The Best Budget PC Case: 10 Top-Notch Choices

If you’re building a PC, you might look for the best budget PC case.

If you’re planning on buying all of the best components at full price, it can be costly! Enough RAM and a GPU powerful enough to run the newest games can cost you a pretty penny. On top of all that, you need to get a CPU and motherboard that can handle them.

So it stands to reason that you might cut costs when it comes to the PC case. And you should! Not only is a case a fairly low-tech part of your PC, but there are also plenty of options that offer high-end features for less than $200.

So look no further for the best budget PC case, because we’ve picked 10 for you to choose from.

Picking the Best Budget PC Case

Making sure you get the best budget PC case is crucial to building the best computer. It needs the space for all your core components, plus it should open up easily and let you tinker around. And, you need to be able to upgrade it if you decide to do that.

Of course, the best budget PC case also has to come in inside of your price range. If you’re spending all of your money on other components, it can feel like buying a budget case is skimping out. Fortunately, there are a lot of low-cost cases that protect your hardware admirably.

To help you find the right one, we’ll break down what goes into a good case. We’ll also share why each of our top picks should earn your consideration.

What goes into a PC case?

When you’re looking for the best budget PC case, it helps to know what to look for. The things that contribute to a reliable low-cost case are the same things that go into a high-cost one, at least at their core. Sure, they’ll have fewer extras or fancy add-ons, but they still need the same basic pieces.

One of the first things you should think about is the size of the tower. Full-tower PC cases are pretty massive. They have the space to be upgraded with things like multiple graphics cards, water cooling systems, and extended ATX motherboards. These are the kinds of cases you’ll be looking for if you want a full gaming rig that can tackle any game on the market.

On the other hand, you could opt for a mid-tower. A mid-tower is a more manageable size if you have a small workspace. It might be able to hold fewer components inside than a full tower. But, if you don’t plan on pushing your computer to the edge of its capabilities, a mid-tower will probably suit you well.

Another vital factor to look at is the outer look of your case. It may seem extra, but a coherent theme across your computer, monitor, and peripherals is a crucial part for many PC gamers. Find a PC case that matches the rest of your computer if you want to go the extra mile.

Finally, know what you want from a PC as it pertains to hardware hookups. Some cases don’t have a slot for a disk drive. Others will have dedicated spaces for hard drives, or won’t require you to use tools to make changes. A lot of these are aesthetic or eas-based, like tempered-glass panels, so opting out of them won’t affect your performance.

How We Narrowed Down the Choices

When buying the best budget PC case, you may want to pick the first one you see that fits your needs. But since you’re here, that means that’s not good enough for you. To make sure we’re giving you the actual best budget PC case, we’ve gone to both expert and amateur reviews.

Experts from places such as Tom’s Hardware and Tech Radar are deeply experienced with PC cases of all varieties. There are two main benefits of going to sites like these. One is that they hold years of expertise, and know that a case that’s less than $50 can often do the job of one 10 times its price. They also have the resources to try out multiple cases.

On the other hand, we also looked at Amazon to us help narrow down our choices. Amazon customers can’t be ruled out just because they may not have the experience of more professional sites. They use these cases for years, sometimes, which reviewers can’t claim. Also, they give you the views of dozens to hundreds of customers, if not more.

To make sure you’re getting the best options out there, every case we recommend has at least 4.0 stars out of 5 on Amazon.

When we combine these factors, we can make sure that we truly give you the best budget PC case.

Our Top 10 Best Budget PC Cases

We’ve listed our choices for the best budget PC case here for you to consider. We’ve included them in alphabetical order.

1. AeroCool Cylon RGB Mid Tower

One of the lowest cost PCs on our list also includes some attractive aesthetic qualities. The AeroCool Cylon RGB Mid Tower has a full acrylic side window to let you see your components. It also has an LED strip across the front that you can program to fit your color scheme. It accommodates water cooling as well.

On Amazon, the AeroCool Cylon RGB Mid Tower PC case earned a total of 4.0 stars out of 5 from 104 customer reviews. It also received the Amazon’s Choice Award.

Pros

  • Acrylic window and water cooling capabilities
  • Programmable RGB for a low price

Cons

  • The rest of the case is cheaply made

2. Cooler Master MasterBox Pro 5 RGB ATX Mid-Tower

Much like the AeroCool, the Cooler Master MasterBox Pro 5 RGB ATX Mid-Tower has a lot of aesthetic bonuses for under $100.

However, with a tempered glass side rather than an acrylic one, it’s a bit higher quality. There’s a lot of flexibility inside the case, such as the ability to put SSDs wherever you need them. You can also place up to four fans and use water cooling.

Over 800 Amazon customers reviewed this PC case, giving it 4.1 stars out of 5.

Pros

  • Easy cable management
  • Plenty of interior room for component placement

Cons

  • Not enough airflow for higher-level PCs

3. CORSAIR Graphite 780T Full-Tower Case

CORSAIR is one of the flagship brands for quality computer PCs. Just because the Graphite 780T Full-Tower Case comes in at a reasonable price point doesn’t mean that’s any less true.

For one, it’s easy to get into your computer with latched side panels. There are six hard-drive cases and three SSD bays, so you have plenty of options and space for data storage.

On Amazon, this computer case earned 4.5 stars out of 5 from over 450 customer reviews. You can also find the Graphite 780T on the CORSAIR website.

Pros

  • Compatible with all available sizes of motherboard
  • Can last you from your first PC through many upgrades

Cons

  • May be too large for your computer space

4. CORSAIR Obsidian 750D Full-Tower Case

Like the CORSAIR Graphite 780T, the CORSAIR Obsidian 750D Full Tower is one of the larger and more expensive cases that we recommend. Still, it has a high number of features that make it a good budget option.

This oversized case has slots for motherboards and PCI-E extensions. Plus, it has four tool-free SSD slots and two cages that can hold up to three hard drives each. You definitely won’t run out of storage space with this.

This PC case earned 4.3 stars out of 5 from over 1,000 Amazon customer reviews. You can also find it on the CORSAIR site.

Pros

  • Massive case with plenty of storage and airflow
  • Sophisticated exterior fits many setups

Cons

  • Case does not come with fans included

5. darkFlash Phantom Black ATX Mid-Tower

The darkFlash Phantom Black ATX Mid-Tower may not have the name recognition of the CORSAIR towers above, but it does have a lot of style! Six pre-installed fans that have programmable RGB lights keep your components cool in more ways than one.

This one isn’t the largest case, either, but the tempered glass construction lets you enjoy the lights inside and easily see your components without opening the case.

More than 250 customers reviewed this case on Amazon, giving it 4.2 stars out of 5.

Pros

  • Plenty of interior space to place parts
  • Helpful customer service

Cons

  • RGB fans may not work out of the box

6. Fractal Design FD-CA-Focus-WT-W ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

This case is predominantly white, which creates a clean look. It also has a large side window and two included fans, which is more than its sub-$100 price tag might suggest.

Filtered air intakes keep your interior free of dust, and there’s plenty of room for coolers and radiators to keep everything running at a low temperature.

The Fractal Design FD-CA-Focus-WT-W ATX Mid Tower Computer Case earned 4.4 stars out of 5 from 240 customers on Amazon.

Pros

  • Clean look even with lit fans
  • Plenty of room for airflow and cables inside

Cons

  • Removable panel has tabs that break easily

7. NZXT H700i

NZXT makes high-quality cases and is one of the favorites of Tom’s Hardware. The H700i is no different. This PC case is entirely steel, with tempered glass windows for extra durability.

You can remotely control the RGB lights and fans within, changing the settings on the fly. A new cable management system and noise reduction both help make this a user-friendly PC case. This sleek and stylish case will look good on any desk, especially with four color options.

On Amazon, the NZXT 5700i earned 4.5 stars out of 5 from over 1,200 customers. You can also buy this from the NZXT website.

Pros

  • Clean and stylish case for any user setup
  • Cable management surpasses nearly all others

Cons

  • Components still may compete for space

8. Rosewill Cullinan V500 RGB

If you previously checked out the darkFlash Phantom Black, you may think this case is giving you deja vu. However, Rosewill’s Cullinan V500 RGB Mid Tower is certainly its own beast. Rosewill is a long-trusted name in computer components.

The four RGB fans come pre-installed with a remote to switch through different colors quickly. While this is just a mid-tower in size, it does have the space to fit an E-ATX motherboard. An all-tempered-glass build means you’ll be able to see everything under the hood.

This PC case earned 4.4 stars out of 5 from over 500 customers on Amazon. You can also find it at the Rosewill website. 

Pros

  • Plenty of space for cooling and components
  • Sturdy and durable construction

Cons

  • Difficult to set up even with manual

9. Rosewill TYRFING Black ATX Mid Tower

The goal of the Rosewill TYRFING Black ATX Mid Tower is to give you room for advanced water-cooling within a standard mid-tower case. This sharp-looking case may have the smallest window of any that we recommend, but don’t hold that against it.

At the lowest cost of any PC case here, the TYRFING still offers much that the others do. It has two pre-installed fans and room for five total. Plus, there is easy USB port access on the top of the case.

This case earned 4.1 stars out of 5 from 690 Amazon customers, as well as an Amazon’s Choice Award. It is also available at the Rosewill website.

Pros

  • High-quality construction at a rock-bottom price
  • Can fit large components such as GPUs and fans

Cons

  • Difficult to remove the front panel without damaging cables

10. Thermaltake V200 Tempered Glass RGB Edition

The Thermaltake V200 Tempered Glass RGB Edition has two aesthetic features that have been on nearly every case we’ve recommended: a window and programmable lights. These lights are attached to three pre-installed fans for better airflow and style.

On Amazon, this PC case earned 4.3 stars out of 5 from over 1,200 customers. It is also on the Thermaltake website.

Pros

  • Room for multiple SSDs and large motherboard
  • Very quiet, even with all fans running

Cons

  • Properly mounting hard drives is difficult

Which Budget PC Case Should You Get?

The best budget PC case for your rig is all dependent on what computer you want and, of course, your budget.

The CORSAIR Graphite 780T may not be a budget option for everyone, and in fact, might be a reach for some. Its full-tower size means you have more than enough room. Even though the price is one of the highest out of all that we recommend, it is still relatively low. It could be a long-term investment with relatively low risk.

If you want something cheap that will still do the job well, the Rosewill TYRFING is both inexpensive and durable. It will fit any budget, without a doubt, and still fit basic gaming setups.

The best budget PC case is the one you like best and fits your needs. Any of the 10 we recommend here would be a reliable choice beneath your desk.

What’s your choice for the best budget PC case? What will you use your home-built PC for? Let us know in the comments!

Jonathan Moyer

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