A new full-size violin costs from about $150 to $49,500 at Thomann. Of the 246 full-size violins in stock in October 2026, half cost less than about $1,500, a quarter cost less than $640, and 26 cost more than $10,000. Children's violins are cheaper, with a median around $400, and the right size matters more than the price (see what size violin do I need).
For most people the answer is simple: a beginner needs $200 to $500 for an outfit with a bow and case, a serious student $1,000 to $2,000, and handmade instruments for advanced players start around $5,000.
How much does a violin cost for a beginner?
Look for a solid spruce top: it's what makes a cheap violin sound like a violin. Both of these have one, and both come ready to play.
Stentor SR1401 Harlequin Violin 4/4 DP, $213
A student violin with a solid spruce top, maple sides and fine tuners, from the brand many school programs use. #1 of 217 acoustic violins.
Yamaha V5 SC44 Violin 4/4, $472
A fully solid violin (spruce top, maple back and sides) with ebony fittings, a Wittner tailpiece and D'Addario Prelude strings. The step up a teacher will be happy with. #10 of 217 acoustic violins.
Violin prices by level
| Price | Full-size violins | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Under $500 | 48 | Student outfits, factory-made, often with case and bow |
| $500 to $1,000 | 42 | Solid woods, better fittings and strings |
| $1,000 to $2,000 | 48 | Advanced student, hand-finished |
| $2,000 to $5,000 | 47 | Workshop violins for serious players |
| $5,000 to $10,000 | 35 | Handmade by individual makers |
| Over $10,000 | 26 | Master violins and copies of famous instruments |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026.
The middle of the range
Gewa Maestro 51 Guarneri Violin, $1,123
Solid woods with a one-piece flamed maple back and inlaid purfling, modeled on the Guarneri shape. #5 of 217 acoustic violins.
Yamaha V 20 G Violin 4/4, $1,653
A Guarneri-model violin with a flamed maple back and a hand-applied, shaded oil finish, for students preparing for orchestras and exams. #4 of 217 acoustic violins.
The most expensive violins
Edgar Russ Cremonese 1715, $49,513
Handmade in Cremona by the violin maker Edgar Russ himself, modeled on the "Cremonese" Stradivari of 1715. The most expensive violin Thomann sells. #190 of 217 acoustic violins.
Electric violins
An electric violin plays through an amp or headphones, which makes it popular for stage and for quiet practice.
Harley Benton HBV 990BCF 4/4 Electric Violin, $179
A full-size electric violin with an active pickup and a headphone output, for practicing without disturbing anyone. #3 of 40 electric violins and violas.
Yamaha YEV-104 NT Electric Violin, $955
Yamaha's stage electric violin with a spruce, mahogany and maple body and a piezo pickup in the bridge. #1 of 40 electric violins and violas.
Questions
How much should a beginner spend on a violin?
$200 to $500 for a full-size outfit with a solid spruce top. The Stentor SR1401 costs $213 and the fully solid Yamaha V5 $472.
Is a $100 violin worth it?
Usually not. Very cheap violins often have poor setup and strings, which makes them hard to play in tune and discourages beginners. Spend a little more or rent.
Why are some violins so expensive?
Handmade violins take a maker weeks of work, from carving the top to varnishing, and the wood is aged for years. At the top end you pay for the maker's name and sound.
How we measured. We took every full-size acoustic violin Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, 246 in total, plus 155 children's violins, converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night; the table is fixed to October 18.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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