Saxophone Price Comparison (UK, 2026): Alto to Bass

Saxophone prices in the UK run from under £300 for a house-brand alto to well over £20,000 for a professional bass. The spread is so wide that comparing “a saxophone” with “a saxophone” makes little sense: you need to compare within the same voice (alto, tenor, soprano, baritone, bass) and the same level (student, intermediate, professional). This page does exactly that, using indicative prices checked at Thomann UK and Gear4music in 09/2026.

All prices below are indicative, rounded as listed by the retailer in 09/2026, and they move regularly. Where we could not verify a current UK price, we say “check current price” rather than guess. For a broader budgeting overview, see our guide to how much a saxophone costs.

Alto saxophone prices

The alto is the most common starting instrument, so it has the most crowded price ladder. Entry models from retailer house brands sit below £300, the Yamaha and Jupiter student benchmarks sit around £850-£950, and professional altos start above £2,500.

Model	Level	Indicative UK price (09/2026)
Startone SAS-75	Entry	about £255 (Thomann UK)
Gear4music alto (own brand)	Entry	about £280-£300 (Gear4music)
Thomann TAS-180	Entry	about £285 (Thomann UK)
Elkhart 100AS	Entry	about £425 (Gear4music)
Trevor James The Horn alto	Student	about £669 (Gear4music)
Yamaha YAS-280	Student	about £848 (Thomann UK), £839 (Gear4music)
Jupiter JAS510	Student	about £849 (Gear4music)
Jupiter JAS700Q	Student	about £933 (Thomann UK)
Yamaha YAS-480	Intermediate	about £1,699 (Thomann UK)
Yanagisawa A-WO2 (bronze)	Professional	about £3,555 (Thomann UK)
Yanagisawa A-WO10 Elite (brass)	Professional	about £3,555 (Thomann UK)
Selmer Paris Supreme	Professional	about £6,399 (Thomann UK)
Yamaha YAS-62, Selmer Axos, Yanagisawa A-WO1	Professional	check current price

The jump that matters most is between the £250-£450 bracket and the £850 bracket. The Yamaha YAS-280 is the reference student alto for a reason: it is made in Yamaha’s Indonesian plant to a consistent standard and comes with a 4C mouthpiece and a backpack-style case. Our YAS-280 review covers what you get for that money.

Tenor saxophone prices

A tenor uses more brass and bigger keywork, so each level costs noticeably more than the equivalent alto. Expect roughly £500-£600 extra at the Yamaha student level.

Model	Level	Indicative UK price (09/2026)
Gear4music tenor (own brand)	Entry	about £350 (Gear4music)
Elkhart 100TS	Entry	about £640 (Gear4music)
Trevor James The Horn tenor	Student	about £1,025 (Gear4music)
Jupiter JTS500	Student	about £1,222 (Gear4music)
Jupiter JTS700Q	Student	about £1,290 (Thomann UK)
Yamaha YTS-280	Student	about £1,399 (Thomann UK and Gear4music)
Yamaha YTS-480	Intermediate	about £2,185 (Thomann UK)
Professional tenors (Yamaha YTS-62, Yanagisawa T-WO1, Selmer Axos tenor)	Professional	check current price

If you are torn between the two voices, our YTS-480 review explains what the intermediate step actually adds on a tenor.

Soprano saxophone prices

Sopranos are small but not cheap. Tuning is harder to get right on a short tube, so the gap between budget and good instruments is felt quickly.

Model	Level	Indicative UK price (09/2026)
Gear4music soprano (own brand)	Entry	about £250 (Gear4music)
Trevor James The Horn soprano	Student	about £849 (Gear4music)
Jupiter JSS1000Q	Intermediate	about £1,444 (Thomann UK), £1,770 (Gear4music)
Yamaha YSS-475 II	Intermediate	about £2,039 (Thomann UK), £1,977 (Gear4music)
Yamaha YSS-82Z	Professional	about £4,069 (Thomann UK)

Baritone and bass saxophone prices

Low saxophones are where prices climb steeply. Weight, size and the amount of metal all push costs up, and many models are made in small numbers.

Model	Type / level	Indicative UK price (09/2026)
Startone SBS-75	Baritone, entry	about £1,111 (Thomann UK)
Gear4music Rosedale baritone (low A)	Baritone, entry	about £1,500 (Gear4music)
Jupiter JBS1000	Baritone, intermediate	about £3,199 (Thomann UK), £3,999 (Gear4music)
Trevor James The Horn baritone	Baritone, student	about £3,299 (Gear4music)
Yamaha YBS-480	Baritone, intermediate	about £5,777 (Thomann UK and Gear4music)
Yamaha YBS-62II	Baritone, professional	about £7,499 (Thomann UK)
Thomann TBB-150	Bass, entry	about £2,599 (Thomann UK, out of stock at the time)
Gear4music Rosedale bass	Bass, entry	about £3,000 (Gear4music)
Selmer Paris SA80 Série II bass	Bass, professional	about £24,890 (Thomann UK)

For low A versus low Bb, weight and harness questions, read our baritone saxophone guide before comparing prices alone.

What actually drives the price

Voice and size

More tube and bigger keys mean more material and more hand work. That is why a Yamaha tenor costs around £550 more than the matching alto, and why a baritone at the same level costs several times more.

Level of finish and keywork

Student saxophones are built for durability and easy response. Intermediate models such as the YAS-480 borrow features from professional instruments (Yamaha uses the 62-series octave mechanism and a hand-engraved bell on it). Professional models add refined keywork, closer tolerances and more hand finishing.

Materials and plating

Standard models use lacquered brass. Bronze, silver plating or solid silver parts put a model into a higher bracket: Yanagisawa’s bronze A-WO2 costs more than the brass A-WO1, for example. Our saxophone brands guide explains who makes what at each level.

Brand and place of manufacture

Retailer house brands (Startone, Thomann, Gear4music) cut distribution costs and sell direct, which explains their low prices. At the other end, instruments made in Japan or France by established makers carry higher prices.

New or used?

A used saxophone can save a large share of the new price, especially for well-known student and intermediate models that are widely available second-hand. Discontinued models such as the Yamaha YAS-475 or the Selmer Série III alto are now only found on the used market, sometimes at attractive prices.

The catch is condition. Pads, springs, corks and bent keywork can add a significant repair bill to a cheap listing, and a saxophone that has not been serviced will not play like the model’s reputation suggests. Budget for a check-up by a technician, and use our used saxophone inspection checklist before you pay.

New instruments bought from the retailers above come with a warranty and a return period, which matters most for a first saxophone where you cannot yet judge playability yourself.

How to read these tables

• Compare within one voice and level: a £1,400 tenor and a £850 alto are equivalent Yamaha student instruments.
• Check what is included: most models listed come with a mouthpiece, case and strap, but reeds and accessories vary.
• Allow for set-up: even a new saxophone may need adjustment by a technician after delivery.
• Re-check prices before buying: the figures here are a snapshot from 09/2026.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a decent beginner saxophone cost in the UK?

A Yamaha YAS-280 alto was about £848 at Thomann UK in 09/2026, and the Jupiter JAS700Q about £933. House-brand altos such as the Startone SAS-75 start at about £255.

Why is a tenor more expensive than an alto?

A tenor is larger and uses more brass and bigger keywork. At Yamaha student level the YTS-280 cost about £1,399 against about £848 for the YAS-280 in 09/2026.

Is a used saxophone better value than a new one?

It can be, especially for common student and intermediate models, but budget for a technician check because pads, springs and bent keys can add a significant repair bill.

Are these UK saxophone prices fixed?

No. They are indicative prices noted at Thomann UK and Gear4music in 09/2026 and they change regularly, so always check the current price before buying.

Sources — Thomann UK: Yamaha YAS-280, Thomann UK: Yamaha YBS-480, Thomann UK: Yamaha YSS-475 II, Gear4music saxophone listings, Yamaha UK saxophone range.

See prices on Thomann →