A new clarinet costs from about $150 to more than $81,000. Most players mean a standard Bb clarinet, and of the 84 Bb clarinets in the Boehm system (the one used in the US, the UK and France) that Thomann had in stock in October 2026, a quarter cost less than about $1,200 and half cost less than about $2,900.
The biggest price step is the material. Student clarinets are made of ABS plastic: durable, stable and fine to learn on. From about $1,100, clarinets are made of grenadilla wood, which gives a warmer, richer tone but needs more care.
Bb clarinet prices by level
| Price | Bb clarinets (Boehm) | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 19 | Plastic student clarinets |
| $1,000 to $2,500 | 20 | First wooden and intermediate clarinets |
| $2,500 to $5,000 | 19 | Advanced and professional |
| Over $5,000 | 26 | Top professional models |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026.
How much does a clarinet cost for a beginner?
Yamaha YCL-255 ES Bb-Clarinet, $782
Yamaha's student clarinet with an ABS body in a wood-look finish and a light design for young players. The clarinet school band directors ask for. #5 of 71 bb clarinets (boehm).
Startone SCL-65 Bb-Clarinet, $201
A very cheap plastic clarinet with two barrels and a mouthpiece. Fine for trying the instrument; a teacher may soon recommend an upgrade. #9 of 71 bb clarinets (boehm).
The step to wood
Buffet Crampon E-11 Bb-Clarinet 17/6, $1,119
A grenadilla wood clarinet from Buffet Crampon, the French maker most professionals play, at an intermediate price. #9 of 71 bb clarinets (boehm).
Yamaha YCL-650 Clarinet, $1,566
A wooden clarinet with a natural wood surface and a redesigned barrel, the step from student to serious player. #2 of 71 bb clarinets (boehm).
Yamaha YCL-CSV R Clarinet, $3,695
Yamaha's Custom series in grenadilla with undercut tone holes and heavy silver plating, for advanced players. #1 of 71 bb clarinets (boehm).
The most expensive clarinet at Thomann
Martin Foag Octocontrabass Clarinet, $80,674
An octave below the contrabass clarinet and, according to Thomann, the lowest-pitched wind instrument in the world. A rarity for orchestras and collectors. #20 of 23 other clarinets (boehm).
Questions
How much should a beginner spend on a clarinet?
About $700 to $900 for a good plastic student clarinet. The Yamaha YCL-255 costs $782.
Is a wooden or plastic clarinet better for a beginner?
Plastic. It doesn't crack with changes in temperature and humidity and needs less care. Wood makes sense once the player is serious.
What is the difference between Boehm and German clarinets?
Two different key systems. Boehm is standard almost everywhere; the German (Oehler) system is used mainly in Germany and Austria. Buy the one your teacher plays.
How we measured. We took every clarinet Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, 194 in total, 84 of them Bb clarinets in the Boehm system, 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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