On November 9, 2026, Thomann had 1,131 acoustic drum kits and shell sets in stock. For 1,077 of them the description lists the bass drum, and that one drum explains most of the configuration names.
| Bass drum | Kits | Median price | Usual names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 inches | 44 | $556 | junior, cocktail |
| 18 inches | 130 | $942 | jazz, bop |
| 20 inches | 290 | $1,337 | fusion, studio |
| 22 inches | 562 | $1,785 | rock, stage, standard |
| 24 inches | 38 | $4,241 | rock, vintage |
The median rises with the size, but mostly because more expensive kits come in 22 inches. Within one series the size barely matters.
Same kit, three sizes
Pearl Roadshow 18", $841
Pearl's Roadshow is a complete kit with stands, a throne and Sabian Solar cymbals, in poplar shells. The 18-inch version pairs an 18 by 12 kick with 10 and 12-inch toms, a 14-inch floor tom and a 13-inch snare: small, punchy and easy to carry. It ranks first of 231 complete kits. #1 of 233 acoustic drumkits.
The 20-inch version keeps the same toms with a 14 by 14 floor tom, a 20 by 16 kick and a 14-inch snare, for the same $847. The 22-inch one steps up to 10 and 12-inch toms, a 16 by 16 floor tom and a 22 by 16 kick, for $814.
What the sizes do
18 inches, jazz and bop. A small, tuned-up bass drum with a short, round note that leaves space for the bass. Usually paired with a 12-inch tom and a 14-inch floor tom. Also good for small rooms and for players who carry their kit on the subway.
20 inches, fusion and studio. A middle size that records easily and works in most styles. Some makers call it Studio, others Fusion; the toms are usually 10, 12 and 14 inches.
22 inches, rock and standard. The most common size: a deeper, louder kick that holds its own on a stage without much help from the PA. Toms are usually 10 or 12 and 16 inches.
24 inches. A big, vintage-style kick for loud rock, with deeper toms. Only 38 kits, at a median of $4,241.
Ludwig Classic Maple Downbeat, $3,987
A small all-maple shell set made in the USA: a 20 by 14 kick, a 12-inch rack tom and a floor tom, with Ludwig's mini Classic lugs. It ranks first of 258 shell sets. #1 of 257 drum shell sets.
Mapex Black Panther Cherry Bomb, $3,322
A jazz configuration in solid cherry with an 18 by 14 kick, from Mapex's top series. The same shells come in a Rock+ configuration with a 22-inch kick for $4,128. It ranks first of 126 premium kits. #1 of 126 premium drum kits.
Shell sets or complete kits
A shell set is only the drums: no stands, no pedals, no cymbals, and often no snare. A complete kit has everything you need to start. 581 of the 1,131 listings are shell sets; if you already own hardware and cymbals, they are the cheaper way to a better-sounding kit.
Where the numbers come from. Every acoustic drum kit, premium kit and shell set Thomann had in stock on November 9, 2026, from its partner feed. Bass drum sizes are read from Thomann's descriptions; 54 listings don't give one. Configuration names are from model names and differ by brand. Places are from our drum kit rankings. Prices are Thomann's US prices.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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