Handpan Price: What You Actually Pay For

In short: a quality new handpan, handmade and hand-tuned, usually costs between €1,200 and €2,500; the most sought-after makers charge over €3,000, and below €500 the tuning rarely holds. Price depends mainly on the tuning work, the number of notes and demand — plus import costs people forget.

How much does a handpan cost in 2026?

Buying guides published in 2025 and 2026 by handpan schools and specialist shops across Europe give very similar price ranges. Here is a summary: these are orders of magnitude for a new instrument, not a price list.

Enixpan handpans sit in the third row: from €1,590 for a D Kurd 10 to €2,890 for an E Amara 20, with delivery and import duties included.

What you actually pay for

A handpan is not expensive because of its raw material — a few kilos of steel. It is expensive because it takes hours of skilled work, and there is no industrial shortcut for tuning it.

• The steel and its treatment: two shells formed from steel chosen for stability, usually nitrided (a surface treatment that limits rust) or stainless.
• Shaping: each tone field is laid out and hammered into the top shell, with the Ding in the centre and the Gu opened underneath.
• Hand tuning: the longest and most delicate step. Each note has to be in tune on its fundamental and several overtones at once, without disturbing its neighbours. This is where a €400 instrument and a €1,500 instrument part ways.
• Final inspection: note-by-note listening, checking for unwanted buzzing, finish.
• Demand: a well-known maker with a waiting list prices accordingly.
• Shipping: an instrument about 53 cm across that dislikes knocks travels packed and tracked.

Number of notes and price

Every extra note is one more field to shape and tune, and a more delicate balance between all the notes. So price rises with the note count — but not only: the scale and the size of the Ding matter too. Here is the full Enixpan price list (VAT included, DDP delivery included):

The C Low Pygmy 9, with its low C Ding, therefore costs more than the 10-note D models. To choose the sound before the number of notes, see our guide to handpan scales.

Hidden costs: shipping, customs, VAT, case

The advertised price is not always the price you pay. Before comparing two offers, check these four points:

• Shipping: a bulky, fragile parcel, often charged separately and sometimes expensive.
• Import VAT and duties: since 1 July 2021, all goods imported into the European Union are subject to VAT, whatever their value. For an instrument at this price, customs duties may be added, plus clearance fees charged by the carrier. The same logic applies in the UK, Switzerland or the US with their own rules. A handpan bought abroad "at the listed price" can cost noticeably more at your door.
• The case: essential for carrying the instrument. Check whether it is included or sold separately.
• Returns: if you withdraw from the purchase, return shipping is usually paid by the buyer, and sending a parcel this size abroad is not trivial. That is also the case with us: read the terms before ordering.

At Enixpan, delivery is free and DDP (delivered duty paid): VAT, duties and import fees are included, so there is nothing to pay on arrival.

New or used?

The second-hand market can get you an instrument faster and often cheaper. But a handpan goes out of tune after a knock or with poor ageing, and a private sale offers no returns and little recourse. Before buying used:

• listen to every note, ideally with a tuner app, and compare with the advertised scale;
• inspect the surface: rust, dents or marks on the tone fields;
• ask where it comes from, how old it is and whether it has been retuned;
• try it in person or ask for a continuous, unedited video where every note is played;
• set aside budget for a possible retune.

New costs more, but you choose your scale and tuning, and you keep your right of withdrawal.

What the Enixpan price includes

• A handpan made by our partner workshop, tuned by hand and checked note by note before shipping.
• A protective bag and a padded transport cover.
• A care guide and access to the learning platform.
• Free delivery, duties and taxes included, in about 30 days (around 15 days of making and 15 days in transit).
• 14 days to change your mind after delivery (see returns).

Pay by card, PayPal, Klarna or bank transfer; instalments are offered by Klarna and PayPal, subject to eligibility.

Budget by player profile

• First handpan: €1,590 to €1,990. A 9- or 10-note instrument is plenty to learn and improvise for years.
• More bass to accompany yourself: €2,390 to €2,790 with the D Ashakiran 15 or D Kurd 13.
• A complete instrument for composing: €2,690 to €2,890 with the D Aegean 18, F# Low Pygmy 19 or E Amara 20.

To see the models side by side, check the handpan comparison; for the whole buying decision, read how to choose your first handpan.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a good handpan cost?

New, a quality handmade and hand-tuned handpan usually costs between €1,200 and €2,500, and over €3,000 from highly sought-after makers. Enixpan prices range from €1,590 to €2,890 depending on the model, with delivery and duties included.

Why are handpans so expensive?

Because every note is shaped and then tuned by hand, on its fundamental and overtones, with no industrial shortcut. Add treated steel, final inspection and shipping a bulky, fragile instrument.

Is a handpan under €500 worth it?

Rarely. At that price the tuning is often approximate or unstable and the sound dies quickly. On a small budget, it is better to try one, rent one or buy second-hand after checking it.

Do I pay customs on a handpan bought outside the EU?

Usually yes: since 1 July 2021 all goods imported into the EU are subject to VAT, and customs duties may be added for an instrument at this price. Only DDP delivery, as at Enixpan, includes these costs in the price.

Is buying a used handpan a good idea?

Yes, if you can hear every note, check for rust and dents and know its history. Budget for a possible retune, and remember that a private sale gives no right of return.

Going further