How Much Does A Trumpet Cost? A Beginner's Guide

There’s no getting around the fact that trumpets can be pretty expensive. Depending on your level of skill, what you’re looking for, and the brand, you could typically be paying anywhere between £300 to £1,000 for an intermediate or beginner trumpet. 

That’s not to say there aren’t cheaper (and more expensive) options out there! But finding the right trumpet for you at a price that suits you can be a challenge in and of itself. That’s why in this article, we’re going to take you through some of the factors that dictate the price of a trumpet, present you with some of the more affordable options out there, and hopefully help you find the instrument you’re looking for! 

We’ll cover the following:

• Why Brass Instruments Are Expensive
• Brand
• Condition
• Features
• Ongoing costs 
• Plastic Vs Brass
• The pBone Range

Why are brass instruments so expensive? 

Traditional brass instruments are typically more expensive because of the time, material, and skill needed to ensure that they’re of high quality. It’s also worth noting that some brass instruments are more expensive than others. Tubas, for example, are much larger than trumpets and therefore tend to cost much more even at the lower end of the spectrum. I just spotted one particular tuba online for over £21,000 and very nearly fainted. 

Trumpet brands

The brand name can also drive the price up. Similar to how a tin of Heinz baked beans is more than twice the price of a supermarket version, people pay for the quality associated with the brand name - and it’s a reputation that’s usually well-earned! To be clear, I’m not comparing beans to trumpets. Although both can make you toot. Yes, that was a fart joke. Let’s move on. 

But high-quality trumpets from brands like Yamaha can set you back anywhere between £2000 to £5000 - not an amount I imagine any parent or budding musician would be willing to part with. The good news? Premium starter trumpets are becoming more affordable all the time. It just depends on what you’re willing to pay. 

The Yamaha YTR-2330 Trumpet is a highly regarded starter trumpet for around £500 ($634/€, and a good option if you have a little more cash to splash. Premium instruments from Yamaha are an ideal intermediate step for students who are progressing in their trumpet journey. But if you’re looking for an affordable introduction, whether you are an individual player or an educator looking to teach an entire classroom of students, plastic trumpets are usually a really safe bet. 

The pCornet and pTrumpet, which are £109 and £139 respectively, are comfortable, easy to use, and designed to help build essential musical skills that can be transferred to any number of other instruments. They’re also super durable, which is a bonus if you’re considering buying for a kid. 

The big takeaway here? Just because a trumpet is more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better fit for you. Yes, “cheap” has some unfortunate connotations - but just because something is affordable doesn’t mean it’s bad. 

Read more:

Top Five Advantages Of Plastic Instruments 

pBone Review Roundup: Is It Worth Buying?

Condition

Obviously second-hand trumpets will be cheaper than brand-new models, but you need to be careful here! An older trumpet may well require more maintenance and even some repairs or replacement parts which could very quickly drive up the initial cost. 

Features

There are plenty of features that can determine the overall cost of a trumpet, although these are typically things that won’t matter much to beginners. The bore size, valve material, mouthpiece, and annealed brass elements are all factors that could drive up the cost. And as we’ve previously mentioned, the material of the trumpet itself tends to be the biggest factor. Plastic trumpets will always be the more affordable option, and much better for those just starting their musical journey.

Ongoing costs 

All instruments require semi-regular maintenance and care to keep them in good shape, and the trumpet is no different. Traditional brass instruments need a thorough clean at least once a month, and doing it right requires special kits like valve oil, cloths, and brushes that can get into those hard-to-reach areas. 

While these kits aren’t particularly bank-breaking (you can get a basic Stagg Trumpet Maintenance Kit for less than £20), it can add up. Repairing a damaged trumpet can also cost between £50 to £100 depending on the extent of the service - and that doesn’t cover potential replacement of damaged parts. 

Plastic trumpets are much less hassle by comparison. The slide on pBone and the valves on pTrumpet require very little maintenance. No water and gunk on the slide is needed and oil on the valves will slow them down. These instruments really have been designed to pick up, play, and enjoy with no fuss and zero stress. 

That’s not to say plastic instruments require zero care, of course. You can browse a full list of affordable accessories and cleaning kits here, many of which can even be used with traditional brass instruments! 

Plastic Vs Brass 

We’ve spoken a fair bit about plastic instruments in this article, but you can probably guess why. As the leading manufacturer of plastic trumpets and trombones, we obviously think plastic instruments are a great entry point for younger players. They’re also more affordable, durable, and fun to use. 

Does that mean they’re perfect? Of course not. There are disadvantages and problems to consider when purchasing a plastic instrument. Sound quality and tone may not exactly match that of a traditional brass instrument in some cases, for example. You may also worry about the environmental impact, which is of course a hugely important factor to keep in mind. 

The good news? Plastic instruments such as the pTrumpet are entirely Carbon Neutral – that means the carbon emissions caused by them have been balanced out by funding an equivalent amount of carbon savings elsewhere in the world.

They also sound great! Take a look at the video below to see how a pBone sounds when stacked up against a traditional brass trombone for an idea of how we make sure our instruments are indistinguishable from their brass cousins. 

The pBone range

Whether you’re after your first trumpet or something else entirely from the brass family, each one of our products is specially designed to make the musical journey as fun and affordable as possible. 

The pBugle and pBuzz earlier are wonderful first instruments aimed at younger players which will help them get used to the basics of brass and prepare them to move on to the next level. Meanwhile, the pCornet and pTrumpet are lightweight, easy to hold, and perfect for younger players and beginners alike. And for the more serious players? The pTrumpet hyTech is a high-quality and affordable student trumpet that's great for beginners or students at any level. 

You can take a look at the charts below to see a breakdown of our pTrumpet and pBone journeys. Whichever instrument you choose, we're with you every step of the way. 

Find Out More 

Convinced a plastic instrument is the right instrument for you? Feel free to browse through our comprehensive learning guide, or take a look at the full range of pInstruments to see if there might be a better fit for you. 

And if you’re still not sure, consider taking a look at the following articles:

What Is The Difference Between Plastic And Brass Instruments?

Serious About Making Music Fun: The Sustainable Choice 

What Is The Easiest Instrument To Learn?