack tom size
✓ PROS
- • Wide selection of models available
- • Great for all musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Mounting requirements for rack setup
- • Common size may lack uniqueness
DrumCraft Series 6 12"x08" Tom Tom SNTom TomSeries 6Size: 12" x 08"Shell material: Maple /...
⭐
4.9/5
(10 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 523567
$175
#14
⭐
4.4/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
DrumCraft Series 6 12"x08" Tom Tom SWB
by
DrumCraft
Standard Setup
Jazz
All Genres
Key Feature:
• Standard in most drum configurations
✓ PROS
- • Standard in most drum configurations
- • Most common rack tom size
✗ CONS
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
- • May need careful positioning to avoid sympathetic vibration
DrumCraft Series 6 12"x08" Tom Tom SWBTom TomSeries 6Size: 12" x 08"Shell material: Maple /...
⭐
4.4/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 523568
$171
#15
⭐
4.6/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
DW PDP 12"x08" CC Tom Walnut
by
DW
Standard Setup
Pop
Jazz
Key Feature:
• Standard in most drum configurations
✓ PROS
- • Wide selection of models available
- • Great for all musical styles
✗ CONS
- • Tuning affects other drums in kit
- • Quality varies significantly by manufacturer
DW PDP 12"x08" CC Tom WalnutTom TomConcept Classic SeriesSize: 12" x 08"Shell material: Maple...
⭐
4.6/5
(12 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 590402
$340
How to Choose the Best 12" Toms
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 12" toms typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
