A new French horn costs from about $430 to almost $12,000. On October 18, 2026, Thomann had 57 French horns in stock: a quarter cost less than $1,348, half less than $3,486, and 23 cost more than $5,000. Unlike most instruments, the horn has few real budget options, because most players move to a double horn early.
French horn prices by type
| Type | Models | Cheapest | Median | Most expensive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double horn (F/Bb) | 36 | $1,011 | $5,502 | $11,926 |
| Single Bb horn | 13 | $426 | $2,586 | $3,859 |
| Single F horn | 8 | $448 | $673 | $3,149 |
A single horn is pitched in F or Bb. A double horn combines both, with a thumb valve to switch between them: the F side sounds warmer, the Bb side makes high notes safer. Hans Hoyer has the most models (25), then Thomann's own brand (19) and Yamaha (8).
How much does a student French horn cost?
Thomann HR 100 Junior Bb-French Horn, $422
A small Bb horn for children, about 1.67 kg, with a case and mouthpiece. One of the highest-ranked horns we track: #1 of 9 bb french horns.
Thomann HORNet, $999
A double horn (F/Bb) with a body and bell of ABS plastic and a brass and nickel silver valve section, weighing 1.4 kg: the cheapest double horn at Thomann. #2 of 19 double french horns.
How much does a professional French horn cost?
Yamaha YHR-567 Double Horn, $4,672
A brass F/Bb double horn with a 12 mm bore, sold with a case and mouthpiece. The highest-ranked French horn we track: #1 of 19 double french horns.
Hans Hoyer 6801NS-L Double Horn, $5,775
A double horn with nickel silver valve casings and slides and a 310 mm bell. #5 of 19 double french horns.
Hans Hoyer K10GA-L Double Horn, $11,796
The most expensive French horn at Thomann when we checked. #8 of 19 double french horns.
Questions
How much is a beginner French horn?
A single horn for a child costs about $430 to $650. Older students usually go straight to a double horn, from about $1,000 for the plastic HORNet to $4,700 for the Yamaha YHR-567.
Why are French horns so expensive?
They're made of long, complex brass tubing with rotary valves, and a double horn has two sets of tubing in one instrument.
How we measured. Every French horn Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026 (57 models), by Thomann's type categories, 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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