Best Acoustic Guitar Under 200 Bucks – Top 20 of 2021

You might see me mention here that some of these guitars are better than their price point, but the Yamaha FG800 takes the cake. This guitar doesn't just punch above its weight class, it jumps straight to heavyweight and demands its respect in the ring.

The quality is tops all around, even if it doesn't go looking all fancy (though the sand burst finish is sweet). The build choices, including a solid spruce top, and attention to detail, put The FG800 in a class with Martins and Taylors that are 3-4 times more expensive.

The neck is comfortable and the FG800 comes pretty ready to play. Depending on your preferences, you may want to lower the action, or swap the strings, but that's all.

This model is a definite upgrade for the Yamaha FG700 series, with a newer bracing design that deepens the tone, giving a throatier bass sound. It still favors the top end a little but the rounding out of the sound is what has stepped it so much. Crisp and throaty, you can't beat it.

You can choose this as a starter guitar, or your traveler, but you're not going to feel a need to upgrade any time soon, if ever.

For pure playability and quality amongst budget acoustic guitars, this is the one.

This gig-worthy acoustic-electric guitar from Washburn delivers solid value at a good price.

First off, the electronics aren't detailed, but they perform well. The on-board tuner is stunningly accurate. Second is a small flaw. The image pictured is not the actual finish you'll receive. This is evidently a vintage sunburst, not the tobacco sunburst that's shown.

Besides that minor flaw, because it's still a pretty guitar, this Washburn WA90CE delivers the kind of quality you usually have to spend hundreds more to get.

The sound is awesome, loud and bright, just like you'd expect from a well-made classic dreadnought. Whether you plug it in, or not, it'll sound great. And it does sound great plugged in.

You might need to make minor truss rod adjustments to get the guitar set up just the way you like it, but overall, it's pretty ready to go. This guitar will work for you whether you're an experienced player, or a beginner. Even pros are happy to add it to their collection.

Washburn is known for their quality and they definitely don't slack here.

Great guitar, solid choice and looks good. Check it out.

Let's start with this being an Epiphone. They have their great reputation for a reason and this guitar upholds it well.

It starts with a nice solid spruce top. Combined with quality laminated mahogany back and sides, this budget acoustic guitar has a nice sound balance between bass and bright. In fact, the sound is exceptional for a guitar in this budget range.

This guitar plays well, is both comfortable and solidly built and stays in tune nicely. An all-around winner.

For as much as I praise fully solid wood guitars, laminates do have some advantages, like being more resistant to heat and moisture changes. This can be good for beginners who might not be ready for high level guitar TLC.

While this Epiphone PR-150 is priced for beginners, guitarists all the way up to pros will be happy to have this as their workhorse guitar. It shows up, performs well and is crazy reliable. You won't have to do a lot of fussing around to keep this guitar sounding good.

If you have 2 c-notes to drop, then this is a good place to do it. An excellent choice for a guitar that's worth far more than they're asking for it.

This Mitchell T331 Dreadnought guitar is going to quickly become your favorite daily player. It has a deep, rich sound that remains bright due to the solid mahogany top. The laminated mahogany sides provide balance and stability in all climates. An all-around satisfying sound from the solid mahogany top that will only get better with time.

The build is well done with very few flaws ever making it to the player. Quality control is tight at Mitchell. There's a reason they have a good reputation for their affordable acoustic guitars.

It has a slim and comfortable neck to make playing smooth and easy. Being a dreadnought, it's overall a bit bigger, so comforts is important.

That bigger dreadnought size also gives it a big sound. You will not be left wanting for volume from this acoustic guitar. It's great for performing and home recording. What's great, is that you're getting a guitar that's in a beginner price range but that will keep even advanced players happy.

This Mitchell T331 is not flashy, but it is quality. You are getting a lot for your money. This is one of those dream budget guitars that looks good, sounds great and is easy to play.

You can't ask for much more than that.

This guitar is a beauty. Both this blue finish, and the black that's available, look great and put on a nice little show of their own.

This is a solid beginner-intermediate guitar. The V70CE Ibanez dreadnought rides on the slightly chunky side, both in size and weight, but it has good sound and is easy to play.

The cutaway makes reaching the high frets easy and gives you more flexibility when you stylize.

The electronics are good and responsive, though over the years they've been an occasional trouble spot. On current models it doesn't seem to be an issue.

Like the other Rogue guitar on this list, this is a good starter guitar, or a traveler for some. It's good enough quality and you get an acoustic-electric at a great price.

This being a dreadnought it has a pretty big sound, but not as big as others in the category that might cost a bit more. That's one of the quality differences. But this one will get a good guitar in your hands to learn on and you can upgrade when you, and your wallet, are ready.

There are some super cheap acoustic guitars that aren't worth even their low-low price (usually less than $50). This isn't one of those. Rogue does exactly as they intend. They deliver a very playable, solid choice of a guitar at an extremely affordable price.

Honestly, if you can afford a little better, I'd look harder at the rest of this list. But if this is what your budget allows, then it's worth it to get you playing. I wouldn't even include it on one of my lists if it weren't.

For a cheap acoustic-electric guitar in a dreadnought size, this is a very good choice.

This mahogany dreadnought acoustic guitar from Fender is a daily player that's as reliable as the day is long and a solid part of any guitarist's collection.

It features a solid mahogany top with laminated back and sides, making it nicely stable and providing a full, round sound.

In addition, the Fender CD-60S features Fender’s ‘Easy-to-Play’ neck shape with rolled fingerboard edges, making a comfortable guitar to play and noodle on all day long.

It's a Fender, so you know the construction is solid. While they're known for their electric guitars, they make some pretty awesome acoustics, too. This is not just a sideline for them. Fenders are reliable guitars all around, electric or acoustic.

The CD-60S is not designed as a beginner's guitar, but if you're looking to learn on a dreadnought, this is an excellent choice. It's designed to be a workhorse and deliver quality, consistent results, and is does a great job of that.

You can't go wrong with this Fender acoustic guitar.

Now this guitar, with its glossy charcoal burst, is a real beauty. It's Washburn's Studio body design which is a little smaller than a standard dreadnought. It's not too small, though and it sounds good across the tonal range. Not unexpected, it does favor the mids and high tones.

Being a little smaller makes it easy to play and it works quite well for fingerpicking. Tonally, it can suit a lot of styles and has a pretty good genre range.

The combination of a spruce top and walnut sides and body create a nicely complex tone with good sustain. Overall it's well made. Being a Washburn, I'd expect nothing less.

In the realm of slightly smaller guitar, this is a solid choice. I still like the Yamaha FG Jr. better, but this one might work better for some. The quality and value are unquestionable.

Give the video on the other side of the link a listen and see if the Bella Tono Novo S9 is right for you.

This one's easy. My daughter-in-law recently got one of these to learn on – and she loves it. It sounds great, far and above what you would expect from a smaller guitar and the quality of that sound is rich and well-balanced across the tonal range. I'm impressed with how good it sounds. And it doesn't lack in the bass like so many ¾ guitars.

My D-I-L isn't small, she's 5'7", but she appreciates not having a bigger guitar, especially for learning. The size is also good because she travels a lot and it easily fits into the airplane overhead. We can safely say, it makes a fantastic travel guitar.

She should probably put some lighter strings on it while she learns, but the ones it came with sound good. The build is all around solid and nicely finished. It's not fancy, but it looks nice.

This just backs up my point about Yamaha. They make really solid, beginner/intermediate instruments with quality materials and you're not going to grow out of them quickly. My D-I-L may play this for years before she decides to upgrade. Though she does have her heart set on getting a resonator when she feels advanced enough. But that's a guitar for another day.

You can't go wrong here. It's a superior guitar at a reasonable price. If the ¾ will work for you, then I can wholeheartedly recommend the Yamaha FG Jr.

This Rogue RA-090 is strictly a starter guitar, or a beater, but it's a pretty decent one if you need a cheap acoustic-electric guitar. To get an acoustic electric guitar at this price and have the electronics work well, is a good deal.

However, to make that price point with acceptable electronics, they had to sacrifice somewhere. The top and body are laminated 'whitewood' and the fingerboard in simulated rosewood. It does have a nice, slim C-shaped neck that makes it comfortable to play.

While you won't be taking it to the Grand Ole Opry, you can certainly jam with friends, or maybe use it for a small gig at a local venue, or busking for the weekend crowds. It's plenty good for practicing and learning and upgrading your skills.

Another feature I like, especially since this is sort of a fun guitar, is that it comes in a variety of colors. There's the standard natural finish, but it also comes in black, red, green and blue. Some colors may take a little extra time to get, so plan ahead.

All-in-all, a solid choice for a budget guitar. If you're getting into guitar and wondering if you're going to stick with it, this is a good choice for an inexpensive guitar that plays well and stays in tune. It gets the job done.

The Luna Tattoo Travel guitar is perfect for just that, being an inexpensive quality guitar that you can drag around with you, whether that's camping on the weekend, to the college dorm, or to visit the grandkids, and not have to worry about.

It's also good for people with smaller hands, or a smaller build as it's more comfortable to play. This Luna has solid construction and is a good guitar, but it's not over the top amazing.

The sound, as in many ¾ size guitars, lacks in the bass, but is fun and bright on top. Overall, it's fun and easy to play. Definitely expect to have to get the action lowered after it arrives, as it's uncomfortably high for most people. Otherwise, you don't have to do much of anything else to get started. It's mostly ready to go.

The tattoo designs are a nice touch and based on Hawaiian motifs. It's a unique and interesting design element that sets this guitar apart from a lot of others in this range. Subtle, but definitely not a plain Jane.

If you need a travel guitar, this is a nice one that will serve you well.

This Johnson Thinbody is nice because it provides added comfort while still producing a really robust sound. It definitely provides a bigger sound than you would expect from a thinbody, and it pulls it off nicely.

It doesn't hurt that it's pretty to look at. The blue burst has some pop but isn't overstated, keeping the look very professional and classy while still standing out.

The other nice feature is that this guitar comes with a pickup, so it's really an acoustic-electric. In this price range, that's a nice addition and allows you to plug in any time. The electronics are basic but they get the job done. No fancy EQ, or anything, though.

When you combine the quality of this guitar with the comfort and ability to plug into an amp, this Johnson guitar is a great choice for any level of player, but definitely suits the beginner-intermediate guitarist range best.

This is a nice guitar at a nice price. Don't miss out.

This Fender Squier is definitely a beginner guitar, but it's a pretty good one. It has Fender's slim, easy to play neck and is laminate wood all around which makes it durable while still producing a big round sound.

This comes as a bundle, and that can definitely be a benefit for new players. It's nice to get everything you need and not have to worry about making a run to your local music store, or ordering something else, just to get started.

My only hesitation is that there are other guitars on this list in a similar price range that aren't just for beginners and that you won't grow out of so quickly.

And if you want to stay with Fender, which is a fine choice, the CD-60S (above), while a little more expensive, is a guitar you can plan to keep for a long time.

This Squier Dreadnought is the one you pass on to friends, or resell, when you get serious about playing and want something better.

If this bundle suits your needs and your budget, then go for it. But if you can look through this list and do better to suit your needs, I'd recommend taking a closer look there.

It's worth it to take a moment to appreciate the look of this guitar. A nice sunburst finish and abalone rosette are nice touches in this price range. This doesn't look like a cheap acoustic guitar and it doesn't play like one either.

This Mitchell acoustic-electric guitar is in the Auditorium size class, making it easier to handle than some of the larger models. But it's no slacker on sound. The mahogany back and sides give it a warm tone and a lot more volume than you'd expect.

The on-board electronics aren't fancy but the 3-band EQ will get the job done and a little more from a budget acoustic-electric guitar.

It's great for practice, light gigging and home recording. Being easy to play also makes it ideal for classroom and church playing opportunities. It's an all-around utility guitar of fine order.

This is one of those guitars that falls into, good for its price range. The Mitchell may not be fancy, but you'll get more than you expect and be happy with it for a good, long time.

This parlor guitar from Gretsch is based on the vintage models of the early and mid-20^th century and it sounds like it, in a fun, light way. Something that you could imagine accompanying a barbershop quartet, or the like.

The brightness of the Jim Dandy contrasts the deeper tones of a big dreadnought, but can be a nice complement to it either in the same collection, or playing as a duo on stage.

The Jim Dandy definitely doesn't bring a lot of bass, though, so be aware of that.

Being a parlor guitar, it's got a little smaller scale. At 24", the scale is an easy reach for most players, making this a very fun guitar to play.

This Gretsch is well put together and looks good, if not flashy. It's perfect if you want to try something with a different sound to give your music a new feel. It would also be good for learning as it's not too loud and if you wave housemates to consider, this is a very considerate guitar.

Vintage sound is the key phrase here. If it works for you, this guitar is a good deal. There's a video on the other side of the link, if you're curious.

An all mahogany travel guitar that really emphasizes the bass and mid-tones is an interesting treat.

Without a doubt, this is a well-made travel guitar, perfect for someone who needs that kick-around while on-the-go guitar that you don't have to worry about.

And it's not one that you're going to 'suffer along' with while you're traveling. This one is a joy to play and definitely sounds good enough to keep you happy without regret.

You might even find it becoming your daily practice guitar, or the one you use while writing songs.

If you need a good little guitar and want a lot of bass, this Carlo Robelli is a great choice.