Complete builds
The Kegging and Draft Setup
The upgrade that removes the most tedious two hours of brewing.
Kegging replaces a two hour bottling session with about fifteen minutes of transfer, and it lets you carbonate precisely by setting a regulator rather than by weighing sugar.
A complete kegerator is a refrigerated appliance. A conversion kit is not a kegerator: it is a tower, lines and a regulator for a fridge you already own, which is why it costs a fraction as much.
The complete list below comes to a budget of under $1,500 across 11 items.
Who this build is for: Somebody tired of bottling who has somewhere to put a dedicated refrigerator.
The cold box
A complete kegerator, as opposed to a conversion kit, arrives refrigerated and plumbed.
| Item | Why this one | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| VEVOR Dual Tap Kegerator (full size, D system) VEVOR | Full size dual tap kegerator that pours two beers cold with no conversion work. | Under $1,000 |
| Subtotal | Under $750 |
Kegs
Ball lock corny kegs are what home brewers actually fill.
| Item | Why this one | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| TMCRAFT 5 Gallon Ball Lock Corny Keg TMCRAFT | New stainless ball lock keg with dual handles. | Under $250 |
| MRbrew 5 Gallon Ball Lock Keg MRbrew | A second keg, so one serves while the next conditions. | Under $250 |
| Subtotal | Under $250 |
Gas
The regulator is the part that sets carbonation, and gas hardware is a pressure safety item.
| Item | Why this one | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| SPARC Premium Dual CO2 Regulator SPARC | Two outputs, so two kegs can sit at different pressures from one tank. | Under $100 |
| TMCRAFT 5 lb CO2 Tank (DOT aluminum, CGA-320) TMCRAFT | Five pound DOT aluminium cylinder with a CGA-320 valve. Ships empty and is filled locally. | Under $100 |
| Subtotal | Under $200 |
Pour
Forward sealing faucets do not stick shut between pours the way rear sealing ones can.
| Item | Why this one | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Perlick 630SS Stainless Draft Faucet Perlick | Forward sealing stainless faucet, the long standing default. | Under $100 |
| Ball Lock Beer Line and CO2 Gas Line Kit (5 ft each) Hgkeke | Matched liquid and gas line assemblies, which is what a single keg actually needs. | Under $25 |
| Ferroday 5 ft Ball Lock Beer Line with Picnic Tap Ferroday | A picnic tap set, so you can pour before the tower is plumbed. | Under $25 |
| Subtotal | Under $100 |
Keep it clean
Beer lines build biofilm and beer stone, and a dirty line will ruin good beer.
| Item | Why this one | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Kegco 1 Gallon Pressurized Keg Cleaning Kit Kegco | Hand pump pressurised cleaner that pushes solution through lines and faucets. | Under $100 |
| Five Star PBW Cleanser (4 lb) Five Star | Alkaline wash for kegs between fills. | Under $50 |
| Five Star Star San (32 oz) STAR SAN | No rinse sanitiser for the keg and the posts. | Under $50 |
| Subtotal | Under $150 |
Running total
| Group | Items | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| The cold box | 1 | Under $750 |
| Kegs | 2 | Under $250 |
| Gas | 2 | Under $200 |
| Pour | 3 | Under $100 |
| Keep it clean | 3 | Under $150 |
| Total | 11 | Under $1,500 |
Budget ranges and totals are rounded bands from the catalog, not quotes. Amazon shows the current price on each listing.
Amazon shows the items and asks you to confirm before anything is added. Affiliate link.
What you can skip
Telling you not to buy something is what makes the rest of this list worth trusting. None of the following are needed to finish a batch with this build.
- A conversion kit, IF you are buying a kegerator. They are alternatives, not companions. Buy the kit only when you already own a suitable fridge.
- A nitrogen setup, unless you specifically want to pour stout on nitro. It is a separate gas, a separate regulator and a separate faucet.
- A third and fourth tap at first. Two is plenty until you are consistently keeping two kegs full.
What to upgrade first
Once this build is working, these are the purchases that change the most per dollar.
- A flow control faucet, if you are fighting foam. It lets you correct a pour at the tap instead of re-balancing line length.
- A second CO2 cylinder, so running out mid party is an inconvenience rather than the end of the evening.
Before you brew this
A CO2 cylinder is a high pressure vessel. Secure it upright so it cannot fall and shear the valve, never modify a valve or regulator, and have cylinders inspected and filled by a qualified supplier. Store and use them where a leak cannot accumulate in an enclosed space.
Related on BrewGearCalc
- Best kegerators
- Best CO2 regulators and tanks
- Keg carbonation calculator
- Kegerator vs conversion kit
Frequently asked questions
- What does the the kegging and draft setup cost in total?
- Adding every item on this page comes to a budget of under $1,500 across 11 items. Amazon prices change often, so treat that as a planning band rather than a quote. You can also drop the items listed under what you can skip, which brings the real starting cost down.
- Do I have to buy everything at once?
- No, and most people should not. The items are grouped by function, so you can buy the fermentation and cleaning groups first and borrow or improvise the rest for a batch or two. What you cannot skip is a way to measure gravity and a way to sanitise, because without those you are guessing at both safety and quality.
- What should I upgrade first afterwards?
- A flow control faucet, if you are fighting foam. It lets you correct a pour at the tap instead of re-balancing line length.
Researched from published brewing formulas, manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews. This is general guidance, not professional advice.
