Best 18" Crash Cymbals Under $200 2026
Affordable 18" crash cymbals under $200 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 2026
#1
⭐
5.0/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 18" S Series Rock Crash
by
Zildjian
Heavy Rock
Stadium Rock
Metal
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and wash
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • Expensive investment
Zildjian 18" S Series Rock CrashRock Crash CymbalSize: 18"S SeriesMedium heavyMaterial: B12 bronze alloy (88%...
⭐
5.0/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 380604
$197
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste PST5 18" Medium Crash '14
by
Paiste
Metal
Powerful Playing
Heavy Rock
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
Paiste PST5 18" Medium Crash '14Medium Crash CymbalSize: 18"From the new series PST5Material: CuSn8...
⭐
4.8/5
(20 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 335971
$142
#3
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zildjian 18" I Family Crash medium-thin
by
Zildjian
Heavy Rock
Powerful Playing
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
Zildjian 18" I Family Crash medium-thinCrash CymbalSize: 18"I Family SeriesMaterial: B8 Bronze@Thickness:...
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 480891
$182
#4
⭐
4.9/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Masterwork 18" Troy Traditional Crash
by
Masterwork
Progressive
Stadium Rock
Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Impressive visual and sonic impact
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Masterwork 18" Troy Traditional CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Material: B 25 BronzeFinish:...
⭐
4.9/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 611373
$169
#5
⭐
4.5/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Masterwork 18" Troy Crash
by
Masterwork
Heavy Rock
Progressive
Stadium Rock
Key Feature:
• Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for large venue performance
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
Masterwork 18" Troy CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18""Troy" SeriesBrilliant finishThe Troy Series is the...
⭐
4.5/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 296568
$186
#6
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 18" PSTX Swiss Flanger Crash
by
Paiste
Stadium Rock
Progressive
Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and wash
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • Expensive investment
Paiste 18" PSTX Swiss Flanger CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"PSTX seriesSilk-matte finishFast explosive easy...
⭐
4.9/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 615600
$164
#7
⭐
4.5/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 18" Caz Crash
by
Zultan
Progressive
Stadium Rock
Heavy Rock
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Maximum projection and volume
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • Expensive investment
Zultan 18" Caz CrashCrash CymbalB20 BronzeHand-hammeredQuick-reaction crashWarm full tone with extremely...
⭐
4.5/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 278665
$197
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste 18" PSTX Swiss Medium Crash
by
Paiste
Progressive
Metal
Heavy Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and wash
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Perfect for large venue performance
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Paiste 18" PSTX Swiss Medium CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"PSTX seriesSatin finishFastexplosive response with...
⭐
4.8/5
(9 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 358719
$164
#9
⭐
4.4/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 18" Raw Crash
by
Zultan
Progressive
Heavy Rock
Stadium Rock
Key Feature:
• Excellent sustain and wash
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and sonic impact
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Zultan 18" Raw CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Raw SeriesMade of B20 bronzeDarkwarm and full sound100%...
⭐
4.4/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 383209
$197
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Paiste PST5 18" Rock Crash '14
by
Paiste
Metal
Powerful Playing
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Maximum projection and volume
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for large venue performance
- • Excellent sustain and wash
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • May ring too long for fast passages
Paiste PST5 18" Rock Crash '14Rock Crash CymbalSize: 18"From the new series PST5Material: CuSn8 Bronze...
⭐
4.7/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 335972
$142
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 18" Dark Matter Holey Crash
by
Zultan
Heavy Rock
Progressive
Metal
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Perfect for large venue performance
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✗ CONS
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
- • Physically demanding to play effectively
Zultan 18" Dark Matter Holey CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Hand-hammeredB20 BronzePerforated effect crash with...
⭐
4.5/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 474868
$186
#12
⭐
4.4/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Zultan 18" F5 Crash
by
Zultan
Stadium Rock
Heavy Rock
Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Excellent sustain and wash
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✗ CONS
- • Physically demanding to play effectively
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
Zultan 18" F5 CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"F5 SeriesAggressive crash with powerful volume reservesFull sound...
⭐
4.4/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 269750
$186
#13
⭐
4.5/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Zultan 18" Q Crash
by
Zultan
Heavy Rock
Metal
Stadium Rock
Key Feature:
• Impressive visual and sonic impact
✓ PROS
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • May ring too long for fast passages
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
Zultan 18" Q CrashCrash CymbalSize: 18"Q SeriesMade of B20 bronzeDark and ​​deepfull sounding...
⭐
4.5/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 268245
$186
#14
⭐
4.4/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Sabian 18" SBR Crash/Ride
by
Sabian
Heavy Rock
Metal
Large Venues
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Impressive visual and sonic impact
- • Maximum projection and volume
✗ CONS
- • Can be overwhelming in small spaces
- • Expensive investment
Sabian 18" SBR Crash/RideCrash/Ride CymbalSize: 18"ThinMaterial: BrassNaturalLoudpowerful cymbal for...
⭐
4.4/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 319642
$145
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Zildjian 18" S Series Thin Crash
by
Zildjian
Metal
Progressive
Powerful Playing
Key Feature:
• Perfect for large venue performance
✓ PROS
- • Maximum projection and volume
- • Rich, full-bodied crash sound
✗ CONS
- • Expensive investment
- • Requires powerful amplification to balance
Zildjian 18" S Series Thin CrashThin Crash CymbalSize: 18"S SeriesMaterial: B12 bronze alloy (88% copper12%...
⭐
4.5/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 380557
$197
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.
