About one person in ten is left-handed, and left-handed guitars make up a little less than that at Thomann: 744 of the 9,661 guitars and basses in stock in October 2026, or 7.7%. The bigger question for lefties is price. So we matched 300 left-handed models with the identical right-handed guitar from the same brand and compared what Thomann charges for each.
Do left-handed guitars cost more?
Usually not much. Of the 300 matched pairs:
- 127 cost exactly the same in both versions,
- 129 cost more for left-handers,
- 44 cost less,
- and on average the left-handed version cost 3% more.
The surcharge depends on the brand. Thomann's own Harley Benton, which makes the most left-handed models of any brand (215), charges lefties almost nothing extra: +0.6% on average across 65 pairs. Martin is close behind at +1.4% across 80 pairs. The big American names charge more: Fender +6.1% and Gibson +6.3% on average.
| Brand | Matched pairs | Average left-handed surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Martin | 80 | +1.4% |
| Harley Benton | 65 | +0.6% |
| Epiphone | 25 | +3.8% |
| Gibson | 22 | +6.3% |
| Fender | 13 | +6.1% |
Prices are Thomann's as of October 18, 2026, in euros.
Where the surcharge gets steep
The biggest gaps are in small runs of expensive guitars, where left-handed versions are built in tiny numbers. A Fender Custom Shop '65 Stratocaster Relic costs 56% more as a left-hander, and a Martin OM-45 28% more. For the guitars most people actually buy, the difference is small or zero.
Fender 65 Strat CAR JM Relic LH, $7,856
The left-handed Custom Shop '65 Strat, the most expensive left-handed surcharge in our comparison. #44 of 610 ST style guitars.
The best-ranked left-handed guitars
The good news is that the best-value guitars come in left-handed versions at the same price.
Fender Player II Strat LH MN AQB, $897
The left-handed Player II Stratocaster, at the same price as the right-handed one. #2 of 149 lefthanded guitars.
Fender Player II Tele LH RW CGR, $897
The highest-ranked left-handed electric in our index when we checked: #1 of 149 lefthanded guitars.
Harley Benton ST-20HH Active LH SBK, $167
A cheap left-handed starter with two active humbuckers. #8 of 149 lefthanded guitars.
Epiphone J-45 Studio EC Natural LH, $494
A left-handed acoustic with a solid spruce top and a pickup. #1 of 112 lefthanded acoustic guitars.
Questions
Are left-handed guitars more expensive?
Slightly, on average: about 3% across 300 matched models at Thomann. 127 of them cost exactly the same as the right-handed version.
Which brands make the most left-handed guitars?
At Thomann, Harley Benton (215 models), Martin (102), Marcus Miller (39), Gibson (38) and Epiphone (36).
Can a left-handed person play a right-handed guitar?
Many do, and some learn right-handed from the start. But for a natural left-hander, a left-handed guitar is usually easier, and the price difference is small.
How we measured. We took every electric, acoustic and classical guitar and bass Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026 (9,661), counted left-handed models by category and name, and matched 300 left-handed models with the right-handed model of the same brand and name. Surcharges compare euro prices on that date. 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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