A new ukulele costs from about $20 to more than $6,700. Of the 515 ukuleles Thomann had in stock in October 2026, a quarter cost less than $72, half cost less than $140, and 21 cost more than $1,000. Ukuleles are the cheapest serious instrument to start on: $50 to $100 buys one that stays in tune and sounds good.
The size changes the price more than anything else. Bigger ukuleles use more wood, and the larger sizes are bought mostly by adults who want a better instrument.
Ukulele prices by size
| Size | Models | Cheapest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soprano | 135 | $22 | $55 |
| Concert | 157 | $22 | $109 |
| Tenor | 128 | $73 | $235 |
| Bass | 31 | $134 | $336 |
| Baritone | 46 | $106 | $359 |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026. If you're unsure which size to choose, we cover it in gifts for ukulele players.
How much does a ukulele cost for a beginner?
$50 to $100. Below that, ukuleles work as toys or beach instruments; in that range you get better tuners and a setup that makes chords easy.
Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele DPB, $66
A colorful soprano from Fender's California Coast series with a laminated basswood body. #3 of 91 soprano ukuleles.
Kala Satin Mahogany Tenor Ukulele, $84
An all-mahogany tenor at an entry price, the size many adults prefer. One of the highest-ranked tenor ukes we track: #1 of 116 tenor ukuleles.
Kala KA-TK-C-CE Concert Ukulele, $145
A concert uke with a pickup and cutaway, for playing through an amp. #1 of 125 concert ukuleles.
Solid wood: $400 and up
Laminated ukuleles are made of thin layers glued together; solid-wood ones use single pieces of wood for the top, or the whole body, and sound fuller and louder.
Kala KA-CT-SA-TG Tenor Ukulele, $509
A tenor with a solid acacia top, back and sides and an ebony fingerboard. #3 of 116 tenor ukuleles.
The most expensive ukuleles
The top of the market is koa, the Hawaiian wood of the original ukuleles.
Kamaka Concert Deluxe HF-2D, $3,363
A solid koa concert ukulele from Kamaka, the Hawaiian maker that has built ukuleles since 1916. #56 of 125 concert ukuleles.
Martin Guitar NAMM 2025 Custom Soprano Ukulele, $6,718
A Custom Shop soprano in heavily flamed solid koa from Martin's NAMM 2025 collection. The most expensive ukulele Thomann sells. #19 of 91 soprano ukuleles.
Questions
How much should a beginner spend on a ukulele?
$50 to $100. The Fender Venice costs $66 and the Kala Satin Mahogany tenor $84.
Is a $20 ukulele any good?
As a toy or a beach uke, yes. To learn properly, spend a little more for better tuners and a better setup.
Why are koa ukuleles so expensive?
Koa grows only in Hawaii, good pieces are rare, and the best ukuleles are made by hand in small workshops.
How we measured. We took every ukulele Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, 515 in total, 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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