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Best 18" Crash Cymbals Under $100 2025

Affordable 18" crash cymbals under $100 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: November 12, 2025 • Next update: November 19, 2025

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Heavy Rock For Metal For Progressive For Stadium Rock For Powerful Playing For Large Venues
BRANDS: Meinl Paiste Zildjian Sabian Zultan Istanbul Mehmet Istanbul Agop Masterwork Millenium
Meinl 18" HCS Crash / Ride - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Meinl 18" HCS Crash / Ride

by Meinl
Powerful Playing Stadium Rock Progressive
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and wash
  • • Impressive visual and sonic impact
✗ CONS
  • • Requires powerful amplification to balance
  • • Expensive investment

Meinl 18" HCS Crash / RideCash/Ride CymbalHCS seriesSize: 18"Beginner cymbal seriesCombines quality and...

⭐ 4.9/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 111022
$94
Buy at Thomann View Details
Millenium 18" Still Series Crash Red - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Millenium 18" Still Series Crash Red

by Millenium
Powerful Playing Stadium Rock Heavy Rock
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and wash
  • • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
  • • May ring too long for fast passages
  • • Can be overwhelming in small spaces

Millenium 18" Still Series Crash RedCrash CymbalSize: 18"Up to 80% quieter compared to a standard cymbalIdeal...

⭐ 4.8/5 (30 reviews)
Sound:
6/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 552915
$63
Buy at Thomann View Details
Meinl 18" HCS Crash - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Meinl 18" HCS Crash

by Meinl
Large Venues Progressive Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
  • • Impressive visual and sonic impact
  • • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
  • • Expensive investment
  • • Can be overwhelming in small spaces

Meinl 18" HCS CrashCash CymbalHCS seriesBeginner cymbal seriesCombines quality and valueMS63 mixtureSoft response...

⭐ 4.9/5 (32 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 295912
$92
Buy at Thomann View Details
Millenium 18" Still Series Crash Blue - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Millenium 18" Still Series Crash Blue

by Millenium
Metal Large Venues Progressive
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
  • • Impressive visual and sonic impact
  • • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
  • • Physically demanding to play effectively
  • • Can be overwhelming in small spaces

Millenium 18" Still Series Crash BlueCrash CymbalSize: 18"Up to 80% quieter compared to a standard...

⭐ 4.8/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 552910
$64
Buy at Thomann View Details
Millenium 18" B20 Crash - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Millenium 18" B20 Crash

by Millenium
Progressive Stadium Rock Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
  • • Perfect for large venue performance
  • • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
  • • Physically demanding to play effectively
  • • Can be overwhelming in small spaces

Millenium 18" B20 Crash, Crash Cymbal, Size: 18", B20 bronze, Clear and explosive crash cymbal with rounded...

⭐ 4.9/5 (37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
6/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 337925
$87
Buy at Thomann View Details
Millenium 18" Still Series Crash regular - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Millenium 18" Still Series Crash regular

by Millenium
Large Venues Heavy Rock Stadium Rock
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent sustain and wash
  • • Impressive visual and sonic impact
✗ CONS
  • • Expensive investment
  • • Requires powerful amplification to balance

Millenium 18" Still Series Crash regularCrash CymbalSize: 18"Still seriesUp to 80% quieter compared to a...

⭐ 4.5/5 (8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
10/10
Art. 430552
$76
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best 18" Crash Cymbals

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 18" crash cymbals 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.

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