How much does an affordable handpan that sounds beautiful cost? In this article, you’ll find many useful tips on how to recognize an affordable handpan that still sounds delightful.
You will also get advice on what to do if your budget is limited. Let’s get started!
Handpans are uniquely crafted by hand, requiring the coordinated efforts of several skilled artisans with years of experience.
Creating a handpan is time-consuming as it involves many steps, and tuning each one takes a lot of time, sometimes even up to 6 months.
There are few skilled, experienced handpan makers.
Not everyone can become a handpan maker; you need to be persistent, very precise and able to handle monotony.
Demand exceeds what manufacturers can supply, which can raise prices.
A handpan can realistically cost anywhere between €300 and €5000.
The entry price for an affordable handpan is approximately €600-700. This means that while there are cheaper handpans available, their quality—and even their status as a musical instrument—can be highly questionable.
The entry-level price is the lowest amount you would likely pay for a handpan that sounds good, is suitable for practice, and can be a good option for beginners.
The mid-range price is around €1500-1600.
A handpan with about 7-9 note fields costs approximately €1200-2400. In our opinion, this is a perfect choice for beginners.
If your budget allows, choose a handpan with fewer note fields in the mid-range. Since each additional note field increases the price by about €200, you can save money this way.
A premium, high-quality handpan ranges from €2500-3500.
It is impossible to make a good-sounding handpan for under €500. Below a certain price point, it is simply not possible to produce a handpan that sounds clear, is durable, and does not require immediate tuning, as acquiring the necessary expertise takes years.
Certain physical properties cannot be created in a mass-produced setting, so handpans ordered from large online retailers (such as Amazon) for €300 are guaranteed to disappoint. If in doubt, join a handpan Facebook group and read the posts regarding cheap handpans.
A handpan ordered from a large online retailer is almost certainly not going to be re-tuned by the manufacturer. And even if it is, you would still have to ship it back and forth, which could take months (if it’s even possible).
Professional handpan makers and stores are unlikely to tune a cheaply bought, clearly low-quality instrument—and even if they did, it would almost certainly go out of tune quickly due to poor materials and mass-production methods. This is a big issue because tuning a handpan at home is not feasible; it requires professional knowledge and tools.
We advise steering clear of Aliexpress, Temu, Amazon, eBay and other websites not specialized in musical instruments.
If you buy a cheap handpan for under €500-600,, don’t expect much.
A common argument in favor of cheap handpans is that they are “just” for learning and practice.
“I want to “learn”. I’m not trying to play like a Master” – writes someone on a forum.
However, you won’t be able to practice or learn on an out-of-tune, distorted-sounding handpan. And what’s worse: as a beginner, you may not even recognize the wrong notes and practice the scales and songs improperly.
Learning to play on a poor-quality, out-of-tune handpan is like playing basketball with a deflated, unresponsive ball that bounces unevenly.
Is it suitable for practice, learning? Would you even want to learn? Probably not!
When it comes to an affordable handpan, quality is not compromised:
If you are a beginner but don’t want to spend a fortune on a premium handpan, a mid-range handpan is an absolutely good and affordable choice.
Though it is a greater initial expense compared to a €500 instrument, you will be able to play it for much longer, meaning its price pays off, and spread over several years, it’s actually cheaper.
It’s also a good choice if you’re not sure about committing to handpan playing in the long run. A medium-quality handpan can be sold, and you’ll surely find a buyer who appreciates quality.
If you’re just getting familiar with this instrument, opting for a mid-range handpan can provide you with quality sound without having to invest a fortune.
It’s completely understandable if, as a beginner, you don’t want to spend 2-4 times your salary on an instrument.
There are several ways you can try out a handpan and decide if you want to invest in the future, and find the least expensive option without compromising on quality:
If you’ve never played a handpan before, you can rent one to experience it at a fraction of the cost of even a cheaper handpan.
Another good idea is to attend a handpan course or workshop, where you’ll certainly practice on medium or premium quality handpans. This helps you later identify lower-quality handpans and also allows you to receive professional advice.
If you’d prefer to invest in a handpan that sounds crystal clear and brings you joy for a lifetime, explore our webshop specializing in handpans and tongue drums.
