Guitar market unit sales in the United States 2005-2021

The number of guitars sold in the United States increased from around 2.74 million units in 2019 to 3.34 million units in 2021. The volume of guitars sold in the U.S. reached a new peak in 2021, with the former record for units sold in the country being 3.3 million in 2005.

Acoustic guitars vs. electric guitars

When looking at the different types of products in the guitar market in the U.S., sales figures show that acoustic guitars were purchased more frequently than electric guitars. The number of acoustic guitars sold in the U.S. reached a new peak in 2021, with over 1.85 million units sold in that year. Meanwhile, the number of electric guitars sold in the U.S. only amounted to around 1.49 million units in 2021.

Are guitars becoming more expensive?

One explanation for the fall in the number of guitars sold in the U.S. could be that these instruments have become more expensive. Comparing the average unit price of a guitar in the U.S. in 2005 and 2021 shows that the average unit cost has almost doubled over 16 years. In 2021, the average price of an electric guitar in the U.S. was higher than the average price of an acoustic guitar in the United States.