A mandolin costs from about $70 to more than $20,000. On October 18, 2026, Thomann had 64 mandolins in stock: a quarter cost less than $201, half cost less than $404, and 90% cost less than $1,000. Only three, all Gibsons, cost more than $2,000. For a first mandolin with a solid spruce top, plan on $300 to $600.
Mandolin prices at a glance
| Price | Mandolins |
|---|---|
| Under $200 | 13 |
| $200 to $500 | 24 |
| $500 to $1,000 | 19 |
| $1,000 to $2,000 | 5 |
| Over $2,000 | 3 |
Ortega has the most models (14), then Harley Benton (13), Richwood and The Loar (7 each).
A-style or F-style?
An A-style mandolin has a simple teardrop body. An F-style has the scroll and points of the classic bluegrass mandolin, which takes more work to build, so at the same quality level it costs more. The sound difference is small; F-style is mostly about the look and bluegrass tradition.
How much does a beginner mandolin cost?
Harley Benton HBMA-50, $66
The cheapest mandolin we track: an A-style with a spruce top and basswood body. Fine to try, but a solid top sounds much better. #4 of 45 mandolins.
The Loar LM-110 Honey Creek, $301
An A-style with a hand-carved solid spruce top, the classic 1920s design. #4 of 45 mandolins.
The Loar LM-310F, $402
An F-style with a solid spruce top and maple body. One of the highest-ranked mandolins we track: #3 of 45 mandolins.
How much does a good mandolin cost?
Epiphone F-5 Studio, $592
An F-style with f-holes and tone bar bracing, inspired by Gibson's Custom Shop designs. #2 of 45 mandolins.
Gibson 1923 F-5 Master Model Reissue, $24,400
The most expensive mandolin at Thomann when we checked: a Custom Shop copy of the 1923 F-5, in solid red spruce and red maple. #39 of 45 mandolins.
Questions
How much should I spend on my first mandolin?
$300 to $600 gets a solid carved top, which makes the biggest difference in sound.
Is a mandolin easy to learn for a guitarist?
It's tuned in fifths like a violin (G-D-A-E), not in fourths like a guitar, so guitarists learn new chord shapes, but their picking hand is ready.
How we measured. Every mandolin Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026 (64 models), converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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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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