Drumhead Thickness Explained: 3 Pro Tips for Killer Sound

Drumhead thickness might seem like a small detail, but it has a massive impact on your tone, feel, and even how long your heads will last.

When I first started out, I didn’t think twice about ply. I just slapped on whatever was cheapest. But once I began swapping between thin single-ply heads and thick double-ply ones, I realized just how different a drum can sound and respond.

In this guide, you’ll learn how thickness affects sound, rebound, tuning, and durability – plus three pro tips to help you choose the right drumhead for your kit and style.

Breaking Down Drumhead Thickness

When you hear drummers talk about drumhead thickness, they’re really talking about two key things:

1. How many plies (layers) the head has;
2. How thick those plies are—measured in mil, or 1/1000 of an inch;

So if you’re based in the U.S., think of it like this:

10 mil = 0.010 inches thick. It doesn’t sound like much, but in drumhead terms, it’s massive.

Most thin drumheads (like a Remo Ambassador or Evans G1) are single-ply, using one sheet of film around 7–10 mil thick.

Thick drumheads (like the Remo Emperor or Evans UV2) are double-ply, meaning two sheets stacked: often 7 mil + 7 mil, or 10 mil + 10 mil, for a total of up to 20 mil thickness.

This isn’t just about durability – it’s about tone, projection, resonance, and feel.

A thinner head moves more freely, giving you a brighter, more resonant tone. A thicker head has more mass and resistance, which focuses your sound, shortens sustain, and adds control. Its making it perfect for louder styles or live settings.

Everything we discussed covers the thick vs thin drumheads debate and if you are still not sure whether single or double ply heads are better for your playing style, check our full Single Ply vs Double Ply Drumheads Explained guide – it breaks down sound, feel, and head types even further.

Drumhead Thickness Chart (Ply Comparison)

Drumhead thickness is just one part of the tone equation. Material, coating, and even edge tension all play a role. If you want the full breakdown of how to build your ideal drum sound, head over to Drumheads 101: How to Choose Like a Pro.

Pro Tip #1: Use Thin Heads for Feel and Tone

If you’re chasing that open, musical tone, where every ghost note can breathe and your snare actually sing, then thin heads are where it’s at.

These are your classic single-ply drumheads, usually between 7 and 10 mil thick. That’s just 0.007 to 0.010 inches of film, but don’t let that fool you.

The way a thin head vibrates, the way it responds under the stick, it’s a night-and-day difference compared to thicker ones.

I still remember switching from a thick, coated 2-ply head to a Remo Ambassador on my snare for a small jazz trio gig. The sound completely opened up – suddenly I had longer sustain, crisper articulation, and my brushes actually had some breath.

It wasn’t just tone – it was feel. And that’s something no EQ or dampening ring can fake, to be honest.

Not sure if you should go with coated or clear drumheads alongside your ply choice? That’s another big factor in shaping tone. We’ve broken that down too in Coated vs Clear Drumheads: Which Is Better?

Why Thin Drumheads Sound Like That?

• The single ply allows the head to vibrate more freely, giving you a brighter, more resonant tone
• They naturally produce more overtones and longer sustain. That’s why they shine in studio recording, where engineers can shape the sound
• The rebound is fast, the feel is lively, and your dynamic range feels huge

That thin drumhead tone works great in:

• Jazz, where every nuance counts
• Funk or soul, where ghost notes and tight accents matter
• Worship or acoustic sets, where tone blends better than it cuts
• Recording sessions, especially for snares and higher-tuned toms

Smart Tip: If you’ve ever wondered how ply affects drum sound, here’s the simple version: thinner = more air movement = more resonance.

That’s great for subtle playing, but it can get messy fast if you’re hitting hard or playing in a loud room.

Thin Drumheads Tradeoffs

Thin heads are not built for punishment. They wear out quicker, especially on toms and snares.

They can sound too ringy if you’re playing live without some kind of tone control. Some people use Moongels or dampening rings, but think it like this: why have ringy drumheads if that is not what I need?

If you find yourself always reaching for Moongel or rings to tame your kit, you might be better off with something thicker.

Still, I keep a pack of Evans G1s or Remo Ambassadors in my studio at all times. They’re perfect for sessions, low-volume gigs, or anytime I want the drums to breathe a little more.

Pro Tip #2: Choose Thick Heads for Control and Durability

There comes a point when you’re tired of tuning between every song. Or even worse – your toms sound like trash cans halfway through the gig. That’s when you realize: thicker drumheads aren’t just about tone, they’re about survival.

Double-ply drumheads are built with two layers of film: usually 7 mil + 7 mil, or sometimes 10 mil + 10 mil (like in the Evans UV2). That adds up to 14–20 mil total thickness. Think of it like giving your drums a little armor without totally killing the sound.

I’ve gigged with Remo Emperors for years. They’ve saved me from cracked heads during outdoor shows, last-minute mic setups, and even that one time a cymbal stand fell onto my floor tom (yep, it survived).

How Thicker Drumheads Affect Sound

Thicker heads vibrate less freely, which gives you a darker, more focused tone with shorter sustain. You lose a bit of that airy openness, but you gain control and when you’re battling stage noise, that’s golden.

Here’s what you’ll notice right away:

• Punchy attack without all the unwanted ring
• Tighter low-end that works great for toms and bass drums
• Less need for external dampening (like gels or tape)
• Heads stay in tune longer, even under hard playing

This makes them ideal for:

• Rock and punk drummers who hit like they mean it
• Metal players using double kick and low tunings
• Live performance, where projection and mic bleed matter
• Gospel, where that fat, warm tom tone is part of the gig

Honest Recommendation

Let me give you my two cents from the trenches. On my main rock kit, I run Evans EC2S clears on the toms, a Genera HD Dry on the snare, and an Evans EMAD on the kick. And honestly it’s been rock solid for years.

The EC2S clears are double-ply, so they can take a beating night after night. They give me that fat, focused tone without sounding dead.

I don’t even have to use much dampening on them – just tune them right before I play and they sit beautifully in the mix. For toms in a live setting, that thicker drumhead sound helps them cut through guitars without going wild with overtones.

On snare, the Genera HD Dry is a beast. It’s got that built-in control ring and dry vent holes, which give it a punchy, crisp crack without any of that extra ring.

I can lay into it during heavy choruses or back off and still get ghost notes that speak. For rock, pop, and even some funk sets, that short sustain and tight articulation are perfect.

And the EMAD on the kick? I mean, everyone in the industry knows it’s a game-changer. The adjustable foam ring lets me dial in exactly how much thump or boom I want. One minute I’ve got a fat, controlled low-end for a tight rock set and next, I can swap the ring for more resonance if I want to open it up.

This setup gives me the projection I need, durability I rely on, and tone control without reaching for tape, gels, or studio trickery.

It’s a great starting point if you’re building a setup for loud genres, live gigs, or you are a heavy hitter like me.

Pro Tip #3: Mix Ply Thickness for a Custom Sound

Here’s something most drummers don’t realize early on: you don’t have to commit to all thin or all thick heads.

Just because I use double-ply batters across my toms and a thicker snare doesn’t mean that’s the only way. I’ve worked with students, engineers, and other drummers who built totally different combos based on their room, genre, or even just personal feel.

The truth is, ply thickness is one of the easiest things to tweak when dialing in your sound. Want more attack from your snare without changing the shell?

Try swapping your batter from a coated single-ply to a slightly thicker head. Want your floor tom to bloom more in the studio? Go thinner on the reso head and see what happens.

Drumhead Mixing Ideas:

• Studio Jazz Kit: Single-ply on top and bottom across the board. Evans G1 over G1 or Remo Ambassador over Ambassador. Maximum openness and response.
• Worship Setup: Thicker batter on snare (Genera Dry or UV2), but single-ply on toms (like G1 over G1) for more resonance in quiet rooms.
• Metal Setup: Double-ply on tom batters (G2s, Emperors), single-ply or reinforced on the snare (HD Dry, UV1), and a thick, pre-muffled kick head (EMAD or Super-Kick II).
• Pop/Funk Hybrid Kit: 2-ply on floor toms for thud, 1-ply on rack tom for bounce, and medium-ply snare for snap and feel.

What works for me may not work for you and that’s the point. Mixing drumhead thickness across your kit lets you match each drum to your playing style, not just your brand.

Also, please don’t chase someone else’s sound – create your own.

It’s about the job each drum needs to do. A floor tom doesn’t need the same sensitivity as your snare. Your kick doesn’t need to sing, it needs to thump. So build a head setup that works with you, not against you.

Drumhead Thickness Summary

Choosing between thin and thick drumheads isn’t about right or wrong, it’s about what sound you want, how you play, and what you expect from your kit.

👉 Thin, single-ply heads (like Remo Ambassador or Evans G1) give you that open, resonant tone with tons of responsiveness. Perfect for jazz, worship, or studio work.

👉 Thicker, double-ply heads (like Evans G2 or Remo Emperor) focus your sound, add durability, and give you more control. Ideal for rock, metal, and high-volume playing.

👉 Want the best of both worlds? Mix your plies. Thicker heads on toms, thinner on snare reso, a specialty kick head – that’s the move most pros make without even thinking about it.

If you’re still wondering how drumhead thickness affects tone, sustain, or projection, the chart below brings it all together:

Ready to choose the best heads for your genre, budget, and skill level? We tested dozens of options and rounded them up in our Best Drumheads for Every Genre Guide with real-world picks for rock, metal, jazz, funk, and more.