Picking a new case for a new gaming PC build or a system overhaul is an exciting time. Although features and specifications are no doubt important, it’s the one component in your system that you can focus more on aesthetics than anything else. It’s got to look the part!
That said, you need to make sure it can handle all your hardware. If you have a powerful graphics card or a high-end watercooling system, an average mid-tower case may not be able to fit it. The best mid-towers are spacious and offer impressive premium design features, which can take a great-looking case and make it a truly iconic staple of your PC setup.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Mid-Tower PC Cases:
These mid-tower cases support almost any motherboard design and still leave plenty of space for extra cooling fans, big radiators, or even touchscreen tablets. Whatever your sense of style or particular needs, there’s a mid-tower case out there for you.
1. Lian Li LanCool 217
Best Mid-Tower PC Case
I love a wood-finished case. I use a Fractal North myself, which you’ll find below, but a more modern take on the classic wood-finished chassis is the Lian Li LanCool 217. Borrowing design elements from the 216 and 207, Lian Li’s latest design combines a quality finish with impressive out-of-the-box cooling for a case that offers impressive value.
Available in black or white with a light wood accent, the Lancool 217 comes with a built-in RGB and fan controller, making it easy to manage the look and cooling performance of your system. There are five fans installed as stock too, so you don’t need to budget extra for additional system fans. That said, if you have your own or want a specific brand or size of fan, the toolless mounting system on the front panel makes swapping out alternatives much easier than most comparable cases.
It supports any size of motherboard despite being no bigger than the average mid-tower design, and it even has cutouts for back-connect motherboards in case you really want to tuck away all your cables and wires. The front I/O panel is on the base of the case, suggesting Lian Li expects you to put this one on your desk (and why wouldn’t you, it looks great!), but if you put it on the floor instead, that may make some of the buttons and connectors a little trickier to reach.
2. Fractal Design Focus 2
Best Budget Mid-Tower PC Case
The Fractal Design Focus 2 is a great buy if you want a sleek and capable mid-tower case that lets you focus your build budget elsewhere. It's out-of-the-box cooling is decent and can be expanded heavily with lots of room for big radiators and extensive collections of cooling fans to keep the air moving through your system.
For a mid-tower case, it has a lot of room inside, making maintenance and building out a new system that bit easier – especially if you have larger hands. That room extends to graphics cards and CPU cooler clearance, so whatever hardware you have shouldn’t have any trouble fitting in this PC (though as with all case upgrades, make sure to double check before buying).
There isn’t a PSU shroud on this case, which is increasingly uncommon in modern chassis, even at the budget end of the price spectrum. But the glass side panel has a modesty panel that lets you hide some cables and components should you want to present a more streamlined-looking system. There are some reports that the plastic hard drive mounts are a bit flimsy, too, so consider upgrading those or using with care if you decide to pick up this case.
3. NZXT H7 Flow
Best Mid-Tower PC Case for Airflow
The NZXT H7 Flow really lives up to its name with some of the most impressive airflow of any mid-tower chassis. It comes with three 120mm fans, but there’s space for as many as 10 of them, with the unique vertical PSU mounting system opening up the base of the case for three intake fans right where the air should be at its coolest.
Along with all those fan mounts are expansive watercooling radiator mounts, supporting up to a 420mm radiator at the front for cooling even the most demanding of CPUs and graphics cards. It also supports just about every motherboard type, so whether you’re building out a compact M-ATX design or want to fit a huge E-ATX mobo in there, this case should have the space for them (and then some).
The mesh panels encourage strong airflow, augmenting the impressive cooling potential of this case. They do lack traditional dust filters though, so while the case itself will filter some dust, you may end up having to clean this one more often than you would with other cases. Getting in there should be nice and easy, though: The top and side panels are all built with toolless removal mechanisms.
4. Fractal Design North
Best Looking Mid-Tower PC Case
I might be a bit biased as this is the case I’ve used on my main system for years, but I know a good case when I see and feel one, and the Fractal Design North is it. It’s getting a little older, and some of the more modern mid-tower designs have a little more room inside, but I still challenge you to find a mid-tower case that looks as classy as this that still offers an excellent selection of premium features.
You get the choice of glass or mesh side panels, giving your internals a better look or slightly better airflow, depending on your preferences. Even with the mesh, there’s a capable front dust filter on this case, helping to avoid too much dust build up inside, and you can mount lots of fans or radiators at the front and top. There’s also an included bracket to mount a couple of 140mm fans on the side panel blowing directly onto the GPU should you need some additional intake cooling.
There’s not much in the way of soundproofing on this case, so you’ll want to configure your fans and their curves to be as quiet as possible if that’s something you value. That’s easy with the built-in fan controller, though, which is effective at helping to manage your fan speeds for a capable and quiet system. It’s available in white or black and XL sizes if you need a little more room and don’t mind the added footprint.
5. Hyte Y70 Touch Infinite
Best Premium Mid-Tower PC Case
Wraparound glass cases were the hottest new designs for a minute, and the pinnacle of this style is arguably the Hyte Y70 Touch Infinite. The glass on the front and side panels provide a fantastic look at your components and the built-in touchscreen adds some unique interactions and aesthetics. It’s also available in a range of color options, and the included PCIe 4 riser cable makes it easy to vertically mount your GPU to make it more of a centerpiece.
Deliberately designed to provide improved clearance between the GPU and the side panel, the Y70 offers much better thermals than its predecessors. There’s also space for up to 10 fans and dual 360mm radiators. That’s enough to build out a huge custom watercooling loop, or mount a couple of AIOs for easier watercooling. Whatever configuration you opt for, the expansive interior of this case gives you lots of room to maneuver.
The price on this is much higher than the alternative mid-tower cases in this roundup, but it does come with a 2.5k tablet built into it. You can also buy this case without the touchpad and still get most of the benefits for around half the price. Consider that option if you love the general look of this case but could do without the display.
6: Be Quiet! Shadow Base 800 FX
Best Silent Mid-Tower PC Case
I’m cheating a bit with this one, as Be Quiet! describes this as a “Midi-Tower,” so it’s a little larger than the other options on this list. However, that added interior space means this is a mid-tower that can handle anything you want to install in it: the biggest graphics cards, the largest radiators and CPU coolers, the grandest of motherboards. You might actually struggle to fill the space inside this case it’s so roomy.
The one area where you don’t get a lot of native space and support is 3.5-inch drives. Although this case supports one as standard, you’ll need to buy additional hard drive cages if you want to install more, which adds to the already higher-than-average price for this case. It’s worth it for what you get, but if you’re wanting a big array of storage drives, there may be other cases better suited to the job.
This case is a great all-round mid-tower chassis, but it is also one of the quietest out there. Alongside its low-noise fans, it also comes fitted with side panel insulation mats to further drown out fan noise and coil whine. Fans, the PSU, and hard drive mount, are all fitted with anti-vibration couplings, further reducing noise levels for a more serene gaming experience.
How to Pick the Best Mid-Tower PC Case
Fortunately, picking a case is much more about personal preferences than other system components. Where graphics cards have a raw capability you can’t ignore, with cases you can opt for something a bit more niche if it also suits your needs.
That said, you have your pick of the litter with mid-tower cases as they support most motherboards, graphics cards, and coolers, so no matter what hardware you’re putting inside it, any of our picks for mid-tower chassis should be able to handle it.
Make sure that is the case regardless of the case you go with. Some really long graphics cards may have clearance issues in the more compact mid-tower designs. Check it has the front-panel connectors you need. Think about placement too. If you’re putting the system on the floor, you probably want the I/O on the top, not the bottom.
Consider cooling, too. While your GPU and CPU coolers will have the most impact on system temperatures, strong system cooling fans that retain quiet noise levels can make a real difference when your system is working hard.
Mostly, though, just make sure you’re happy with how it looks. You’re the one who’s going to be looking at it day in, day out for years to come. Get a case that’s uniquely built to your tastes and you’ll almost certainly be happy with the outcome.
Mid Tower PC Case FAQ
What makes mid-tower PC cases good?
Mid-tower options are the perfect middle ground when building a PC. These cases are more compact than a full-size tower, making them ideal for those tight on desk space. Even with those smaller dimensions, there’s still plenty of room for high-clearance graphics cards, full-sized ATX motherboards, multiple drive bays for storage, and other high-end components. It’s even possible to squeeze in some beefy power supply units. Most of these cases also have easy-to-remove panels, making upgrades and expansion simple.
With all that hardware, cooling is essential, and mid-tower cases get it right. You’ll find multiple mounts for top PC fans at the front and back – and sometimes top and bottom – with some even including a few fans with purchase. Those fans, along with ample cable management solutions, a spacious interior, and ventilated panels, ensure plenty of airflow in the case. There are also usually opportunities for more advanced cooling solutions, like radiators. These are features that are harder to find in the best mini-ITX cases.
What’s the difference between a mid-tower and a full-tower case?
Full-tower PC cases tend to be larger in size compared to a mid-tower case. However, mid-tower cases are generally more popular, as they are more affordable while still allowing most components to fit comfortably without requiring extra space or hindering airflow. In fact, mid-tower options make great PC cases for gaming.
If you need additional room, a full tower PC case can offer support for all motherboards and extra PCIe expansion slots, drive bays, etc., for more storage, extra-long GPUs, and capture cards. But be prepared for higher costs and a larger footprint, so we wouldn’t recommend them to anyone tight on space.
Still, it’s really up to you to decide what type of case works best for your needs. But ultimately, as long as your components fit into the case you choose, this is the main priority. Most gamers and streamers will get by fine with a mid-tower case. Some may even get away with a mini-ITX case. But if you're an overclocker or modder, full-tower may be the way to go, allowing space for multiple GPUs, custom watercooling loops, and massive motherboards.
How many fans do I need in my mid-tower case?
The number of fans needed in your case really depends on what you’re doing with your PC and the components inside. The good news is that most mid-tower PC cases come with pre-installed fans, along with additional mounts to add even more fans for better airflow.
The bare minimum should be one intake fan and one exhaust. The ideal placement for intake fans is at the bottom and front panel of your case, where it’s easier to pull cool air into the case. At the back or top of the case should be exhaust fans to expel the hot air. The pressure created by these fans should also be considered, with most builders opting for slightly positive pressure to help reduce dust and improve longevity.
For hotter gaming or editing setups with lots of powerful components, it’s a good idea to have more fans. Most will get by fine with about five, but be careful with adding too many fans. At some point, the actual cooling returns diminsh and the fans will basically only be adding additional noise.
Can mid-tower PC cases support E-ATX motherboards?
Yes, a select few mid-tower PC cases fit E-ATX motherboards, including many of the cases in this guide, like the Lian Li LanCool 217 and Hyte Y70 Touch Infinite. However, there is a catch, as oftentimes cable routing holes get covered and the case will feel much more cramped. That could be a detriment to airflow, leading to components overheating. Generally, if you’ve got the space in your home, it’s a good idea to grab a full-tower PC case for when using an E-ATX motherboard in your build.
