Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on Jun 15, 2026
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Are you thinking about buying a handpan, whether for yourself or a loved one? Have you come across very tempting offers at really low prices? Are instruments sold at those prices actually worth it? Is it a scam?
Iâve personally bought several handpans at very different prices, from a few hundred Australian dollars to several thousand. So, thanks to my experience in this area, I can guide you perfectly so you can find the instrument thatâs exactly right for you.
Buying a cheap handpan is a good idea as long as it is above a certain price threshold. In fact, trying to get an instrument of decent quality for less than A$1010 is very risky and absolutely not recommended.
By reading this article, you will learn:
- What can be considered a low-cost handpan
- Why this sound instrument has such a high price
- The pitfalls you absolutely need to avoid
- Who an affordable handpan is right for
- What alternatives are available if you donât have the necessary budget
As a result, youâll have all the useful information you need to find the perfect handpan and, above all, know whether the instrument youâre interested in is truly a good deal.
Now, it makes sense to dive into this interesting topic together.
What is a cheap handpan?
The first thing is to define exactly what a cheap handpan is. In fact, over the past few years, the entry-level prices for this percussion instrument have dropped significantly. So much so that what was considered inexpensive at one time is not necessarily considered inexpensive today.
In my opinion, a cheap handpan is a model priced between A$1010 and A$1680. Itâs in this price range that youâll truly find an instrument with a certain level of quality while still paying a reasonable price. Youâll probably tell me youâve found much cheaper models, including some that can even be found under A$250. But at that price, I donât even consider them handpans. They may have the shape or look of one, but when you compare these examples with real handpans, the difference in acoustics is undeniable. And Iâm going to explain now why a handpan under A$840 is not even worth considering as a credible option.
Why are real handpans so expensive?
There are two major factors that influence the price of a handpan. The first is the steel used to make the two shells, and the second is the time the artisan spends hammering the instrument.
Regarding the steel, itâs important to know that there are several types and several quality levels. A well-made handpan will be crafted from DC04 steel or AISI 430 stainless steel. Obviously, the cost of these steels is not the same as that of the low-grade steel used to make all kinds of objects that donât truly require as much care as a handpan. To give you an example, the Ayasa brand sells pre-formed handpan shells intended for makers who only need to hammer those shells to form the notes. Depending on the steel chosen, a set consisting of an upper shell and a lower shell sells for between A$180 and A$270.
When it comes to labour, it is commonly accepted that a handpan requires at least 20 to 40 hours to make. That is why this instrument is fairly expensive. In reality, a handpan takes a great deal of time to hammer, and this manual labour cannot be done by machines. At least, to my knowledge, no industrial machine is capable of producing a quality handpan.
Also, when you see a handpan priced at A$250 or A$340, there is inevitably a huge problem. Often, these handpans are made in China or elsewhere in Asia. That is not a problem in itself, because there are very good Chinese or Asian handpans on the market. I even included a Japanese handpan in my top 10 best handpans. No, the real problem is that, for a Chinese company, an employee paid minimum wage costs about A$5 per hour including payroll charges. As a result, even if a Chinese employee spent 20 or 40 hours on a handpan, the cost would be estimated between A$100 and A$200.
When you add the cost of buying the steel, delivery costs, import fees, and the margins companies need to make, you quickly realise that it is simply impossible to offer a quality handpan at a price of A$250 or A$340. In that situation, it is necessarily a low-grade steel handpan that has been mass-produced with very little human involvement. It even seems that some unscrupulous manufacturers make handpans almost entirely with machines, having unqualified employees lightly hammer their instruments just to create the illusion of handmade work on the handpan. The result is very inconsistent, even disastrous.
What pitfalls should you avoid when buying an inexpensive instrument?
Here is the list of pitfalls to avoid if you want to buy a low-cost handpan:
- Prices that are too low: as we just discussed, it is impossible, even for countries with low labour costs, to produce a handpan for less than A$1010. So avoid them.
- Scams and fraud: for several years now, many shops have claimed to sell quality handpans made in France or Switzerland for a few hundred Australian dollars. Often, these shops display lots of reviews, and some claim to have existed for more than 10 years. The reality is often very different, and it is usually a scam where you simply will never receive your instrument. There are three reflexes to have when checking whether a shop is serious. The first is to look at whether the legal notices, which must be displayed at the bottom of the website, are complete, clearly identify a company, and verify whether the number truly exists. The second is to search for reviews online by typing âsite name + reviewsâ into Google. And the third is simply to check how long the site has existed. To do that, go to this address and enter the siteâs URL, then look at the date next to âRegistered On:â. If you see that the site is less than a year old, that is rarely a good sign, especially if it claims to have been around for several years.
- The second-hand market: a second-hand, or older, handpan usually has a fairly low price. But be careful, because unpleasant surprises are very common, and once the instrument is in your hands, you will not be able to, or will have a very hard time trying to, take action against the seller. If you are a complete beginner, it is a bad idea, because you wonât really know whether the instrument is still properly tuned and has been well maintained. And even if you are an experienced player, always go in person to test the handpan before buying it. Otherwise, a used handpan can turn into a very bad experience.
Who is a cheap handpan a good idea for?
Letâs be clear: a cheap handpan is neither automatically a scam nor the ideal universal solution. It all depends on your profile. Itâs a good idea if:
- Youâre a complete beginner and want to try the instrument before making a financial commitment.
- Your budget is truly tight, and the alternative would be⊠doing nothing at all.
- Itâs for a child, occasional use, relaxation at home, or a bit of meditation without demanding high-end sound quality.
- You see it as a step, not as the final destination.
As many players sum it up well: it is better to start with a cheap handpan than to never start at all.
What are the alternatives to the Hang Drum if you donât have the necessary budget?
If you donât have the amount needed to invest in a handpan between A$1010 and A$1680, my advice is to turn to one of the less expensive alternatives. This is mainly the tongue drum, which you can find at prices between A$80 and A$670, but it is also possible to find other interesting instruments. I explain all of this in detail in my article dedicated to handpan alternatives. Read it if you are in this situation.
Treat yourself to an instrument at the right price
A cheap handpan is neither a systematic trap nor a guaranteed bargain. It is an entry-level tool, with its qualities and its limits. If your goal is simply to discover the instrument, see whether it clicks for you, and start playing without spending a fortune, then yes, an affordable handpan can absolutely make sense, provided you aim for at least the A$1010-A$1180 range. With the information youâve read in this article, it is now certain that you will be able to make the right choice.
Nevertheless, as I mentioned earlier, finding a trustworthy professional when buying your handpan is not really simple, given how much the number of scams has increased. That is why I personally recommend the shop Instruments du Monde, which has been present in this market since 2021 and offers a full range of quality handpans with perfect acoustics at the right prices. The Celestial handpan is also a very good choice for an entry-level model.
Fall in love with this magnificent handpan by clicking the image below:
Now that you have taken these tips into account, do you know the difference between a Hang drum and a handpan? That is what I invite you to discover in this interesting article exploring the historical roots of this sound instrument.
