A new trumpet costs from under $100 for a plastic beginner model to about $9,000. Most people mean a standard Bb trumpet, and of the 270 Bb trumpets Thomann had in stock in October 2026, a quarter cost less than $865 and half cost less than about $3,100. Professional models dominate the catalog: 111 of the 270 cost more than $3,500.
For a beginner, a good student trumpet costs $500 to $700. A step-up intermediate horn costs $1,000 to $2,000, and professional trumpets from Bach, Yamaha, Schilke and others cost $3,500 and up.
How much does a trumpet cost for a beginner?
A school band teacher usually wants a Bb trumpet from a known brand with Monel valves, which resist wear. Yamaha's student model is the safe choice.
Yamaha YTR-2330 Bb- Trumpet, $595
A student Bb trumpet with a brass body, Monel valves and a medium-large bore that makes it easy to blow. The highest-ranked Bb trumpet under $1,000 in our index when we checked: #1 of 165 bb trumpets.
pBone music pTrumpet Orange, $174
A trumpet made entirely of plastic, valves included. It plays like a real Bb trumpet, weighs very little and is hard to damage, so it's a good first instrument for a child. #8 of 165 bb trumpets.
Trumpet prices by level
| Price | Bb trumpets | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Under $500 | 53 | Plastic, pocket and entry trumpets |
| $500 to $1,500 | 39 | Student and intermediate |
| $1,500 to $3,500 | 67 | Advanced and semi-professional |
| Over $3,500 | 111 | Professional |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026. Specialist trumpets cost more: the median piccolo trumpet costs $5,737 and the median C trumpet $4,646.
The next steps
Yamaha YTR-4335 GII Trumpet + SB7J, $1,089
An intermediate trumpet with a gold brass bell for a warmer tone, sold with a Yamaha mouthpiece. For a student who has played for two or three years. #3 of 165 bb trumpets.
B&S 3137-S Challenger I S, $2,023
A German-made semi-professional trumpet with light valves and a silver finish, for advanced players. #2 of 165 bb trumpets.
Bach 180S37 Bb-Trumpet, $4,050
The Stradivarius 37, one of the most played professional trumpets in the world, with a one-piece hand-hammered bell. #6 of 165 bb trumpets.
Pocket trumpets
Thomann TR 25 Bb-Pocket Trumpet, $213
A Bb trumpet coiled tighter so it fits in a backpack, with a full-size bell and Monel valves. Good for practice on the road, not a replacement for a full trumpet. #6 of 165 bb trumpets.
Questions
How much should a beginner spend on a trumpet?
$500 to $700 for a student Bb trumpet from a known brand. The Yamaha YTR-2330 costs $595.
Is a plastic trumpet good for beginners?
For young children, yes: it's light, cheap and hard to damage. Older students and anyone joining a band should start on a brass trumpet.
How much does a professional trumpet cost?
Most cost $3,500 to $6,000. The Bach Stradivarius 180S37 costs $4,050.
How we measured. We took every trumpet and cornet Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, 465 in total, 270 of them standard Bb trumpets, 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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