How Much Do Acoustic Guitars Cost? (With 30+ Examples)

If you’re looking to buy your first acoustic guitar, or want to upgrade, then you might be wondering how much you need to spend in order to get a decent instrument. In this article, I’ll be going through the average price of acoustic guitars, why they can cost different amounts and how much you should look at spending to get a good model.

The Quick Answer

Acoustic guitars cost approximately $100-200 for an entry-level model. Intermediate-level acoustic guitars cost around $300-800, whilst professional-level acoustic guitars often cost several thousands of dollars. The price is mainly dictated by the country of origin, brand, body and wood type.

Cost of Popular Acoustic Guitars

There are many brands and models of acoustic guitars on the market, and they all vary in price to cater to different experience levels. Here are some tables to show the average cost of some of the most popular acoustic guitars.

Entry-Level Acoustic Guitars

Entry-level acoustic guitars typically cost between $100 and $250 and are usually made in China and Indonesia. They will often have laminate wood bodies which are not as resonant as more expensive solid body acoustic guitars.

Acoustic GuitarPriceOriginTop WoodBody
Rogue RA-110D$100ChinaSpruceLaminate
Cort AF505$120ChinaSpruceSolid
Epiphone Starling$140ChinaSpruceLaminate
Mitchell D120$150ChinaSpruceLaminate
Fender FA-125$170IndonesiaSpruceLaminate
Ibanez PF18WDB$180IndonesiaSpruceLaminate
Epiphone PR-150$200ChinaSpruceLaminate
Dean AXS$230ChinaQuilted AshLaminate
Mitchell D120SCE$250ChinaSpruceSolid
Average cost and specifications of beginner acoustic guitars.

Low-Mid Range Acoustic Guitars

Low-mid range acoustic guitars typically cost between $250-$400 and are aimed at players looking to make a step-up from their entry-level model. Often the body is still laminate wood but they are usually better quality and may have more unique finishes.

Acoustic GuitarPriceOriginTop WoodBody
Walden Standard$280ChinaSpruceSolid
Schecter Deluxe$300ChinaSpruceLaminate
ECO TRI$300ChinaSpruceSolid
Mitchell T311CE$330IndonesiaSpruceSolid
Ibanez AAD140$350ChinaOkoumeSolid
Alvarez AD60SHB$370ChinaSpruceSolid
Silvertone 955CE$400IndonesiaSpruceSolid
Breedlove Discovery CE$400ChinaMahoganySolid
Average cost and specifications of low-mid range acoustic guitars.

Mid-High Range Acoustic Guitars

Mid-high range acoustic guitars cost between $500 and $800 and are aimed at serious players. Often they will have a solid body to improve tonal quality and you’ll start to see bigger brands in this price range such as Taylor and Martin. These guitars are made in a range of countries including China, Indonesia and Mexico but rarely the USA.

Acoustic GuitarPriceOriginTop WoodBody
Guild DS-240$500ChinaSpruceSolid
Merida Summer$540ChinaSpruceSolid
Taylor GS Mini$550MexicoMahoganySolid
Taylor Big Baby$600MexicoSpruceSolid
Fender PM-3 Standard$630IndonesiaMahoganySolid
Guild OM-120 Westerly$670ChinaMahoganySolid
Fender California$730ChinaMahoganySolid
Martin Special GPC Style 10$800MexicoSapeleSolid
Average cost and specifications of mid-high end acoustic guitars.

High-End Acoustic Guitars

High-end acoustic guitars cost upwards of $1000 but can cost as much as $5000. The most popular brands in this price bracket include Martin, Taylor and Gibson. The most expensive guitars are typically made in America but Mexico and Japan are also well-renowned for producing high quality acoustic guitars.

Acoustic GuitarPriceOriginTop WoodBody
Martin Special D$1000MexicoSpruceSolid
Yamaha FG5 Red Label$1200JapanSpruceSolid
Taylor AD17 American Dream$1400USASpruceSolid
Guild D-20$1600USAMahoganySolid
Beard Deco Phonic Sidecar$1800USAMahoganySolid
Alvarez DYMR70 Yairi$2250JapanSpruceSolid
Gibson 1960’s J-45$3500USARed SpruceSolid
Average cost and specifications of high end acoustic guitars.

What Affects Acoustic Guitar Price?

So there is a big range between the cost of entry-level and professional acoustic guitars, but what makes them different?

Some acoustic guitars cost more than others because they are made from better quality wood, have solid finishes instead of laminate constructions and are handmade instead of mass-produced. Typically, American and Japanese acoustic guitars are more expensive than Chinese-made guitars.

Here are the main factors which affect acoustic guitar price:

  • Country of origin: typically USA-made guitars are most expensive, followed by Japanese then Mexican-made guitars. Chinese and Indonesian-made guitars are usually the cheapest. This is often due to the level of quality control and attention detail paid during manufacturing.
  • Wood type: spruce tops be found on both entry-level and professional-level acoustic models. However, koa and more unique woods are typically only found on the more expensive models.
  • Body construction: there are two main construction types: laminate and solid. Laminate top guitars are often cheaper and are made by fusing layers of wood together. Solid top guitars offer better tone and sustain and are found on mid-high range models.
  • Hardware: often you will see better quality hardware (tuners, strings, bridge etc.) on more expensive guitars.

Check out my comparison between solid and laminate acoustic guitars to learn more.

How Much Do Acoustic-Electric Guitars Cost?

Electric-acoustic guitars usually cost around $50-100 more than acoustic guitars. Beginner-level acoustic guitars can be found for $100-200, whilst entry-level acoustic-electric models usually start at around $150-200. You will also need an amp for acoustic-electric guitars which start at $50-100.

Here is a table comparing the price and specifications of some popular acoustic-electric guitars.

Acoustic-Electric GuitarPriceOriginTop WoodBody
Rogue RA-90$150ChinaWhitewoodLaminate
Fender FA-135CE$200ChinaSpruceLaminate
Epiphone AJ-100CE$250ChinaSpruceLaminate
Washburn Festival$300ChinaFlame MapleLaminate
Guild D-240E$400ChinaSpruceSolid
Yamaha A-Series A1M$540ChinaSpruceSolid
Seagull Entourage CW QIT$600CanadaSpruceSolid
Godin Arena CW QIT$750CanadaSpruceSolid
Martin GPC-11E$1000MexicoSpruceSolid
Gibson G-45$1300USASpruceSolid
Takamine PTU241C$1540JapanSpruceSolid
Taylor 3222e$2100USAMahoganySolid
Average cost and specifications of popular acoustic-electric guitars.

How Much Should I Spend on an Acoustic Guitar?

A lot of new and experienced guitar players wonder exactly how much they’ll need to spend to get a decent acoustic guitar, and it can be hard to tell if spending a few hundred extra dollars will be worth it.

For complete beginners, spending around $100-200 on an acoustic guitar is typical. This will allow you to purchase a good quality instrument that will last many years, without wasting too much money if you decide to stop playing.

If you’re looking to purchase a second guitar, then you’ll often find guitars in the $300-500 range that are completely fine for live performances and recording. Of course, you can spend more or less than this. The best thing is to try plenty of guitars in the store and keep a budget in mind.

Remember, that it’s more about the player than the guitar though. A complete beginner won’t sound any better on a $1000 guitar, compared to a $100 guitar!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some more quick questions you might have on your journey to purchasing a new guitar.

Are cheap acoustic guitars worth buying?

Cheap acoustic guitars costing around $100 are fine to purchase for beginners. This allows you to start learning but without spending too much money if you decide you don’t want to carry on playing. Make sure that you purchase from a reputable store and avoid buying second-hand if you’re inexperienced.

Some second-hand guitars can be “set-up” improperly which means there may be issues with the string height, neck curvature or bridge height. This can cause the guitar to sound pretty bad and costs around $40 to get it fixed. I made this mistake when getting my second guitar and ended up purchasing a new guitar a couple of months later!

How can I make a cheap acoustic guitar sound better?

The best way to make a cheap acoustic guitar sound better is to make sure you have had it “set-up” professionally to make sure it is sound mechanically. You can also make some minor upgrades, such as new strings to help improve the tone.

How much do electric guitars cost?

Electric guitars usually start at around $150 but can cost up to several thousands. Starter amplifiers usually cost between $75-125, however you can purchase bundles which cost around $200 for the set.

I also have a complete guitar to electric guitar prices with 30 examples, so check it out if you’re on the fence!

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Heather

Hey, I'm Heather. I started playing an electric guitar when I was given a Squier Strat for my birthday around 15 years ago. I now own an acoustic guitar and several electric guitars including my personal favourite, a PRS SE Custom 24.

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