A bartop arcade cabinet is one of the most satisfying builds in retro gaming. Sit it on a desk or table, load it with thousands of classic games, and you’ve got your own personal arcade — Street Fighter, Metal Slug, Streets of Rage, MAME classics — all playable on proper arcade controls with a joystick and buttons that feel exactly like the real thing.
The good news is that in 2026 it’s more accessible than ever. Pre-cut flat-pack cabinet kits mean you don’t need woodworking skills or specialist tools. Raspberry Pi 5 running RetroPie handles the emulation side cleanly. And arcade controls — joysticks, buttons, encoders — are widely available on Amazon UK at reasonable prices.
A complete two-player bartop build will cost roughly £250–400 depending on your choices. Here’s everything you need to know.
Route 1: Flat-Pack Cabinet Kit (Recommended)
Unless you have woodworking experience and a workshop, a flat-pack cabinet kit is by far the easiest route. These are CNC-cut MDF panels that arrive pre-drilled for joystick holes, button holes, monitor mounting, and speaker mounting. You assemble them with screws and wood glue — typically a few hours work — and end up with a professional-looking cabinet without ever touching a saw.
UK suppliers worth looking at:
- Arcade Mania (arcademania.co.uk) — UK-based, good range of flat-pack kits from ~£120, can add controls and artwork
- Arcade World UK (arcadeworlduk.com) — another UK supplier with flat-pack options and component bundles
- Amazon UK — search “bartop arcade cabinet kit” for various options, quality varies so check reviews carefully
Look for a kit that specifies 18mm MDF — thinner MDF will flex and feel cheap. Pre-drilled holes for Sanwa or Seimitsu joysticks are a good sign of quality. Most kits accommodate monitors up to 19–22 inches.
Route 2: Build from Scratch
If you have basic woodworking skills and want full control over dimensions and design, building from scratch is genuinely rewarding. You’ll need:
- 18mm MDF sheet (one 8×4 sheet is usually sufficient)
- Jigsaw for cutting curves
- Drill and hole saw bits (30mm for buttons, 25mm for joystick)
- Brad nailer or screws and clamps
- Wood glue
Free plans are available from The Geek Pub (thegeekpub.com) and various Instructables projects. Search for “bartop arcade cabinet plans PDF” for downloadable cut sheets with measurements.
The Complete Parts List
The Cabinet
Flat-pack kit: ~£120–180 from a UK supplier, or ~£30–50 in MDF if building from scratch.
The Monitor
A 19–22 inch LCD monitor is the standard choice. Look for a 4:3 aspect ratio if you want authentic proportions for classic games — most arcade and console games from the 80s and 90s were designed for 4:3 screens. A 19 inch 4:3 monitor can often be found secondhand for £20–40.
If you prefer widescreen, a 21.5 inch or 22 inch 16:9 monitor works well with modern cab kits designed for them — just be aware games will letterbox on a widescreen unless you set up scaling.
→ Search for monitors on Amazon UK
Raspberry Pi 5
The Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB) is the brain of the operation and the recommended choice in 2026. It’s powerful enough to run MAME, NES, SNES, Mega Drive, PS1, and N64 emulation reliably, and RetroPie support is excellent. You’ll also need:
- MicroSD card (32GB minimum, 64GB recommended) for the RetroPie installation
- Official Raspberry Pi 5 power supply
- Micro HDMI to HDMI cable for monitor connection
→ Check Raspberry Pi 5 on Amazon UK
Arcade Controls — Joysticks & Buttons
For a two-player setup you need:
- 2 x arcade joysticks — Sanwa JLF is the gold standard (~£20 each), Zippyy is a cheaper alternative (~£8 each)
- 16–20 x arcade buttons — Sanwa OBSF-30 (30mm) are the authentic choice (~£3–4 each), or buy a mixed colour set
- 2 x USB encoder boards — the Zero Delay USB Encoder is widely used and costs around £8–10 each. These connect your joystick and buttons to the Raspberry Pi via USB and are recognised automatically by RetroPie
Buying a complete two-player arcade controls kit from Amazon UK is often better value than buying components individually — search “2 player arcade controls kit” and you’ll find bundles including joysticks, buttons, encoders, and wiring for around £35–60.
→ Search for arcade controls kits on Amazon UK
Speakers
A small stereo amplifier board with two speakers is all you need. Search Amazon UK for “2x3W arcade speakers amplifier” — PAM8403-based amplifier boards with small speakers cost around £8–15 and are more than loud enough for a bartop cabinet. Wire these to the Raspberry Pi’s 3.5mm audio output or use a USB audio adapter for cleaner sound.
→ Search for arcade speakers on Amazon UK
T-Moulding (Optional but Recommended)
T-moulding is the decorative plastic edging that goes around the sides of the cabinet — exactly as on real arcade machines. It slots into a pre-cut groove on most flat-pack kits and transforms how the finished cabinet looks. Available in many colours for around £8–15 per 3-metre roll. Search “arcade t-moulding 19mm” on Amazon UK.
Total Cost Breakdown
| Component | Budget Option | Mid-Range Option |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet (flat-pack kit) | ~£120 | ~£160 |
| Monitor (19″ secondhand) | ~£25 | ~£60 (new) |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB) + accessories | ~£60 | ~£70 |
| Arcade controls (2-player kit) | ~£35 | ~£80 (Sanwa parts) |
| Speakers + amp | ~£10 | ~£20 |
| T-moulding + misc | ~£10 | ~£20 |
| Total | ~£260 | ~£410 |
Setting Up RetroPie
RetroPie is free, open-source software that turns a Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming machine. Setting it up is straightforward:
- Download the RetroPie image for Raspberry Pi 5 from retropie.org.uk
- Flash it to your MicroSD card using Raspberry Pi Imager (free download)
- Insert the SD card into your Pi, connect the monitor and controls via USB, and power on
- RetroPie will boot into EmulationStation — configure your controls when prompted
- Add your game ROMs to the appropriate folders via USB stick or network share
The RetroPie community forum (retropie.org.uk/forum) is excellent for troubleshooting and there are comprehensive setup guides for every emulator. Getting the Pi configured correctly takes an afternoon but once it’s done it just works.
A note on ROMs: ROMs are the game files needed to run emulated games. Downloading ROMs for games you don’t own is technically copyright infringement. Games available through legal storefronts like GOG or released under open licences are fair game — there are also large collections of genuinely public domain or legally distributable ROMs available, and some publishers have officially released older titles as freeware.
Finishing Touches
Artwork
Custom artwork is what separates a good bartop build from a great one. You can design your own marquee (the illuminated panel at the top of the cabinet) and control panel overlay, print them at a local print shop or online, and laminate them for protection. Search for “arcade marquee template” for free design resources.
Marquee Lighting
An LED strip behind the marquee acrylic gives the finished cabinet a professional arcade look. 12V LED strips powered from a USB power supply are inexpensive and simple to fit.
Paint or Vinyl Wrap
Most flat-pack kits come in black or white melamine finish which looks clean as-is. For a custom look, spray paint works well on MDF once primed, or vinyl wrap sheets give you almost unlimited colour and pattern options.
Alternatives to Building Your Own
If a full build sounds like too much work, there are alternatives:
Arcade1Up cabinets — pre-built 3/4 scale arcade cabinets available from Amazon UK and major retailers. Limited to the games included, no customisation, but plug-and-play simple. Around £250–400.
Pre-built bartop from Arcade Mania or similar — UK suppliers will build and configure a complete cabinet for you. Expect to pay £400–600 for a finished two-player bartop with controls, monitor, and Pi already set up.
Pandora’s Box — an all-in-one arcade board that comes pre-loaded with hundreds of games and connects directly to a monitor and controls. No Pi setup required, around £40–80. Game selection is fixed and quality varies, but it’s the simplest possible setup.
Our Verdict
A bartop arcade build is one of the best retro gaming projects you can do. The flat-pack kit route makes it accessible without specialist skills, RetroPie on Raspberry Pi 5 handles emulation brilliantly, and the finished result — your own personal arcade cabinet running thousands of classic games on proper arcade controls — is genuinely something special.
Budget around £300 for a solid two-player build with mid-range controls, expect to spend a weekend on assembly and setup, and you’ll end up with something you’ll still be playing years from now.
For the controllers to go alongside it, see our Best Arcade Sticks 2026 guide and our Best Retro Gaming Controllers 2026 guide.
Prices correct at time of writing and may vary. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.