So, you’re curious about the price tag of these beautiful instruments. Maybe you’ve narrowed down your favourite makers, selected your scales and now you want to know how much you should save up and how much to ask grandma to lend you?

Have a look at makers' websites

First off, it’s worth checking out the individual makers’ websites via our Maker’s Directory. However, as many handpans are made to order, makers often do not publish prices on their websites - assuming they actually have a website - and prefer to discuss this directly with customers, based on their needs, number of notes etc.

For this reason, the forums and Facebook pages don’t like to talk about prices either (unless a direct sale is involved). Even if you’ve managed to discover the cost of all your dream pans (well done if you have!), how do you compare them? Is that quirky bronze-coloured one really worth $1,000 more than the big blue one?

With time, your ears, the opinions of experienced handpan owners and enquiring with makers directly, will all help you to make an informed and value-for-money purchase.

Also see this super-useful guide: Seven marks of a quality handpan.

Back in those days

In 2004, I was lucky to get my hands on a 1st generation F major PANArt Hang for a knock-down price from a guy I met at a festival. He even threw in a bag for free. A year later, I bought a 2nd generation Hang directly from Felix and Sabina at their workshop for cost-price. As a teacher and professional player, my beloved steel family has grown over the years.

In addition to those 2 PANArts, it currently consists of Jan Borren, Meraki, Ayasa, Baopan and Pepis Noblet. I’m in love with many more, but my bank manager is restraining me. 😅

In my time, I’ve seen original rare Hangs go for more than $20,000. I’ve also seen beautifully crafted pans from promising new makers go for less than $800.

One thing I know for sure: Price does not necessarily reflect quality. 

I’m always a bit concerned when I see brand new makers put big price tags on their very first instruments. However, I am not one to judge. Costs work both ways.

I know that behind every one of these beautiful domed creatures is a crazy amount of energy, love and potentially tens of thousands of hammer-strikes and days of tuning. Plus, before a maker can even start to produce and earn, there’s months of research and development, trials and tests, the expense of start-up tools and ongoing materials, and possibly custom-built machinery and a sound-proofed workshop.

See my article on how are handpan made to find out more about the science behind handpans.

Add to that, the cost of living… bills to pay, pensions (a rarity!), and maybe they have a family to support and/or are responsible for a small team. If they are a sole-maker, what do they do if they are injured and cannot produce or there’s an emergency that sets them back?

Sadly, I know of makers who have had their shells and pans stolen and equipment ruined in fires and floods. And finally, there are the rejects to consider – shells get cracked, tuning isn’t always successful – and they have to start over.

As far as I know, there are no millionaire handpan makers. 😀

With all that considered...

Here’s a rough guide to pricing (as at 2019) 

• For a solid handpan with a standard number of notes (7-8) from a good maker: you should probably expect to pay no less than $1,000-$2,500 (new).
• For a ‘top-shelf’ make and/or for more notes: you’re looking at around $3,000-$4,000 (new).
• For anything rare or custom: you can expect to pay more.