Clarinet Price Guide: Current Values & Sales

Clarinet prices follow the material of the body and the quality of the keywork. Most school bands start students on a plastic or resin Bb clarinet, which tolerates temperature changes and the occasional knock. Wooden clarinets sound warmer to many players but need more care.

This guide uses Yamaha and Buffet Crampon models as reference points, since both appear on most school and professional lists. Prices are retailer list prices and vary by dealer.

The Yamaha YCL-255 is a widely used student model with a resin body. Sweetwater lists it at $1,431, and Chuck Levin's lists it at $1,431. Both retailers show the same figure for that model.

Entry-level clarinets generally include a mouthpiece, a ligature, and a case. Reeds are not included in most cases, so plan to buy a box of them.

Sweetwater's guide gives these level ranges: intermediate clarinets at $1,500 – $2,500 and professional clarinets at $2,200 – $7,000.

These ranges are broad because the market has many models inside each tier. The table below gives specific examples.

The Yamaha YCL-450IIN is an intermediate wood-bodied model at $1,928.99. The YCL-650II is a professional model with silver-plated keys at $2,895.99. At the higher end, the Buffet Crampon R13 with nickel keys is listed at $4,000.

Intermediate clarinets are typically wooden, which many players find gives a richer tone. Pads are often leather in place of the synthetic pads on student models, and the tone holes and bore are shaped more carefully. Professional clarinets use denser wood, more precise tuning, and better keywork, and some players choose instruments by feel more than by specification.

These are general patterns, not rules. A well-adjusted student clarinet can sound better than a neglected professional one, and a teacher will usually say when a student has outgrown the starter instrument.

Plastic and resin bodies resist cracking and need less maintenance, so they suit marching band and young students. Wooden bodies can crack if they are not broken in or if they experience sudden changes in temperature and humidity. Some makers sell hybrid bodies that combine materials to give wood tone with extra stability, and these usually cost more than plastic ones.

Most students play the Bb clarinet, and band directors usually name the model they prefer. Ask the director before buying, because some programs want a specific model, a particular key finish, or an instrument that matches the rest of the section. Nickel and silver-plated keys both appear in the listings, and the difference is mostly cosmetic and a matter of upkeep. A teacher can also confirm whether a used instrument is in playable adjustment, which is easy to miss on a first look.

Many school programs offer rentals, and renting can make sense for the first year while a student decides whether to stay with the instrument. Rental fees often go toward a purchase, but terms differ, so ask. If you buy, buy from a shop that adjusts the instrument before you take it home.

Budget for reeds, cork grease, a swab, and a music stand. Pads wear out over time, and a technician can replace them. A better mouthpiece is a common upgrade and one that players often value more than a new instrument.