Harp Price Guide: Current Values & Sales

Harps come in two families that sit in different price worlds. Lever harps have small levers on each string that raise the pitch by a half step, so you can change key by hand. They are lighter, smaller and cheaper, and they are the usual choice for beginners and folk players. Pedal harps use seven pedals to change pitch on every octave at once. They are the orchestral instrument, and they cost far more.

The numbers below come from harp makers and specialist dealers. Harp prices are usually quoted for a specific model, finish and string count, and many dealers list "from" prices that rise with wood choice or options. Treat each figure as a starting point.

A lever harp is sized by its string count, from small lap harps with few strings to floor models with thirty-four or more. More strings mean a wider range, a larger body and a higher price. Wood, finish and the quality of the levers change the price within a model line too.

The Harpsicle lineup shows how low the price can start. It is a maker's price for its smallest model, and it rises with larger models in the same line. Dusty Strings, a Seattle maker, sells the Ravenna and Allegro lines near the low end of the table and the Serrana above them. Lyon & Healy, a Chicago maker, sells its lever harps at the top of the table.

Retail prices for the same model differ between dealers, since some include a case or stand and some do not. Check what the listing includes before you compare two harps.

Pedal harps are priced by size and finish. Smaller petite and semi-grand models sit at the bottom of the pedal range. Concert grand harps, the full orchestral size, cost the most, and decorated or custom models cost more again. The figures are "new from" prices at one dealer, and the final price depends on finish and options.

Buyers considering a pedal harp usually rent first or buy used, since a used instrument in good condition can cost much less than a new one. A pedal harp also needs regular regulation by a technician, which adds to the cost of ownership.

A maker and a dealer give broader ranges than any single model. One quotes the span of its own lineup. The other gives the price of a pedal harp.

These ranges explain why searches for "how much does a harp cost" return such different answers. A small lever harp and a concert grand sit in entirely different price brackets.

A lever harp is easier to move, easier to afford and easier to maintain. It suits beginners, folk and Celtic playing, and anyone who is not sure they will stay with the instrument. Pedal harps are needed for the classical orchestral repertoire, since the pedals let the player change pitch quickly during a piece. Many teachers advise starting on a lever harp unless you already know you need a pedal instrument.

• A bench or stool, which is not always included
• A stand for the smaller models
• Replacement strings, which wear out
• A tuning key and an electronic tuner
• A case, if the harp does not include one
• Regular tuning and, for pedal harps, regulation by a technician

Some makers sell extras such as sharping levers, a pickup or a soundboard veneer as options, and each one adds to the quote.

Rental programs let new players try a harp before they buy. Dealers that rent often apply some of the payments to a purchase, so ask. Buying used can cut the price, and harp dealers sell pre-owned instruments. Always ask a harpist or a dealer to check the soundboard, neck and levers on a used harp, because repairs to those parts are expensive.