A new trombone costs from about $130 for a plastic one to more than $16,000. Of the 254 trombones Thomann had in stock in October 2026, a quarter cost less than about $1,240, half cost less than about $3,800, and 87 cost more than $5,000. Most of the catalog is aimed at advanced and professional players.
For a beginner, a straight Bb tenor trombone costs about $1,000 from a good brand. The next step, a tenor with an F-attachment (an extra valve and tubing that makes low notes easier), roughly doubles the price.
Trombone prices by type
| Type | Models | Cheapest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenor trombone | 76 | $129 | $2,136 |
| Tenor with F-attachment | 120 | $156 | $4,274 |
| Alto trombone | 13 | $138 | $2,643 |
| Bass trombone | 36 | $1,789 | $8,550 |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026.
How much does a trombone cost for a beginner?
Yamaha YSL-354 E Bb-Trombone, $985
Yamaha's student tenor trombone with a gold lacquered brass body, a nickel silver slide, a case and a mouthpiece. The standard school trombone, and the highest-ranked tenor trombone in its price range when we checked: #1 of 49 tenor trombones.
pBone music pBone Red, $165
A trombone made of ABS plastic with a fiberglass slide, about 800 grams. Great for young children whose arms are short and who drop things; it plays like a real Bb tenor. #3 of 49 tenor trombones.
The F-attachment step
Yamaha YSL-448 GE Bb/F-Trombone, $2,173
A tenor trombone with an F-attachment and a gold brass body for a warmer sound, the usual step for an intermediate player. #3 of 85 tenor trombones with F-Attachment.
Bass trombones
Yamaha YBL-421 GE Bass Trombone, $2,643
A Bb/F bass trombone with a large 14.3 mm bore and a 9.5-inch gold brass bell, at the bottom of the bass trombone price range. #1 of 25 bass trombones.
The most expensive trombone at Thomann
Kühnl & Hoyer Contrabass Trombone F/C/Db/A, $16,581
A contrabass trombone with a 270 mm bell, for orchestras. #12 of 25 bass trombones.
Questions
How much should a beginner spend on a trombone?
About $1,000 for a student tenor trombone like the Yamaha YSL-354 ($985). For a young child, a plastic pBone ($165) is a good start.
Does a beginner need an F-attachment?
No. It helps in the low register and is standard for advanced players, but it adds weight and cost a beginner doesn't need.
Why are trombones so expensive?
Hand-built slides that must be perfectly straight and smooth, and heavy brass work. Professional models add special alloys, valves and bore sizes.
How we measured. We took every trombone Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, 254 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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