The full tower shortlist
The best full tower PC case in the UK: Phanteks NV7 at £159.95, Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL, Fractal North XL and NV9 MKII, plus which builds need one.
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At a glance
The best full tower PC case in the UK is the Phanteks NV7 D-RGB at £159.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Phanteks lists 450 mm of graphics card clearance, 185 mm for CPU coolers, E-ATX boards up to 277 mm wide and three 360 mm radiator positions behind glass front and side panels. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL at £195.95 is the pick for custom water cooling, with three 420 mm radiator positions.
Most builds do not need a full tower. A single RTX 5090 and a 360 mm AIO fit a £89.99 mid tower, as Best mid tower PC case UK 2026 shows. A full tower earns its size with three radiators, a 420 mm or 480 mm radiator, a cooler over 185 mm or a wall of drives. The full shortlist across every size is in Best PC case UK 2026.
What is the best full tower PC case in 2026?
The best full tower PC case in 2026 is the Phanteks NV7 D-RGB, because it gives the most radiator and graphics card room per pound: three 360 mm positions and 450 mm of GPU length for £159.95. Compare Electronic ranked five full towers on four manufacturer figures:
- Radiators: how many, and whether 420 mm or 480 mm units fit.
- Clearance: GPU length, cooler height and power supply length.
- Fans: three of the five ship with none, so the cost with fans counts.
- Size: volume and weight, from 57.6 litres and 9.5 kg to 99 litres and 21 kg.
Size classes and board standards are explained in PC case sizes explained.
1. Phanteks NV7 D-RGB - best full tower PC case overall
Phanteks NV7 D-RGB specifications
- Dimensions: 253 x 532 x 586 mm (W x D x H), about 78.9 litres, 16.9 kg (Phanteks)
- Motherboards: E-ATX (up to 277 mm wide), ATX, micro ATX, mini ITX
- GPU clearance: 450 mm; CPU cooler: 185 mm; vertical GPU: 3 slots (riser sold separately)
- Radiators: 360 mm top, side and bottom; 120 mm rear
- Fan mounts: 12 x 120 mm (3 top, 4 side, 2 rear, 3 bottom); no fans included
- Front I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB-C Gen 2, audio combo, D-RGB buttons
- Power supply: ATX up to 255 mm
The Phanteks NV7 D-RGB costs £159.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). The front and side are glass, with the motherboard on show and D-RGB strips run from a built-in controller. With no front fan mounts, air enters through four side and three bottom positions, and Phanteks backs the case with a 5-year limited warranty.
The NV7 takes a 360 mm radiator on the top, side and bottom, a 450 mm graphics card and a 185 mm air cooler, and its 255 mm power supply limit is the second longest here. It ships without fans: adding a £42.80 ARCTIC P12 PWM PST five-pack brings the total to £202.75. The NV7 weighs 16.9 kg empty, more than double the 7.55 kg Phanteks XT Pro Ultra mid tower.
Phanteks NV7 D-RGB - pros and cons
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2. Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL - best for custom water cooling
Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL specifications
- Dimensions: 522 x 304 x 531.9 mm (D x W x H), about 84.4 litres
- Motherboards: E-ATX (under 280 mm), ATX, micro ATX, mini ITX
- GPU clearance: 460 mm; CPU cooler: 167 mm
- Radiators: 420, 360, 280 or 240 mm on the top, side and bottom
- Fan mounts: 3 top, 3 side, 3 bottom (120 or 140 mm), 2 x 120 mm rear
- Front I/O: 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB-C, audio, LED colour and mode buttons
- Storage: 3 x 2.5-inch behind the tray, 4 x 3.5 or 2.5-inch in the cage
The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL costs £195.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Lian Li lists three 420 mm radiator positions, on the top, side and bottom, matched here only by the Phanteks NV9 MKII at £29.04 more, plus 460 mm of graphics card clearance, the most after the NV9 MKII. The dual-chamber layout puts the power supply and drives behind the motherboard tray.
The chassis is reversible, so the glass can face left or right, and the top and side panels are fine aluminium mesh. Its five front USB ports, four USB 3.0 and one USB-C, are matched only by the Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB. The weak points are a 167 mm cooler limit, the lowest here, and no fans in the box: three 420 mm radiators take nine 140 mm fans. Glass showcase builds often add sleeved cables; see Best sleeved PSU cables UK 2026.
Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL - pros and cons
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3. Fractal Design North XL - best for airflow and looks
Fractal Design North XL (Charcoal Black TG) specifications
- Dimensions: 503 x 240 x 509 mm, 57.62 litres, 9.5 kg (Fractal Design)
- Motherboards: E-ATX, ATX, micro ATX, mini ITX; no reverse-connector support
- GPU clearance: 413 mm; CPU cooler: 185 mm
- Radiators: front up to 420 mm, top up to 360 mm, rear 120 or 140 mm
- Fans included: 3 x Aspect 14 PWM (front); top takes 2 x 180 mm
- Front I/O: 2 x USB-A 5 Gbps, 1 x USB-C 20 Gbps, audio and mic jacks
- Power supply: ATX up to 290 mm
The Fractal Design North XL costs £148.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026), the cheapest case here and the only one under £200 with fans fitted. Three Aspect 14 PWM fans sit behind the walnut slat front, where Fractal lists room for a 420 mm radiator, and the roof takes three 120 mm or two 180 mm fans. Each included fan works out at £49.66.
Fractal lists 413 mm for graphics cards, 185 mm for air coolers and a 290 mm power supply limit, the longest here. The North XL is a full tower by board support rather than bulk: at 57.62 litres it matches the 57.7-litre Lian Li Lancool 217 mid tower and weighs 9.5 kg. It suits buyers who want E-ATX and a 420 mm radiator without a 79-litre box.
Fractal Design North XL - pros and cons
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4. Phanteks NV9 MKII - best showcase full tower
Phanteks NV9 MKII specifications
- Dimensions: 575 x 280 x 615 mm, about 99 litres, 19.52 kg (Phanteks)
- Motherboards: E-ATX (up to 280 mm wide), ATX, micro ATX, mini ITX
- GPU clearance: 490 mm long, 205 mm wide; CPU cooler: 205 mm
- Radiators: side 480 mm, top and bottom 420 mm, rear 280 mm
- Fan mounts: 12 x 120 mm or 11 x 140 mm; no fans included
- Front I/O: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2, audio combo, D-RGB buttons
- Power supply: up to 210 mm
The Phanteks NV9 MKII costs £224.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). It is the largest case here at about 99 litres and 615 mm tall, with near-seamless glass and integrated D-RGB lighting around the motherboard. Phanteks claims room for triple 420 mm plus 280 mm radiators at once, and the side takes a 480 mm unit.
The NV9 MKII has the most clearance of the five: 490 mm for graphics cards and 205 mm for air coolers. Phanteks designs the bottom as a dedicated graphics card intake with 65 mm of floor clearance. Two limits stand out: power supplies must be 210 mm or shorter, the tightest here, and no fans come in the box. Adding a £42.80 ARCTIC P12 PWM PST five-pack makes £267.79.
Phanteks NV9 MKII - pros and cons
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5. Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB - best premium full tower
Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB specifications
- Dimensions: 550 x 248 x 600 mm (L x W x H), over 80 litres, 21 kg (Corsair)
- Motherboards: E-ATX (305 x 277 mm), ATX, micro ATX, mini ITX
- GPU clearance: 450 mm; CPU cooler: 190 mm; three-slot vertical GPU mount
- Radiators: three 360 mm at once, two 420 mm, or a 480 mm on the side
- Fans included: 4 x SP140 RGB ELITE; mounts for 12 x 120 mm or 7 x 140 mm
- Front I/O: 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, audio
- Drive bays: 6 x 3.5-inch, 3 x 2.5-inch; power supply up to 225 mm
The Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB costs £219.98 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026) in white, with four SP140 RGB ELITE fans, £55.00 per fan. Three 4 mm tempered-glass panels show the build, and the case has a three-slot vertical GPU mount. Corsair says the 7000 series is 40% to 60% larger than a standard mid tower.
Corsair lists three 360 mm radiators at once, two 420 mm units or a 480 mm side radiator, plus 450 mm for graphics cards and 190 mm for coolers. Six 3.5-inch bays make it the best of the five for storage-heavy builds. At 21 kg empty it is also the heaviest, and it costs £60.03 more than the NV7 before the NV7 gets fans.
Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB - pros and cons
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Radar · 0-100 scores
- Phanteks NV7 D-RGB (black)
- Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL (black)
- Fractal Design North XL Charcoal Black TG
- Phanteks NV9 MKII (black)
How big is a full tower PC case?
The full towers here measure 57.6 to 99 litres, stand 509 to 615 mm tall and weigh 9.5 to 21 kg empty. The Phanteks NV9 MKII is the largest at about 99 litres; the Fractal Design North XL is the same volume as the Lian Li Lancool 217 mid tower.
| Case | Price | Volume | Weight | Height | Max radiators | Fan mounts (120 mm) | Fans included | Price with fans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phanteks NV7 D-RGB | £159.95 | 78.9 L | 16.9 kg | 586 mm | 3 x 360 mm | 12 | 0 | £202.75 |
| Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL | £195.95 | 84.4 L | Not published | 531.9 mm | 3 x 420 mm | 11 | 0 | £238.75 |
| Fractal Design North XL | £148.99 | 57.62 L | 9.5 kg | 509 mm | 420 mm front, 360 mm top | 7 | 3 | £148.99 |
| Phanteks NV9 MKII | £224.99 | 99.0 L | 19.52 kg | 615 mm | 480 mm side, 420 mm top and bottom | 12 | 0 | £267.79 |
| Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB | £219.98 | 81.8 L | 21 kg | 600 mm | 3 x 360, 2 x 420 or 480 mm side | 12 | 4 | £219.98 |
| Lian Li Lancool 217 (mid tower) | £109.99 | 57.7 L | Not published | 503 mm | 1 x 360 mm | 10 | 5 | £109.99 |
Price with fans adds a £42.80 ARCTIC P12 PWM PST five-pack (Amazon UK, October 2026) to cases that ship with none; it is a starting point, since three radiators can take nine fans. Fractal publishes the North XL volume; the others are calculated from manufacturer dimensions. On that measure the Fractal Design North XL at £148.99 is the cheapest full tower to get running, £53.76 under the NV7.
Full tower vs mid tower: which builds need a full tower?
Only builds with a 420 mm or 480 mm radiator, three radiators, a cooler over 185 mm or five or more hard drives need a full tower. A single RTX 5090 and a 360 mm AIO fit the Corsair FRAME 4000D RS ARGB mid tower at £89.99, £69.96 less than the Phanteks NV7 D-RGB before fans.
| Build | Full tower needed? | Case that fits |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 and a 360 mm AIO | No | Corsair FRAME 4000D RS ARGB mid tower: 430 mm GPU, two 360 mm radiators, £89.99 |
| E-ATX board up to 280 mm wide | No | Phanteks XT Pro Ultra mid tower takes E-ATX to 280 mm; Lian Li Lancool 217 takes SSI-EEB to 330 mm |
| Custom loop with two 360 mm radiators | No | Corsair FRAME 4000D RS ARGB mid tower |
| Any 420 mm radiator | Yes | Fractal Design North XL (front), Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL or Phanteks NV9 MKII (three) |
| Three radiators in one loop | Yes | Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL, Phanteks NV7 D-RGB or Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB |
| 480 mm radiator | Yes | Phanteks NV9 MKII or Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB (side mount) |
| Air cooler taller than 185 mm | Yes | Phanteks NV9 MKII (205 mm) or Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB (190 mm) |
| Five or more 3.5-inch drives | Yes | Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB (six bays) |
| PC that moves between rooms | No | A mid tower: the Phanteks NV9 MKII weighs 19.52 kg empty |
The mid tower picks named here are reviewed in Best mid tower PC case UK 2026. The extreme option is the Corsair 9000D RGB AIRFLOW at £499.99 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026): Corsair lists room for up to 18 x 120 mm, 7 x 140 mm or 4 x 200 mm fans and ships it with none. The Phanteks NV9 MKII takes a 480 mm radiator for less than half that price.
What is the best case for an RTX 5090?
The Phanteks NV7 D-RGB is the best full tower for an RTX 5090: its 450 mm limit leaves 92.4 mm spare with the 357.6 mm ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5090, and its 255 mm power supply limit leaves room for a long 1,000 W unit. NVIDIA lists the RTX 5090 Founders Edition at 304 mm long and two slots thick, so every case here fits it with room to spare.
| Case | GPU clearance | Spare with ROG Astral RTX 5090 | Max PSU length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phanteks NV9 MKII | 490 mm | 132.4 mm | 210 mm |
| Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL | 460 mm | 102.4 mm | 220 mm |
| Phanteks NV7 D-RGB | 450 mm | 92.4 mm | 255 mm |
| Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB | 450 mm | 92.4 mm | 225 mm |
| Fractal Design North XL | 413 mm | 55.4 mm | 290 mm |
NVIDIA rates the RTX 5090 at 575 W of total graphics power and recommends 1,000 W of system power, so the power supply length limit matters as much as card length. The Phanteks NV9 MKII has the most card room at 490 mm but the tightest power supply limit at 210 mm. Card choices are ranked in Best graphics card UK 2026.
Verdict
The Phanteks NV7 D-RGB at £159.95 is the best full tower PC case in the UK: three 360 mm radiator positions, 450 mm of GPU clearance and glass front and side panels. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL at £195.95 is the custom water cooling pick with three 420 mm positions, the Fractal Design North XL at £148.99 is the cheapest to run with three fans included, and the Phanteks NV9 MKII at £224.99 is the showcase with a 480 mm radiator mount.
Most builds fit a mid tower for less; start with Best mid tower PC case UK 2026 or the all-sizes guide, Best PC case UK 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best full tower PC case in the UK?
The Phanteks NV7 D-RGB is the best full tower PC case in the UK, at £159.95 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026). Phanteks lists 450 mm of GPU clearance, 185 mm for CPU coolers, E-ATX boards up to 277 mm wide and three 360 mm radiator positions. It ships without fans; with a £42.80 ARCTIC P12 PWM PST five-pack the total is £202.75.
Full tower vs mid tower: which should I buy?
A mid tower suits most builds. A full tower is worth buying for a 420 mm or 480 mm radiator, three radiators, a cooler taller than 185 mm or many drives. The Corsair FRAME 4000D RS ARGB mid tower clears a 430 mm graphics card and two 360 mm radiators for £89.99, while the Phanteks NV7 D-RGB full tower costs £159.95 and weighs 16.9 kg.
What is the best case for an RTX 5090?
The Phanteks NV7 D-RGB is the best full tower case for an RTX 5090, with 450 mm of GPU clearance. NVIDIA lists the RTX 5090 Founders Edition at 304 mm long and ASUS lists the ROG Astral RTX 5090 at 357.6 mm, so every case here fits both. NVIDIA recommends 1,000 W of system power, so check the case's power supply length limit too.
What is the best full tower case for custom water cooling?
The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL is the best full tower for custom water cooling, at £195.95 on Amazon UK in October 2026. Lian Li lists three 420 mm radiator positions, on the top, side and bottom, plus 460 mm of GPU clearance and a dual-chamber layout that hides the power supply. It ships without fans, and three 420 mm radiators take nine 140 mm fans.
How big is a full tower PC case?
The full towers in this guide measure 57.6 to 99 litres, stand 509 to 615 mm tall and weigh 9.5 to 21 kg. The Phanteks NV9 MKII measures 575 x 280 x 615 mm and weighs 19.52 kg. The Fractal Design North XL measures 503 x 240 x 509 mm and 57.62 litres, the same volume as the Lian Li Lancool 217 mid tower at 57.7 litres.
Do full tower cases come with fans?
Some do. The Phanteks NV7 D-RGB, Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL and Phanteks NV9 MKII ship without fans. The Fractal Design North XL includes three Aspect 14 PWM fans and the Corsair iCUE 7000X RGB four SP140 RGB ELITE fans. A five-pack of ARCTIC P12 PWM PST 120 mm fans costs £42.80 on Amazon UK at the time of writing (October 2026).
Is the Corsair 9000D worth it?
The Corsair 9000D RGB AIRFLOW is worth it only for extreme builds. It costs £499.99 on Amazon UK in October 2026, ships with no fans and, per Corsair, takes up to 18 x 120 mm, 7 x 140 mm or 4 x 200 mm fans. The Phanteks NV9 MKII costs £224.99, less than half as much, and still takes a 480 mm radiator and a 490 mm graphics card.
Is the Fractal Design North XL a full tower?
Fractal Design sells the North XL as an E-ATX case with a 420 mm front radiator mount, but by volume it is a large mid tower. Fractal lists 57.62 litres, against 57.7 litres for the Lian Li Lancool 217 mid tower. The North XL costs £148.99 on Amazon UK in October 2026 with three 140 mm fans, 413 mm of GPU clearance and 185 mm for coolers.