5 Smallest Mini ITX Cases in 2025 (Thin & Tiny)

• Smallest Mini ITX Case
• What is a Mini-ITX Case?
• Mini-ITX vs Micro-ATX vs ATX
• Advantages of Mini-ITX Cases
• Disadvantages of Mini-ITX Cases
• Is Mini-ITX Smaller than Micro-ATX?
• Is Mini-ITX Good for Gaming?
• Are Mini-ITX Cases Worth It?
• Review Summary

Here’s the deal:

You want to build a PC in a slim and portable Mini-ITX case.

I don’t blame you – they are growing increasingly popular, and for good reason.

Why build a gaming PC in a 50-pound monstrosity full tower when you can put your parts in something thin and portable, right?

So here are my best 5 Smallest Mini ITX Cases for you:

1. Smallest Case:  Lian Li A4-H2O
2. Best for Gaming: Fractal Design Terra
3. Thinnest Case: Hyte Revolt 3
4. Best for NAS: MasterBook NR20
5. Cheapest Option: Phanteks Evolv Shift 2

In this article, we’re going to take a look at these 5 best (and the smallest) Mini ITX case options on the market. And then get into the nitty-gritty of these PC cases.

Let’s dive in:

Smallest Mini ITX Case

I’ve been building custom PCs for my friends and family for over 5 years now. That has given me enough experience to try out different cases based on their use case and budget.

Today, I get to share my top 5 picks that I keep using repeatedly:

Okay, now let’s discuss each mini ITX case in depth so that you know what you’re getting into:

1. Lian Li A4-H2O: Smallest mini ITX case

Despite being one of the smallest mini ITX cases available today, it includes support for a 240 mm radiator as well as large GPUs.

The A4-H20 is of course made from aluminum and features steel panels on the inside, making it quite rigid.

The intakes have dust filters so this negative pressure design isn’t really a problem as far as cooling is concerned.

When it comes to internal storage, you’re limited to a single 2.5” SSD mounted on the bottom plate, and the M.2 slots available on your motherboard. I think this is fine given the exceptionally compact, 11-liter chassis, but some might find this limiting.

If you do need more room for storage, I’d recommend Lian Li’s Q58, which offers space for 3x 2.5” drives and a single 3.5” drive. That chassis will occupy more space, however.

Front I/O is good as you get discrete 3.5 mm jacks for a mic and headphones, and better yet, 5 Gbps USB-C and USB-A ports.

Large, triple-slot GPUs like the 4090 Founder’s Edition are supported, and dual-slot GPUs like the 4070 Ti I used fit comfortably. I also opted for a mesh side panel as this offered more airflow for the GPU.

Speaking of, the GPU can be inserted from the front and is installed upside-down. This is unusual, but great for cable management as the PCIe power connectors can also come from the bottom.

Noise levels will depend on the fans you’re using. Be warned that there is no included fan or dampening so the right fans are essential for a silent build.

Given its sandwich design and removable panels, installing components was extremely simple. To top it off the chassis is almost entirely tool-less for ease of use.

2. Fractal Design Terra: Best for Travel

This case is built like a tank and feels as elegant as it looks. The green one I tried looks stunning.

The one thing I really love about the Fractal Design Terra is its design and build quality. It’s a beautiful case with an optional walnut front panel.

The latter adds so much to the aesthetic that I’d argue it’s not optional. The rest of the panels are made from anodized aluminum and the front panel is a solid 8 mm thick. This case is built like a tank and feels as elegant as it looks.

I found cooling to be a bit tricky to sort out owing to the very limited space around the CPU socket. I could install a 120 mm radiator if I really wanted to, but that would limit the GPU to just 200 mm, which would not be enough for the 7800XT I was planning to install.

Front I/O is great as this is one of the only cases with a 20 Gbps USB-C port, and you’re getting a USB-A port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Two 2.5” mounts are included, which is plenty for a mini ITX gaming build.

Cable management wasn’t really a problem for my configuration, but if you’re messing around with larger GPUs or coolers, you might struggle a bit to find room in this tiny, 10.4-liter chassis.

The mesh panels mean that the case is quite airy so I went with a positive pressure build. With the right fans, the internals are very cool and there’s almost no noise.

Installation of the parts was easy as the side panels hinge upwards. They also come off if you prefer.

There’s also some flexibility on the inside as the motherboard tray can be moved a little bit to the left or right to make room for a thicker GPU or air cooler as needed.

3. Hyte Revolt 3: Best with Power Supply and Handle

Want to save some time and hassle? Pre-configured this case and 700 W SFX-L PSU with pre-sized and routed cables.

At 18.4 liters, the Hyte Revolt 3 is indeed a large case, but hear me out!

This setup is great for better cooling when using high-end components if you want premium performance.

CPU cooling is handled well as I could fit a 280 mm radiator in the Hyte.

The GPU is on the side and vertically aligned, which I liked, and I found that there’s even room for 80 mm fans on either side of it. That said, temperatures were on the higher side and while I didn’t experience any throttling, the fans can get loud.

Dual 2.5” bays and a single 3.5” bay makes sense in a chassis this large. The 3.5” bay is just behind the PSU, and I’d recommend not using one as the extra room is useful for managing cables.

Dual 2.5” bays and the motherboard M.2 slots should offer more than enough expansion for most users.

Front I/O is a little more generous than normal as you get two USB-A slots and a USB-C slot, but bear in mind that the motherboard I/O panel faces downwards and can’t be accessed once the PC is assembled.

I do like the design of the case and aluminum panels, but unlike some of the other options available at the same price, the finish could be better.

Some of the panels are a little flimsy and coarsely finished, which I think impedes airflow, resulting in the higher temperatures I’m seeing.

Dust filters are included, but like the side panels, they’re not of the premium fine mesh quality that I was hoping for. They do an adequate job of preventing dust ingress but also impede airflow.

I love the expandability and the ability to install 280 mm radiators, but I also wish that some of the cabling was better managed. Opt for a pre-installed SFX-L PSU like I did for an easier time.

4. CoolerMaster MasterBox NR200: Best Airflow

Unlike most mini ITX cases, this SFF case not only supports two 3.5” HDDs but also up to 7 fans for excellent airflow in a server environment.

The MasterBook NR20 from CoolerMaster is one I’d been eyeing for a home server I had planned.

Out of the box the case is configured with a 92 mm and 120 mm fan, with space for up to 5 more if you opt for the mesh side panel.

I love the fact that there’s support for a bottom or top-mounted radiator as well as 155 mm clearance for tower coolers, giving me a great deal of flexibility as far as cooling is concerned.

While I was hoping to see USB-C on the front panel, two USB-A ports aren’t such a bad deal. I was more excited for the dual 3.5” drive bays which meant I could configure a RAID array for my home server.

Plus, I had room for two more 2.5” SSDs to add as cache or boot drives.

Cable management was simple and hassle-free given the roomy design.

I especially like the fact that the GPU could be horizontally or vertically mounted, freeing up more room behind it for cables.

The chassis and panels are made of SGCC steel which is cheaper than aluminum and a bit heavier, but this is a large cabinet and given that the steel is powder-coated, still looks very good.

Interestingly, CoolerMaster has made schematics for the feet and SFX/SFX-L PSUs available online so I could even 3D print custom parts! I’d recommend using ABS for greater strength if you opt for this approach.

The two included fans are adequate for cooling and quite silent given that CoolerMaster is using its premium fans.

Dust is also well in check.

If you’re adding more fans, I’d recommend going with the quietest ones you can find simply because you can add so many.

Again, given how large and roomy the chassis is even for a small and mini ITX, installing components was very simple. My NAS and home server took hardly any time to set up.

In case you’re looking for an even simpler installation process, do look at the CoolerMaster NR200P Max, which offers similar features but comes with a pre-installed PSU and cooler with pre-routed cabling.

5. Phanteks Evolv Shift 2: Best Mini Tower Case

This is a sleek mini tower that maximizes your desk space without compromising on power.

The Shift 2 supports up to four 2.5” SSDs and one 3.5” drive, which is quite generous for a mini ITX case. Mounts for two SSDs are included, but you’ll have to purchase an additional dual SSD bracket to add two more.

Phanteks includes a large, 140 mm D-RGB fan (all the LEDs are the same color) with the chassis and supports a 120 mm AiO, but places the mount point for that AiO radiator at the bottom of the chassis.

This can be a problem for long-term use because the pump is mounted above the radiator and can thus trap air bubbles and cause damage over time.

For that reason, I prefer to use a cooler CPU like the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 – a 12-core beast – that doesn’t demand as much cooling.

Do note that some of my friends have used a similar chassis with a bottom-mounted radiator for many years now and have not faced any issues.

Front I/O only includes two USB-A ports – I’d have liked to see a USB-C slot and a 3.5 mm audio jack – but since the motherboard is mounted vertically, rear I/O is accessible from the top of the chassis via a push-to-open panel.

This is very convenient both for managing I/O as well as for attaching additional devices. This chassis houses an SFX or SFX-L CPU and I had no issues installing one.

There’s plenty of space for a large GPU, 330 mm to be precise, but here again, there’s a slight issue in that the included riser cable only supports PCIe 3.0 x16.

This is not a problem for most GPUs, but certain PCIe 4.0 x8 GPUs like my RTX 4060 Ti are severely bottle-necked.

I had to buy a separate PCIe 4.0 riser cable to take full advantage of my card. However, cards requiring 16 lanes should have no issues.

Build quality is where this case really shines. It’s a beautiful, anodized aluminum case with optional mesh and glass side panels.

You get dust filters at the bottom and only one exhaust fan so noise levels can be quite low. The noisiest aspect of the case might end up being the GPU, so improve your knowledge about various available GPU brands and choose a unit wisely.

Installing components is very simple as the entire case can be disassembled easily.

I configured the case with a low-profile Noctua cooler for the CPU, a 3.5” HDD, and a 4060 Ti, which left me with a lot of room to play around. A larger GPU and more drives can be a tight squeeze, but this mini ITX case is roomier than most.

What is a Mini-ITX Case?

Mini-ITX motherboards are the smallest form factor in computing and are designed to support relatively low-cost computers in cramped environments without adequate space for a larger computer.

Because cases are designed to house motherboards (and the rest of your components attached to it), cases are also measured with Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, and ATX form factors.

Mini-ITX cases are the smallest cases on the market – they’re portable (one of the cases on our list can even fit in a backpack) and are small enough to actually fit on your desk.

On the flip side, full tower ATX cases are massive, some weighing north of 50 lbs and can be several feet tall.

There are pros and cons to each form factor that we’ll explore soon in the article, but there is no “best form factor” – there is only the best form factor for you.

Mini-ITX vs Micro-ATX vs ATX

ATX cases are the largest on the market, followed by Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX.

Here are their sizes:

• Standard ATX: 12″ x 9.6″
• Micro-ATX: 9.6″ x 9.6″
• Mini-ITX: 6.7″ x 6.7″

mATX boards are the same width as regular ATX boards but are a couple of inches shorter. ATX motherboards, given their larger size, can accommodate more PCIe slots and are better candidates for SLI/Crossfire setups.

mITX boards are shorter both length and width than their counterparts, and are best suited for extremely tiny PC builds that are meant to be small and compact.

By the way, we have guides on the smallest Micro-ATX cases and the smallest ATX cases if you want to check those articles out as well.

Advantages of Mini-ITX Cases

Mini-ITX cases are growing increasingly popular among members of the PC Master Race, and for good reason. They bring a ton of benefits to the table that other form factors like Micro-ATX and ATX don’t.

Let’s talk about it:

Saves Space (Duh)

This one is pretty obvious, but I thought I’d include it anyway. Unlike gigantic full-tower and even mid-tower cases, Mini-ITX cases are small and tiny. They don’t take up much space, which is great if you’re gaming without a lot of real estate to work with.

You could stack three Mini-ITX cases on top of each other, and they still wouldn’t be as big as a standard ATX case.

But here’s the kicker:

You can even put your Mini-ITX case on your desk – crazy, right?

Lighter

Mini-ITX cases are also going to be much lighter than a standard ATX case. Even the        smallest ATX cases are heavy.

Although weight probably shouldn’t be a huge factor in your buying decision, it’s still something to consider if you want to move your case around a lot (more on that below).

More Portable

Yeah, this one is obvious, but it’s still one of the main advantages of using a Mini-ITX case.

For example, full tower cases are monstrous in size, not to mention weight. While they’re great for building enthusiast rigs with custom water loops, a lot of storage drives, and huge graphics cards, you can basically throw portability out the window.

Even mid-tower ATX cases can get pretty heavy.

With a Mini-ITX case – especially one with handles – moving it around is effortless.

If you’re the kind of gamer who likes to have LAN parties, or you can see yourself moving your new PC around a lot, then I’d highly recommend going with a Mini-ITX case.

Cheaper (Generally)

Generally speaking the smaller the case, the less material goes into making it. The less material that goes into making it, the cheaper it is.

Simple, small cases are usually cheaper than giant, elaborate cases with tons of features which take more time and energy to properly machine.

There are of course exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, Mini-ITX cases are great for budget builders.

Super Cool

Last but not least, Mini-ITX cases are (in my opinion) dope. Most people go the standard route with a traditional mid-tower case.

Others may be more adventurous, building in an inverted PC case – but I don’t think anything is cooler than building a mini gaming PC.

They’re portable, unique, and can actually fit on your desk… who would’ve thought?

If you’re the kind of person who likes to stand out and show your unique personality, a Mini-ITX case is a great way to do just that.

Disadvantages of Mini-ITX Cases

While these small PC cases are awesome, they have some downsides too.

Not all Components Will Fit

First of all, not all large GPUs will fit inside your case. That tri-fan Titan X you’ve got your eye on? Yeah, you can forget about it.

It’s not all bad in this department though, as most GPU manufacturers have tiny versions of their graphics cards to accommodate small enclosures.

You will also need to consider the height of your CPU cooler, especially if you’re using a thin ITX case.

Room for fans and hard drives is another hurdle, although the cases I’ve recommended on this list make great use of the space available to them.

Building in a small case isn’t the end of the world, but it’s something to keep in mind when you’re choosing your components. Websites like PC Part Picker will usually tell you something is too long or too tall.

Mini-ITX has Less Room for Expansion

Even if your case has enough space for the parts you initially select, odds are your upgrade options will be severely limited.

It’s difficult to find a Mini-ITX case that supports SLI setups, insane water-cooling rigs, etc.

Then again, most people building in a slim Mini-ITX case are doing it for the convenience of their portability, not because they want to build the most powerful PC on earth.

Cramped Space Means More Heat

Cooling is easily one of the biggest issues that plague these compact computer cabinets.

With limited space for fans and cramped conditions inside the case, airflow is typically restricted.

Poor airflow is another reason why many mITX cases aren’t designed for ultra-powerful builds.

If you plan on pushing your components to the limit with extreme overclocking, they’re going to give off a lot of heat, in which case you’re better off using a more spacious case with better airflow.

Don’t get me wrong, some mITX have stupendous airflow, but they’re few and far between, at least when compared to the airflow of their larger ATX counterparts.

More Challenging to Work On

Lastly, Mini-ITX cases are more challenging to work on than traditional ATX cases, because they’re more cramped and have more imaginative (and sometimes confusing) designs.

That’s why I usually recommend beginner builders start by reading our awesome guide to building a gaming PC for the first time and use a spacious mid-tower case.

Is Mini-ITX Smaller than Micro-ATX?

Yes, Mini-ITX is the smallest kind of PC case. It’s the opposite of a full tower case which is the largest type of PC case on the market. PC case sizes are measured compared to the motherboard sizes they can support.

Full-tower ATX cases can support full-sized ATX and even E-ATX motherboards, whereas small Mini-ITX cases can only support ITX motherboards.

Is Mini-ITX Good for Gaming?

Generally speaking, Mini-ITX is no better or worse for gaming than any other case since the case doesn’t have a direct impact on performance – the components inside your case are what determine your gaming performance.

However, the size of your case does have an indirect impact on gaming performance.

Here’s what I mean:

As mentioned above, Mini-ITX cases limit the kinds of components that you can use. A smaller case means not all GPUs will fit, so you’ll have to carefully select your graphics card if you’re building a gaming PC.

That tri-fan Titan X you have your eye on? Hate to break it to you, but it probably won’t fit.

But don’t get discouraged – a lot of GPU manufacturers are hip to ITX builds and as a result have a host of small form factor GPUs to choose from.

Another issue is cooling – a smaller case will generally have less room to mount fans, less clearance space for powerful air coolers not to mention water coolers, and worse airflow overall.

You may need to spend more money to get a top-tier Mini-ITX case that is small yet able to house the kind of components you’re looking for.

Those cases do exist, however, and they’re listed in the article above. If you can get your hands on a solid Mini-ITX case that has room for your parts and sufficient airflow, you’re in business! Again, it all comes down to you, your wants/needs, and personal preferences.

Are Mini-ITX Cases Worth It?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, there is only a right answer for you.

Here’s what I mean:

If you want to build a unique gaming PC that’s powerful, portable and doesn’t take up much space, then using a Mini-ITX low-profile case is a great idea (assuming it’s a quality case).

They’re unique-looking, small, and use space efficiently. But that convenience comes at a cost.

The most obvious cost is the price (obviously) but there are a few other disadvantages that may hinder a beginner user from building in a tiny ITX case.

Aside from being more expensive, they can be more difficult to build in and aren’t as beginner-friendly as an ATX case.

For beginner builders on a budget who don’t want anything too tricky, going for an ATX case is a better option. That doesn’t mean you have to buy a 10-foot-tall monstrosity though – we’ve got a guide all about the smallest ATX cases that you’ll probably love. They’re small and easy to use.

Or, if you want a case in between that’s not too big or too small, check out our guide about the smallest Micro-ATX cases.

Review Summary

Mini-ITX cases have their pros and cons, but overall I think they’re pretty awesome, especially if you want an on-the-go computer.

It’s pretty insane that you can build a gaming PC powerful enough to game in 4K resolution and take it with you in your backpack.

As a reminder, here are my top picks: