How Much Does a Kalimba Cost? A Price Comparison

Want to buy a kalimba but have no idea what you can get for your budget? Want an overview of thumb piano prices to help you make the right choice? How much should you expect to pay for an excellent kalimba?

I’ve been passionate about this small African musical instrument for more than 10 years, and I’ve had plenty of chances to compare the different options on the market. That means I can give you a clear idea of what you can expect for the amount you want to invest.

The price of a kalimba depends on the number of tines, the material it’s made from, the accessories included, and the brand. Prices start at around £20, while high-end thumb pianos can cost over £150.

After reading these few lines, you’ll have a clear idea of which kalimba you can buy with a budget:

• less than £20
• between £20 and £40
• between £40 and £80
• over £80

This guide gives you an excellent starting point for finding the perfect instrument for your budget or for verifying whether the kalimba you’ve chosen is a good deal. You’ll also be able to help a friend who seeks your advice on buying a thumb piano.

Let’s take a look at the price of a kalimba, also known as mbira or sanza.

Is buying a kalimba for less than £20 a good idea?

The kalimba is an affordable idiophone musical instrument. However, spending less than £20 on one isn’t always the best move. It really depends on what you plan to purchase.

If you’re looking at a pocket thumb piano or one with 10 or fewer tines, a budget of £20 can be perfectly reasonable. You can find beautiful 8-tine mahogany kalimbas that are small enough to slip into any pocket or bag, so you can play almost anywhere as soon as you have a moment.

However, if you want a larger instrument with 15 tines or more, £20 may be a tight budget. If you find a kalimba at this price, there’s a good chance it will come without accessories and that the wood quality won’t be up to standard. In that case, it’s strongly recommended to increase your budget a bit and move up to the next price range, which we’ll look at together now.

What can you expect from a kalimba priced between £20 and £40?

Good news! With a budget of between £20 and £40, you already have what you need to treat yourself to a great kalimba for beginners and intermediate players.

For pocket kalimbas, you can find premium models made from high-end woods such as black walnut. For more classic 17-tine (or slightly larger) thumb pianos, you can also find boxed sets that include the instrument plus essential accessories to start learning the right way, such as a tuning hammer, stickers, and booklets with sheet music and instructions. You can also be more selective about the wood you want for your kalimba and choose, for example, acacia, pine, or beech. Not sure how the wood will affect your instrument? Check out our guide to help you choose the wood for your thumb piano. Wood types won’t be a mystery anymore.

In this price range, you can also find kalimbas made from acrylic instead of wood. This transparent plastic material looks like glass and adds a unique visual appeal to the instrument. Its real name is PMMA, or polymethyl methacrylate, more commonly known as Plexiglas. Because acrylic is more expensive than wood, though, the selection is somewhat limited. If you’re unsure about the differences between acrylic and wood, we invite you to read our comparison of wooden and acrylic kalimbas; it will help you decide which material suits you best.

Do you have a slightly larger budget to spend? Perfect, let’s take a look at what you can afford.

Which mbira should you buy with a budget of between £40 and £80?

With a budget of between £40 and £80 for your kalimba, you can get a beautiful, high-end instrument. At this price point, you could consider buying a brand-name kalimba, such as Gecko or Lingting, which is a solid sign of quality. Or you could choose a thumb piano made from premium hardwood and richly decorated. In any case, you’ll have a wide choice of designs, colours, and materials.

At this price point, almost every kalimba comes with all the basic accessories, and sometimes even a piezo pickup that lets you plug in a 1/4-inch cable to capture the thumb piano’s sound for recording or amplification through a speaker.

On the other hand, this price range is usually too tight for a chromatic kalimba, which typically has 24, 34, or even 42 tines. These instruments are generally reserved for accomplished musicians, and they require more work and expertise from the makers, which explains the higher price.

What are some luxury thumb pianos that cost more than £80?

Once your budget exceeds £80, you’ll mainly find either high-end brand kalimbas or chromatic instruments. In both cases, the thumb piano is better suited to professionals, passionate players, or anyone looking to truly treat themselves. That’s why it’s not recommended for beginners to spend that much on a first kalimba, since you can invest far less and still get a great-performing instrument.

If you’re new to the world of thumb pianos, we invite you to read the article: Which kalimba is best for beginners? This will help you avoid buying an instrument that isn’t right for you.

Insist on quality when you buy a kalimba

The kalimba is a musical instrument that has been growing in popularity over the years, but it’s still relatively unknown to the general public. So it’s perfectly normal to wonder about the price when you’re thinking about buying one. Now you have all the information you need to confidently estimate how much you want to spend on your kalimba.

However, it’s not always easy to find a reputable store that sells this specific instrument. Counterfeit versions of well-known brands are circulating online, and you can’t verify authenticity until the instrument is in your hands. That’s why Instruments du Monde offers kalimbas from the well-known Gecko brand, certified genuine because they come directly from the manufacturer.

Insist on quality and treat yourself to a Gecko kalimba by clicking on the image below:

Treat yourself to a truly high-quality kalimba by choosing the Gecko brand

4.6/5 — 500+ Reviews

See the Gecko brand kalimba

Now that you know what a kalimba typically costs, did you know that this instrument is used in music therapy to support physical and mental well-being? Learn why you should play the thumb piano and what the benefits are by reading our dedicated article. You’ll be surprised by all the benefits such a small instrument can bring. Finally, to learn all the little secrets of the kalimba, take a look at this other article.