Guitar prices range from under $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the type, brand, and quality of materials

A beginner acoustic or electric guitar typically costs between $100 and $300. These instruments are playable and durable enough to learn on, though the sound quality and comfort won't match higher-priced models. A mid-range guitar—the kind a player might keep for years—usually runs $300 to $800. Professional-grade instruments start around $800 and can exceed $2,000 or more, especially for acoustic guitars made with premium wood or electric guitars from established brands.

The price you pay depends on what you're actually buying: the wood quality, the hardware (tuning pegs, bridge, pickups), the brand reputation, and whether the guitar was mass-produced or handmade. A $150 guitar and a $500 guitar both have six strings and a neck, but they differ in how they sound, how long they last, and how comfortable they feel to play for an hour at a time.

Key Takeaways

  • Budget guitars under $200 work for beginners but often have uncomfortable action (string height) and duller sound than mid-range models.
  • Mid-range guitars between $300 and $800 offer better playability and tone, and most players don't outgrow them for years.
  • Acoustic guitars tend to cost more than electric guitars at the same quality level because solid wood is more expensive than laminate.
  • Used guitars can cost 30 to 50 percent less than new ones, but you need to inspect them for cracks, warping, and wear on the frets.
  • Brand name matters less than the individual instrument—two guitars from the same brand at the same price point can feel and sound different.

Budget guitars: $100 to $250

Entry-level guitars are designed to be affordable, not to last forever or sound like a professional instrument. Most are made with laminated wood (thin sheets glued together) rather than solid wood, which keeps costs down but produces a thinner, less resonant tone. The hardware—tuning pegs, bridge, and nut—is usually basic metal that works but may not hold tuning as steadily as pricier alternatives.

These guitars are genuinely playable for learning chords and basic songs. The real trade-off is comfort: the action (the height of the strings above the fretboard) is often too high, which makes your fingers hurt faster and makes it harder to press strings down cleanly. A setup by a technician—adjusting the action and intonation—costs $50 to $100 and can make a budget guitar much more pleasant to play, though it won't change the fundamental tone.

Budget brands you'll see online include Fender Squier, Yamaha Pacifica, Ibanez GIO, and Epiphone. These are made by the same parent companies as their professional lines, so they're not scams, but they use cheaper materials and less precise manufacturing. A $150 Squier Stratocaster is a real Fender design, just built to a lower standard.

Mid-range guitars: $300 to $800

This is where most players spend their money, and where the jump in quality becomes noticeable. Mid-range acoustics often use solid wood for the top (the face of the guitar), which vibrates more freely and produces a warmer, louder tone than laminate. The hardware is more durable, and the frets are usually crowned and polished more carefully, so intonation is more accurate across the neck.

Electric guitars in this range come with better pickups (the magnets that capture string vibration), which means clearer tone and less noise when you're plugged in. The neck is often more comfortable—thinner, faster, and better finished. You're also more likely to find guitars that have been set up properly before they leave the factory, so you can play them out of the box without paying extra for adjustments.

At this price, brand reputation starts to matter more because you're buying from companies with longer track records. Fender, Gibson, Yamaha, and Ibanez all make solid mid-range instruments. A $500 acoustic from Yamaha will outlast a $500 acoustic from a brand you've never heard of, partly because Yamaha has been making guitars for decades and has better quality control.

Professional and premium guitars: $800 and up

Above $800, you're paying for materials that are genuinely harder to source and craft. High-end acoustics use premium tonewoods—spruce, mahogany, rosewood—that are aged and selected for grain and resonance. The bracing inside the guitar (the wooden supports that shape how it vibrates) is often hand-carved rather than machine-cut. These guitars sound noticeably fuller and more complex, and they age well; a 20-year-old premium acoustic often sounds better than it did new.

Professional electric guitars have hand-wound pickups, better electronics, and necks that are shaped and finished to tighter tolerances. The frets are often stainless steel instead of nickel-silver, which means they wear slower and stay shiny longer. At this level, you're also paying for the brand's reputation and resale value—a used Gibson Les Paul holds its price better than a used budget-brand electric.

Handmade guitars from individual luthiers (guitar makers) can cost $2,000 to $10,000 or more. These are custom instruments built to your specifications, with wood chosen specifically for your playing style. Unless you're a professional musician or collector, you don't need to spend this much.

Acoustic versus electric: which costs more

Acoustic guitars are generally more expensive than electric guitars at the same quality level. A solid-wood acoustic that costs $500 will typically sound noticeably better than a $500 electric, because the acoustic's tone depends entirely on the wood and construction—there's no amplifier to shape the sound. Electric guitars rely on pickups and amplifiers to create their tone, so a cheaper electric can still sound good through the right amp.

However, an electric guitar setup requires more than just the guitar. You'll need an amplifier ($50 to $300 for a beginner amp), a cable ($10 to $30), and a strap ($15 to $50). An acoustic needs only a strap and a tuner (which costs $10 to $30). So the total cost to start playing electric is higher, even if the guitar itself is cheaper.

Used guitars and what to watch for

A used guitar typically costs 30 to 50 percent less than the same model new. This is a real savings, but you need to inspect the instrument carefully before buying. Look for cracks in the wood—especially on the top of an acoustic, where cracks are expensive to repair. Check that the neck is straight by sighting down it like a rifle barrel; a warped neck is hard to fix and makes the guitar unplayable.

Play the guitar and listen for buzzing, which means the frets are worn or the neck has shifted. Check that all tuning pegs turn smoothly and hold tuning for at least a few minutes. If you're buying online, ask for photos of the headstock, the back of the neck, and the body from multiple angles. If you're buying in person, bring someone who plays guitar if you don't, or ask the seller to play it for you.

Reputable used guitar shops and online marketplaces like Reverb.com usually may provide that what you're buying is as described. Private sellers offer no may provide, so the price should reflect that risk. A $200 used guitar from a shop is safer than a $150 used guitar from someone's garage, even though the second one costs less.

What affects price beyond the guitar itself

The case or gig bag you buy adds $30 to $200 to the total cost. A soft gig bag ($30 to $60) protects the guitar from bumps and dust but won't survive a fall. A hard case ($80 to $150) protects against serious damage and is worth the money if you transport your guitar regularly. A flight case ($150 to $300) is overkill unless you're flying with the guitar.

Accessories—a tuner, capo, strap, picks, and strings—cost $50 to $100 total for decent quality versions. An amplifier for an electric guitar adds $50 to $300 depending on wattage and features. Lessons, either in-person or online, are separate from the guitar cost but are worth budgeting for if you're serious about learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a $100 guitar worth buying, or should I spend more?

A $100 guitar is playable, but the high action and thin tone make learning harder and less enjoyable. Spending $200 to $300 on a mid-budget model gives you better comfort and sound for not much more money. If budget is tight, a $100 guitar works, but plan to spend $50 on a setup to make it playable.

Will I outgrow a $400 guitar?

Most players don't outgrow a $400 to $500 guitar for years, even after they become intermediate players. The limitation is usually your skill, not the instrument. Professional musicians upgrade because they want specific tone or features, not because their old guitar stopped working.

Should I buy a guitar bundle with an amp and accessories?

Bundles are usually a bad deal. The guitar is often lower quality than if you bought it separately, and the amp and accessories are cheap versions you'll want to replace. Buy the guitar and amp separately so you can choose each one based on what you actually need.

Do expensive guitars sound better, or is it just brand name?

Expensive guitars do sound better, but the difference gets smaller as you go up in price. A $600 guitar sounds noticeably better than a $200 guitar. A $1,200 guitar sounds better than a $600 guitar, but the improvement is smaller. Above $1,500, you're often paying for brand reputation and resale value as much as sound quality.

Can I negotiate the price at a guitar shop?

Yes, especially on higher-priced guitars or if you're buying multiple items. Shops have some wiggle room on price, and they'd rather make a sale at a lower margin than lose the customer. Used guitars are more negotiable than new ones. Online prices are usually fixed, but some sellers will offer discounts for bulk orders.