Loading... Please wait...
Light-up sticks and cowbells for the stocking, thrones, pedals and cymbals every kit needs, a quiet-practice cymbal set, and full drum kits for the big surprise, with tips for buying when you don't know their drums.
The short answer
- Stocking stuffers: Firestix light-up drumsticks $17.95, a Stagg rock cowbell $24.95, or a stick bag $35.
- Under $100: a double-braced drum throne $94.95, a bass drum pedal $89.95, or the Premier low-volume cymbal pack $84.99 for quieter practice at home.
- Under $250: a Stagg cajon $148.99, a box drum to play anywhere, or a student snare drum set $155.99.
- The big gift: a Premier Revolution five-piece kit $749.99, with cymbals, hardware, stool and sticks included.
- Don't know their kit? Cymbals, thrones and sticks are the safest gifts. Skip drumheads unless you know the drum sizes.
Drummers are fun to shop for. They wear out sticks and heads, they always want one more cymbal, and many of them practice in apartments where loud is not allowed. This guide is sorted by budget, and every gift on it is in stock and ready to ship.
Gifts at a glance
| Budget | Gift | Why they'll use it | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stocking | Firestix sticks | Vibration lights up the whole stick | $17.95 |
| Stocking | Stagg cowbell | Hand or stand mount | $24.95 |
| Under $100 | Premier low-volume cymbals | Hi-hats, crash and ride for quieter practice | $84.99 |
| Under $100 | Premier Artist throne | Steady seat, height adjusts 18.5" to 23.6" | $93.99 |
| Under $100 | Remo ProPack heads | Fresh heads for three drums, plus a free 14" | $86.99 |
| Under $250 | Stagg cajon | Birch box drum with gig bag | $148.99 |
| Under $250 | Student snare set | Snare, stand, sticks and backpack | $155.99 |
| Big gift | Premier Revolution kit | Complete five-piece kit, ready to play | $749.99 |
Stocking stuffers
Small gifts a drummer will use this week, and a couple that are just fun.
Firestix light-up drumsticks
The Firestix red light-up sticks ($17.95) are made of clear plastic and light up every time they hit a drum or cymbal, because the lights are activated by vibration. They have a long taper and replaceable batteries. Great for a young drummer or a stage show.
Stagg 4½" rock cowbell
A cowbell adds a little spice to rock and Latin grooves. The Stagg 4½" black cowbell ($24.95) is a rock-style bell for a drum set, with a screw, so it can be held in the hand or mounted on a stand.
MBT drumstick bag
The MBT stick bag ($35) is durable black nylon with a zipper, holds multiple pairs of sticks, and has strings to keep them together and an outside zipper pocket for small extras.
For the drummer who is also a music fan
- Roland TR-808 shirt: the drum machine tee ($29.95) shows the full front panel of the 1980 drum machine behind hip-hop, electro, house and techno. It's a Bella + Canvas unisex cotton tee in sizes XS to 3XL.
- Matching mug: the TR-808 coffee mug ($15.95) is white ceramic with a print on both sides, and is microwave and dishwasher safe.
- Printed to order: both are made to order in a US print facility, so allow a few extra days before they ship.
Gifts under $100: the stuff every kit needs
Premier low-volume cymbal pack
The Premier PLVC-3PC ($84.99) is a low-volume cymbal pack that covers the three main cymbal positions on a standard kit: 14" hi-hats, a 16" crash and a 20" ride. Low-volume cymbals are made to be quieter than normal cymbals, which helps a drummer who practices at home.
Why drummers like it
- A matched set in one pack
- Made for practice at home
Good to know
- The three cymbals fit a standard five-piece setup
Drum thrones
A throne is the stool a drummer sits on, and a good one makes every practice session better. The Premier PAHW-THR Artist throne ($93.99) has an 11" round seat and double-braced legs, and its easy screw rotation adjusts the height from 18.5" to 23.6". The Stagg double-braced throne ($94.95) has a 12.6" round seat covered in black vinyl, five height steps from 19.7" to 24.8", and an anti-sinking lock-screw.
Bass drum pedals
Every drummer needs a good pedal, and two single pedals are in stock. The Stagg 52 Series pedal ($89.95) has a double chain drive, a 4-way beater, adjustable beater angle and spring tension, and two anchor spikes that hold it in place. It comes with a tuning key. The Premier Artist single pedal ($89.99) also has a double chain drive, plus a reversible beater with felt on one side and plastic on the other, and an adjustable beater angle.
Remo ProPack drumheads
New heads make a drum kit sound brand new. The Remo ProPack ($86.99) includes Ambassador Coated heads in 12", 13" and 16", plus a free 14" head. It's a great gift if you know the drum sizes. If you don't, see the buying tips below.
Cymbals and cymbal gear
- A crash: the Stagg 16" EX Brilliant Medium Crash ($99.95) is B8 bronze for a bright, shimmering sound. The Stagg 14" SH thin crash ($89.95) is B20 bronze, with a quick response for subtle accents or big crashes.
- A cymbal bag: the Stagg dual compartment bag ($89) has one pocket for cymbals up to 22" and a side pocket for cymbals up to 14", with a double handle and shoulder strap.
- A hi-hat stand: the Stagg 52 Series stand ($99.95) has double-braced legs, a chrome finish and adjustable pedal tension.
Gifts under $250: percussion and practice
Stagg cajons
A cajon is a box drum you sit on and play with your hands. It gives low punch from the middle and a snare-like slap from the top, and it's a great gift for a drummer who wants something to play without a full kit. The Stagg standard cajon ($148.99) is made of birch plywood with a natural front board, anti-skid rubber feet, a tuning key and a padded gig bag. Also in black, red and sunburst.
Looking for something different? The Crate Cajon ($191.99) has a vintage crate design, the Bongo Cajon ($191.99) adds high and low bongo-like playing surfaces on the sides, and the Cannon Cajon ($191.99) has a subwoofer-like cabinet for extra low punch.
Stagg student snare drum set
The Stagg snare drum set ($155.99) includes a 14 x 5.5" steel snare drum with a coated head, a concert-height snare stand, a pair of sticks and a backpack-style bag. The snare has an internal tone control and 8 pairs of lugs. It's a good first gift for a student and easy to carry to lessons.
The big gifts
Laney DrumHub DH40 drum monitor
An electronic kit needs a speaker, and the Laney DrumHub DH40 ($299.99) is made for the job. It has 40 watts through an 8" woofer and a 2" tweeter, two inputs with their own volume controls, a two-band EQ, an aux input to play along with songs from a phone, and a headphone output. The power supply is included.
Premier Revolution five-piece drum kits
The Premier PR22-5DKBKW ($749.99) is a five-piece kit with a 22" x 16" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, a 16" x 14" floor tom and a matching wooden 14" x 5" snare. It has 7.5mm 6-ply shells, chrome hardware, double-braced stands, and it arrives with cymbals, a stool and sticks. The smaller PR20-5DKBKW ($729.99) has a 20" x 16" bass drum and a 14" x 12" floor tom. The 22" kit also comes in white and red sparkle.
Why drummers like it
- Everything is included to start playing
- Roklok style tom holder with memory locks
- Room to grow with two expansion packs
Good to know
- The expansion packs are sold separately
- An acoustic kit is loud, so plan where it will live
For kids and beginners
Young players learn rhythm best on instruments made for them. Our musical gifts for kids guide has more ideas. For drummers, three stand out:
Remo 5-piece Rainforest hand drum set
The Remo Kids Rainforest set ($154.99) has five hand drums, 6", 8", 10", 12" and 14", in a colorful fabric finish. Kids play them with their hands, which is a gentle start.
- A kid's cajon: the Stagg EasyGo Kid's Cajon ($114.99) has a backrest, a red front board and a toy safety certification for ages 5 and up.
- A percussion kit: the Stagg Children's Percussion Kit ($90.99) packs a tambourine, triangle, castanets, maracas, egg shakers, sleigh bells and more into a sealable clear box.
- A real start: the student snare set above teaches the basics every drummer needs.
Buying for a drummer when you don't know their kit
- Cymbals are safe. Most drummers always want another crash, and a 16" crash like the Stagg EX fits almost any setup.
- So are thrones, sticks and bags. A throne, a stick bag or a cymbal bag works with any kit.
- Check head sizes before buying drumheads. Heads are sold by diameter in inches, and a 12" head will not fit a 13" drum. Ask them, or count the inches on the drum, before you buy.
- Quiet practice at home. If they live in an apartment, the low-volume cymbal pack or a DH40 drum monitor for an electronic kit is a thoughtful pick.
- Pedals are personal. Most drummers like a pedal they've already tried, so save a new pedal for someone who asks.
Frequently asked questions
- What are good gifts for drummers?
- Light-up drumsticks, a stick bag, a cowbell, a new drum throne, a bass drum pedal, or cymbals. For a bigger gift, a cajon or a complete drum kit.
- What do you get a drummer for Christmas who has everything?
- Another cymbal, a cymbal bag, a quality throne, or a cajon to play when the full kit is not around. Fun gifts like the Roland TR-808 shirt and mug also go over well.
- What is a good Christmas gift for a beginner drummer?
- A student snare set with stand and sticks, or a complete five-piece kit such as the Premier Revolution, which comes with cymbals, hardware, a stool and sticks.
- What is the best drum set for beginners?
- A complete kit that includes hardware, cymbals, a stool and sticks, so the new drummer can start right away. The Premier Revolution five-piece kits come that way.
- What is a good kids drum set?
- The Remo Kids Rainforest set has five hand drums in different sizes. The Stagg EasyGo Kid's Cajon is another way to start, with a backrest and toy safety certification for ages 5 and up.
- How can a drummer practice quietly at home?
- Low-volume cymbals, such as the Premier PLVC-3PC pack, make practice quieter. Electronic drummers can plug headphones into the Laney DrumHub DH40 or play along with songs from a phone.