Buying a Handpan: What to Look For. The Complete Guide (2026)

Buying a handpan is a big step, and it is completely normal to feel a little lost among all the choices. Focus on six things: the maker, the size, the scale, the tuning, the steel and the number of notes. The maker matters most, because the maker decides how good everything else sounds.

The other five are mostly a matter of taste: how big you want it, which sound you love most and how much room you want to grow. There is no right choice there, only the choice that suits you. In this guide we take you through each one, calmly and one at a time.

Already further along? Then take the Handpan Test to find the handpan that suits you best.

What makes a good handpan?

A pure, balanced tuning and a long resonance. A handpan is shaped from a thin sheet of steel, so small differences in craftsmanship are heard straight away. So look for:

• a maker who shows where, how and with which steel they work
• notes that all ring equally clear and sing on for a long time
• a maker who helps you after your purchase, for example with a retune when it is needed
• a workshop or showroom you can visit

And the most important thing is on no list at all: the sound has to move you. Our handpans are handmade by local artisans in Bali. Read the story behind our workshop in Bali.

How much does a good handpan cost?

A good handmade handpan usually costs between €800 and €5000. Where it falls in that range depends mostly on three things: how it is made, how many notes it has and what steel it is made of:

• How it is made. A handpan shaped and tuned entirely by hand takes far more work than a machine pressed one. You hear that work in the sound.
• The number of notes. Every note is shaped and tuned separately, so more notes means more work.
• The steel. Not every steel takes the same work, and you see that in the price.

So a low price is not always a bargain, and a high price is no guarantee. Look above all at what you get in return: a pure tuning, a maker you can still reach later and a sound that moves you. Read more in what a handpan costs and why prices vary so much.

What is the best handpan for beginners?

A handpan with a calm scale and not too many notes. Wondering whether a handpan is for you without a musical background? That is completely normal, but you do not need to be a musician. All the notes belong to the same scale, so whatever you play, it always sounds good together. For your first handpan, three choices help you on your way:

• a scale with a warm, calm sound, such as D Kurd
• 9 or 10 notes, enough to grow with without it feeling overwhelming
• a size that sits comfortably on your lap

How to make those choices step by step, you can read in the best handpan for beginners.

Mini handpan or standard handpan: which size suits you?

A standard handpan gives you more room for notes. A mini is lovely if you travel a lot or find a smaller instrument more comfortable on your lap. At LIDAH a mini is 43 cm and weighs about 3.5 kg, against around 53 cm and 4.5 kg for a standard handpan. A mini suits you if:

• you often take it with you, traveling or outdoors
• a large handpan does not sit comfortably on your lap
• you want to reach every side of your handpan easily

If you are looking for more notes and more range, a standard handpan is the better fit. Find out which one suits you in mini handpan or standard handpan.

Which handpan scale should you choose?

The scale that moves you when you hear it. The scale is the set of notes your handpan is tuned to, and it gives the instrument its character. There is no wrong scale. Each one simply has a different mood, so do not choose on theory, choose on feeling. A few directions to start with:

• D Kurd: warm and calm, and the scale most beginners start with
• F Pygmy: dreamy and mysterious, full of atmosphere
• C Ashakiran: bright and cheerful

Close your eyes, listen to a few scales and notice which one stays with you. You can read all the differences in which handpan scale to choose.

Why do so many beginners choose a D Kurd handpan?

Because it sounds soothing and meditative, exactly what many people look for in a handpan. D Kurd is a minor scale in D, with a soft, slightly wistful mood that touches many people straight away. That is why it is the scale most beginners start with. A D Kurd is a lovely first choice if:

• you mainly want to play by feel and unwind
• you want a sound that stays calm, even while you are still finding your rhythm
• you are torn between scales and want a safe start

At LIDAH you will find it as the D Kurd 10 and the D Kurd 13. Do choose it because you love it, not only because others do. Read more in why the D Kurd is the most loved beginner scale.

440 Hz or 432 Hz: which tuning suits you?

440 Hz if you want to play with other musicians, 432 Hz if you mostly play alone or for meditation. The tuning sets the pitch your handpan sounds at, and there is no right or wrong choice:

• 440 Hz is the international standard. Most music and instruments are tuned to it, so playing together with others is easy.
• 432 Hz feels a little softer to many people. It is loved for meditation and sound healing.

Still unsure? Think about how you will be playing in a few years: mostly alone, or with others. You can read the whole story in 440 Hz or 432 Hz and which tuning suits you.

Which steel should you choose for a handpan?

The steel whose sound you love most, because there is no best steel. The steel shapes much of how your handpan sounds:

• Stainless Steel: bright and clear, with sparkling high notes
• Ember Steel: deeper and warmer, with a long resonance
• Nitrided steel: warm and earthy, with a shorter sound, and it needs regular oiling

At LIDAH we make handpans in Stainless Steel and Ember Steel. Whichever steel you choose, the maker matters more than the material. Read more in which steel to choose for your handpan.

How many notes should a handpan have?

For most players, 9 or 10 notes are enough to play and explore for years. More notes give you more range, but not necessarily more joy. At LIDAH it looks like this:

• 7 to 9 notes: compact and easy to find your way around, on our mini handpans
• 9 to 13 notes: the Essential Series, the most comfortable balance for most players
• 16 notes or more: the Pro Series, for those looking for more range

More notes also means a higher price, so choose what you will really use. Read more in how many notes a handpan should have.

Buying a used handpan: what should you look out for?

Above all, the sound and the condition it is in. A good used handpan can be a lovely choice, but you cannot always see how it was treated before. So check:

• whether every note sounds pure and sings on for a long time
• whether there is rust, or dents in the notes
• who made it, when it was last tuned and whether any warranty is left
• whether the sound and the scale really suit you

If you can, play it yourself first. If that is not possible, ask for a recording in which you hear every note on its own. Read more in what to check when buying a used handpan.

A cheap handpan from Temu or Amazon: what should you look out for?

Above all, the sound, because you cannot see it in a photo. A handpan of around €300 often looks like a handmade one in a photo, but you only hear the difference once you play. These handpans are usually machine made, less precisely tuned and go out of tune sooner. So check:

• whether you can send it back if the sound disappoints you
• whether the seller tells you who made and tuned it
• whether the video really lets you hear that handpan, and not just music laid over it

Not sure? Listen to a handmade handpan first. Then you will know exactly where to hear the difference. You can hear it for yourself in what you really get with a cheap handpan from Temu or Amazon.

Should you rent or buy a handpan?

Rent if you are still unsure whether playing suits you, buy if you know you want to keep playing. Renting is a gentle first step without a big purchase straight away. Do add up the rent over a few months, though, because that amount grows faster than you think. When renting, ask:

• what the rent is per month, and whether you pay a deposit
• whether the rent counts towards the price if you buy the handpan afterwards
• what condition and tuning the handpan is in

Mainly want to know whether a handpan suits you? You can also buy one and use the 30 day return period at home. Read more in whether to rent or buy a handpan.

Can you try a handpan in our showroom?

Yes, and if you can, we warmly recommend it. A handpan feels and sounds different in real life than in a video. In our showroom in Arnhem, the Netherlands, you can play handpans at your own pace, by appointment:

• a session lasts 45 minutes, so you really have time to listen
• you hear different handpans side by side, and notice which sound stays with you

Plan a visit to our showroom. Live further away? You can also get to know a handpan at home, with 30 days after delivery to change your mind, no reason needed.

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Choosing a handpan does not have to be complicated. Take your time, listen calmly and trust what you hear. When the moment is right, you will find your handpan in our collection.

Buying a handpan? Explore all our handmade handpans

Still unsure? Send us a message on WhatsApp or through our contact form. We are happy to help.