Flute players have loads of choices with instrument makers across the globe at their fingertips. Choosing the best flute brands can certainly feel like a bit of a task. With so many options, it’s a tricky business to pick the perfect one! Finding the top flute brands isn’t as easy as pie.
Historically Japanese and American brands have led the way with silver flutes, but there are now many great brands to choose from.
You should start by deciding on a budget, and then making a list of priorities for your flute. You’ll then be ready to use this guide to find a flute that ticks all the boxes.
With a little research of the different brands out there you will discover many wonderful flutes.
Our job is to help you find the right one, so you can discover your perfect flute.
Best Flute Brands
Yamaha
Yamaha is a market leader across many musical instrument types including the flute, and they are famous for their quality and durability, particularly for student level instruments.
Founded in 1887 by Torakushu Yamaha, this brand uses its long history of instrument making to make quality flutes
- These instruments are widely available, and therefore easy to find in stock wherever you live.
- They hold their value well, so are great to sell on if you want to upgrade at a later date.
- There are many second hand Yamaha student flutes available to purchase.
- Flutes available to suit all skill levels.
- Split E Mechanism as standard.
- Great for beginners
- Flute reviews often give them 5 stars
- Closed hole and open hole available
- They are not flute specialists so if you are looking for a professional piccolo, it might be worth looking at piccolos made by flute makers.
- As they are so popular you may want to look elsewhere if you want a more unique instrument.
- Yamaha switched production of these instruments from Japan to Indonesia a few years ago, and some players feel that the build quality has suffered as a result.
The best flute in this brand
Many young flautists start off with a Yamaha flute, and are so happy with the instrument that they stick with it until well after they’ve passed grade 8! Yamaha are known for their beginner models, because they offer reliability at a great price point. One of their most popular student models is the YFL212.
PRICE LEVEL: Intermediate
FEATURES: Silver plated throughout
Yamaha YFL212
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Their popularity with teachers and students means that they hold their value well so they are always a sound investment.
- Yamaha is a trusted brand
- Includes a split E, C footjoint and an offset G key
- Available with both straight and curved headjoints for smaller players
- Expensive compared to other beginner flutes
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Trevor James
Trevor James is a London based instrument maker and the company started life as a specialist flute repairer in 1979. Although they have now expanded their range to include saxophones, it is reassuring to know that flute making is at the very core of their business.
- They offer some great options for alto flutes and bass flutes
- Great value for money with some advanced features on their student models
- Great reviews from fellow beginner flute players.
- They are aimed at the beginner to intermediate market so don’t stock professional flutes.
- You would need to upgrade as you get more advanced
The best flute in this brand
The Trevor James TJ10X is the best flute in the brand, and as you’ll see in our pros and cons review list, it’s a great buy…
COMES WITH: A beautiful wooden case and fleece lined cover
FEATURES: Solid silver lip plate, which is an unusual feature for a beginner flute
Trevor James TJ10X
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- This flute comes with a beautiful wooden case, rather than the plastic ones you get with other brands.
- A cozy fleece lined case cover is included for extra protection in the winter months.
- Great value for money.
- Won’t hold its value as well as a Yamaha.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
We should also give an honorable mention to their “performer’ range of alto flutes and bass flutes. These are great for intermediate players. Also great for musicians who double and triple in musical theatre shows.
Their copper alto is particularly beautiful if you want to stand out from the crowd in your flute choir.
Pearl Flutes
Pearl Musical Instruments was founded in 1946 by Katsumi Yanagisawa in Japan and started making flutes in 1968.
They have a strong history of apprenticeships which means their decades of knowledge and experience are handed down through the generations.
- They focus on good quality instruments - great for intermediate and advanced players.
- They are innovators in instrument design.
- They are famous for their ‘pinless’ mechanism which is used for all their flutes and piccolos.
- Beautiful looking instruments due to the quality materials used.
- They also manufacture a great range of accessories including backpacks, flute stands and cleaning cloths.
- Can be a bit pricey for beginners
The best flute in this brand
For an intermediate flute the Pearl 795BE Elegante is a great option. It is made from 925 sterling silver throughout for the best quality sound and is available in B foot or C foot. It also includes Pearl’s famous pinless mechanism.
The one bar construction also makes the instrument more stable and reliable, which will hopefully mean fewer trips to the woodwind repairer!
COMES WITH: Sterling silver lip plate
FEATURES: a low B foot joint, allowing you to play lower than a standard flute
Pearl 795BE Elegante Flute
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Gorgeous tone production
- A beautifully crafted instrument
- Low B foot joint
- A big step up price-wise from beginner instruments
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
The best flute brand for beginners
I think the best flute brand for beginners overall is the Jupiter 700EC. It’s an excellent starter instrument as you’ll see in the below review:
COMES WITH: Plateau keys
FEATURES: A blend of nickel silver
Jupiter 700EC flute
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Solid silver riser in the head joint is a great addition as it’s not often found on student models
- Resonant and clear sound quality.
- This flute has plateau keys which aid correct finger placement.
- Reputation not as good as other brand leaders such as Yamaha.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
The best flute brand for children
A relative newcomer to the market Nuvo flutes are designed for the smallest flutists. Made from plastic they are lightweight, durable and very easy to clean. They are also much more affordable than metal flutes so can be a great option. They are certainly amongst the best flute brands for beginners.
COMES WITH: A great case and cleaning kit
BEST THING: This instrument is super easy to clean and pretty indestructible!
Nuvo jFlute 2.0
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- The ‘donut’ headjoint makes it easier for small arms to reach all the keys.
- There are helpful grip spots to aid good hand position
- Extra “Firstnote’ mouthpiece which is very similar to a recorder mouthpiece.
- Great range of bright colours available.
- You lose some richness of sound that comes from a metal flute
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
The best flute brand for the professional
MADE FROM: Solid Silver Throughout
FEATURES: Includes a B foot as standard, great for players wanting to expand their repertoire.
Powell Sonaré 705 series
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Beautiful craftsmanship
- American Design
- B Footjoint
- Pricey for a beginner
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Powell Sonaré Flutes opened their first shop in Boston, Massachusetts in 1927 and was immediately popular with some of the most famous American professional flute players of the age.
They are true artisan makers and many professional flautists play on their instruments including Adam Walker (principal of the London Symphony Orchestra). A high quality flute for those happy to pay a little more for their instrument.
Their innovations included mixing silver and gold to create the Aurumite flute, and for producing the world’s first 19.5k rose gold flute.
In 2011, NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman brought her Powell flute on the International Space Station and to this day it is the only handmade flute to be played in space!
Flute brand accessories
Most new flutes will come with the following standard accessories:
- Cleaning cloth
- Cleaning rod
- Hard flute case
Some may also come with a soft case cover. Here are some other accessories you might want to consider purchasing:
Case Covers
If your instrument doesn’t come with a case over then it is worth buying one. This will protect your expensive hard case from wear and tear and is handy for storing extra accessories. Every musician needs to have a pencil handy at all times! I would recommend the A308 case below.
COMES WITH: Shoulder Strap
PRICE LEVEL: Low
A308 Deluxe Flute Case Cover
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Very reasonably priced
- Shoulder strap is very useful for hands-free carrying
- Exterior pocket is roomy
- Not as much padding as some other cases
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
You can also get cases which fit both a flute and a piccolo, which can be useful if you need both for orchestra. If you travel to rehearsals regularly then you may also want to buy a case which can fit orchestral music in too so everything is in one place; a bit like this Protec LX308.
COMES WITH: Water Resistant Design
FEATURES: Lightweight Material
Protec LX308 Pro Pac Lux Messenger Flute/Picc Case
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Lots of pockets for all accessories
- Adjustable strap
- Looks smart and professional
- Quite bulky
- More expensive than smaller cases.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Instrument Stand
A stand for your instrument is very important because this keeps your flute safe whilst you are not using it. Many players find they do much more practice if their instrument is already out of its case and on the stand in their room.
Somehow it seems easier to persuade yourself to practice!
COMES WITH: Lightweight design
FEATURES: Soft plastic coating that won't scratch your instrument
K&M compact stand
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- It folds up so small it can even fit inside your foot joint in your case so it takes up no room at all in your bag!
- Smart, black colour, great for concerts
- Can feel a little flimsy.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
COMES WITH: A carry bag for convenience
PRICE LEVEL: Intermediate
Hercules Deluxe Flute/Clarinet Stand
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Soft, velvet fabric to protect your flute
- Can also be used for a clarinet
- Folds up into carry bag
- Quite heavy!
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
music stand
INCLUDES: Light | Carry Case | Sheet Music Clip
FEATURES: A carrying bag and a sheet music folder
Cahaya Portable Music Stand
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Amazing complete kit
- Has everything you need
- Strong, yet transportable
- None!
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
A music stand is so important for all musicians for practice at home as this means you can play with the best possible posture. If you have your music balanced on a table or a chair then it is likely you will end up looking down instead of straight ahead. This will affect your sound and your breathing.
Luckily music stands are very affordable so there is no excuse to not have one. You can get a wide range of colours and styles, but the model I like is this Music Stand above.
Once you’ve bought your stand make sure you have it at the correct height. Your teacher can help you with this if you’re unsure.
Headjoint Upgrade
Don’t forget that many flute brands offer the option of buying a head joint separate to a full flute. This can be a fantastic option if you are looking to change your sound but love the feel and mechanism of your current flute.
Why not try headjoints with different materials? A gold or platinum headjoint on a silver body can be a lovely combination. This will give your sound more depth and projection.
If you love playing folk or baroque music on your flute then why not try a wooden headjoint. Many players love this option as it really gives you the best of both worlds. Wooden head joints also look beautiful!
Wooden Flutes
If you really want to stand out then why not try a fully wooden flute. These flutes are certainly in the minority but a really interesting option. Have a listen to the wonderful playing of Daniel Pailthorpe (Principal flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra) in this video:
Final things to consider….
- Don’t be swayed by the brand you think you’ll like best, but go with the flute you like the sound of most!
- Avoid cheap unknown brands – the market leaders are well known for a reason.
- Ask your flute player friends what instrument they play on and whether they would recommend them.
Best flute brands
Summary
The flute is one of the most popular instruments in the world so we are lucky to have a huge range to choose from. A brand trusted by the flute community is worth a great deal as you know this will be a reliable instrument with a great sound.
Flutes can vary hugely in price so it is worth researching different brands as some are aimed at beginner players whereas others are aimed at intermediate or professional players. Decide your budget before you start shopping.
Some brands will be aimed at children so check these out if you are buying for a small flute player. Others have been designed for the professional market with the very best materials and craftsmanship.
Unless you are a complete beginner, ask to play a few different brands so you get an idea of how they sound. You may find that one particular maker suits your style which means you can focus your search there.
Best flute for children
Jupiter 700EC
These beginner flutes have a wonderful reputation for quality and affordability and they are a bestseller worldwide.
Best flute for small players
Nuvo jflute 2.0
Fun, colorful and nearly indestructible. Perfect for mini flautists!
Best flute for adult beginners
Pearl 795BE Quantz
A classy instrument which offers a great way to begin your flute studies.
so flutes are like the skinny cousins of saxophones right? gotta say, never thought much about em but this makes me wanna give it a shot. yamaha the way to go ya think?
Loving the section on accessories. Never realized how a different case or stand could make life easier. Def gonna look into a headjoint upgrade now, didn’t know that was a thing!
I get why Yamaha and Pearl are up there but shouldn’t we also talk about how important the material of the flute is? Like, beginners might start with nickel silver but anyone looking to up their game should consider solid silver for better sound. Thoughts?
Interesting overview, but it seems like some key brands might have been overlooked. For instance, Gemeinhardt and Buffet Crampon also offer high-quality options across various skill levels. It might be useful for readers to compare those brands as well in order to make a well-informed decision based on a wide range of options.
trevor james flutes are the bomb! got mine a year ago and it’s been amazing. glad to see it getting some love here.
I’ve spent years experimenting with different flutes from Pearl and Yamaha, and I’ve got to say, when it comes to finding a flute that offers flexibility and a rich tone, you can’t go wrong with either brand. It’s all about what feels right in your hands and the sound you’re personally looking for. By the way, the article’s spot-on with the recommendation of trying headjoint upgrades — totally transformed my playing!
Great article! I’ve been teaching music for over a decade, and Yamaha has consistently been a reliable brand for beginners in our school band. It’s great to see it recommended here. For parents concerned about costs, renting initially can be a good option to consider until your child is sure they want to continue.
Renting sounds like a sensible idea! Do you have any tips on where to look for good rental deals?
hey there, i’m kinda new to this but was wonderin’ if yamaha really is a good start for complete beginners like me? i’ve always heard they’re top notch but is it too much for a newbie?
Love the flute, by far the best instrument.
We love it too Jessica. Thanks for reading the article.