１．Introduction
When buying a table tennis blade, how much are you willing to pay?
Personally, I start to hesitate when the price goes beyond 20,000 yen (about $133 USD).
That simple question made me wonder:
“How much does the average table tennis blade actually cost today?”
So, for this article, I researched the average prices of table tennis blades using the 2026 official catalogs published by major manufacturers.
I hope this article will serve as a useful reference for players who are interested in current blade pricing trends.
This article focuses specifically on the average prices of penhold blades.
２．Important Notes About This Research
（１）Manufacturers Included in This Survey
For this research, I focused on the following nine table tennis manufacturers:
- Butterfly
- Nittaku
- Victas
- Yasaka
- JUIC
- Andro
- STIGA
- TIBHAR
- DONIC
Note: JUIC also sells Dr.Neubauer products, but those blades were excluded from this survey.
（２）About the Prices
The prices used in this article are the official retail prices listed on each manufacturer’s official website and digital catalog.
As a result, actual market prices may be lower when purchasing from online shops or local retailers.
（３）Blades Included in This Survey
This survey excludes special-purpose blades such as large-ball table tennis blades.
In addition, the following three styles were grouped together as “penhold blades” in this analysis:
- Chinese penhold
- Reverse penhold
- Japanese penhold
Please note that this article is based on personally collected data, so minor errors may be included.
Data current as of the end of April 2026.
３．Price Range by Manufacturer (Japanese Brands)
（１）Butterfly
First, let’s look at Butterfly, one of the most well-known brands in the table tennis world.
If I had to compare Butterfly to a car manufacturer, it would probably be Toyota.
- Number of blades: 28
- Average price: 21,159 yen (about $141 USD)
Butterfly recorded an average price above 20,000 yen, making it the third most expensive brand in the penhold category among the manufacturers included in this survey.
(Which brand do you think ranked No.1?)
One interesting point is how balanced Butterfly’s lineup is across different price ranges.
In particular, about 68% of its penhold blades are priced above 15,000 yen (around $100 USD), which reflects the brand’s confidence in its high-quality products.
Butterfly also had the second-largest number of penhold blades in this survey, showing that the company continues to strongly support penhold players.
At the higher end of the lineup, Butterfly offers premium models used by contracted stars such as Tomokazu Harimoto and Fan Zhendong.
（２）Nittaku
Next is Nittaku, a brand that many longtime table tennis players have probably used at least once.
If Butterfly is like Toyota, then Nittaku might be compared to Nissan.
- Number of blades: 23
- Average price: 16,763 yen (about $112 USD)
Compared with Butterfly, Nittaku’s average price was roughly 5,000 yen ($33 USD) lower.
One notable feature is that about 22% of Nittaku’s penhold blades are priced below 8,000 yen (around $53 USD).
Because of this, the brand offers many relatively affordable options that are also beginner-friendly.
At the same time, Nittaku also produces unique blades such as the “Goriki Series,” which is intentionally designed with heavier weight specifications and has even been used by some high-level players.
That balance between accessibility and individuality is one of Nittaku’s defining characteristics.
（３）VICTAS
Next is Victas, the Japanese brand that merged with TSP in 2020.
Victas is also one of the more widely used table tennis brands in Japan.
- Number of blades: 28
- Average price: 16,048 yen (about $107 USD)
In terms of product count, Victas ranked second alongside Butterfly.
One possible reason is that Victas inherited many blade models from the former TSP brand lineup.
Its average price level was very similar to Nittaku’s, and roughly 5,000 yen ($33 USD) lower than Butterfly’s.
Another interesting point is that Victas had the largest number of Japanese penhold blades in this survey, with a total of eight models.
Because of this, Victas can be seen as one of the brands continuing to support traditional penhold players, especially among middle-aged and older generations.
（４）Yasaka
Next is Yasaka.
- Number of blades: 13
- Average price: 12,701 yen (about $85 USD)
Yasaka recorded the lowest average price among all manufacturers included in this survey.
Compared with Butterfly, the average price difference was roughly 9,000 yen (about $60 USD).
Yasaka also offers carbon blades such as the Resonate Series, but even those models are priced below 20,000 yen ($133 USD).
Because of this, the overall average price remains relatively affordable compared with many competing brands.
（５）JUIC
Next is JUIC.
JUIC also sells Dr.Neubauer products, but those blades were excluded from this survey because they tend to be expensive niche products with a relatively small market share in Japan.
- Number of blades: 11
- Average price: 18,300 yen (about $122 USD)
Among the Japanese manufacturers included in this survey, JUIC had the smallest number of penhold blades.
However, its average price was the second highest among Japanese brands, behind only Butterfly.
One possible reason is that JUIC offers several specialty blades using titanium-based composite materials, along with a relatively high number of single-ply Japanese penhold blades.
Personally, one of my favorite blades is the “Pachitan II,” a Japanese reverse penhold blade made by JUIC.
４．Price Range by Manufacturer (Overseas Brands)
From here, let’s take a look at four overseas table tennis manufacturers.
（６）Andro (Germany)
First is the German brand Andro.
Andro has a strong reputation for stylish designs and performance-oriented equipment.
The company also offers beautifully crafted Japanese-made Chinese penhold blades such as the “Wanokiwami” series.
- Number of blades: 15
- Average price: 13,303 yen (about $89 USD)
In general, overseas brands tend to have higher average prices, but Andro stands out for offering many relatively affordable penhold blades even when compared with Japanese manufacturers.
The most common price range was 15,000–20,000 yen ($100–133 USD), accounting for about 47% of the lineup (7 blades).
Meanwhile, around 33% of the blades (5 models) were in the 8,000–15,000 yen ($53–100 USD) range, showing that Andro also targets mid-range players.
Another interesting point is that Andro offers a reverse penhold blade called the “TIMBER 5 OFF Reverse,” which is quite rare for a non-Japanese manufacturer.
This reflects the company’s strong interest in supporting penhold players.
Personally, I also see Andro as one of the best brands for lightweight Chinese penhold blades.
（７）STIGA (Sweden)
Next is STIGA, the long-established Swedish manufacturer.
STIGA is especially famous for its high-quality all-wood blades, and in recent years, the company has gained even more attention through the “Cybershape” series used by Truls Möregårdh.
- Number of blades: 31
- Average price: 18,941 yen (about $126 USD)
Among all manufacturers included in this survey, STIGA had the largest number of penhold blades.
All of the models were Chinese penhold blades, and the lineup was very strong in both all-wood and carbon blade categories.
The most common price range was 8,000–15,000 yen ($53–100 USD), accounting for 32.3% of the lineup (10 blades).
This suggests that STIGA has a particularly strong selection of mid-range all-wood blades.
At the same time, the company also offers many premium blades priced above 30,000 yen ($200 USD), suggesting strong demand from competitive players.
Personally, I am especially fond of the Chinese penhold version of the “Clipper Series.”
（８）TIBHAR (Germany)
Next is the German manufacturer TIBHAR.
The brand is well known for supporting top professional players, including the Lebrun brothers, and has a strong performance-oriented image.
- Number of blades: 10
- Average price: 23,320 yen (about $155 USD)
TIBHAR recorded an average price above 23,000 yen, making it the second most expensive brand in the penhold category among the manufacturers included in this survey.
(The most expensive brand has not appeared yet.)
Although the lineup consists of only 10 blades, the products are well balanced across different price ranges.
The most common price range was 25,000–30,000 yen ($167–200 USD), which reflects the brand’s strong competitive focus.
One blade that especially stands out is the “Felix Lebrun Hyper Carbon” priced at 26,400 yen (about $176 USD).
For players who admire Felix Lebrun’s world-class reverse backhand attacks, it is definitely a blade that catches the eye.
If you are interested, you may also want to check current prices on Japanese online stores.
TIBHAR also offers the “Jager” (38,500 yen / about $257 USD), a single-ply Japanese penhold blade made from premium Japanese Hinoki wood.
This kind of product lineup suggests that the company is also paying attention to the Japanese penhold market.
（９）DONIC (Germany)
Finally, we come to the German brand DONIC.
The company is well known among table tennis fans for supporting legendary Swedish players such as Jan-Ove Waldner and Jörgen Persson.
- Number of blades: 9
- Average price: 24,836 yen (about $166 USD)
Among all manufacturers included in this survey, DONIC recorded the highest average price in the penhold category.
Interestingly, despite being a German manufacturer, DONIC offers three Japanese penhold blades.
All of them are premium single-ply blades made from high-grade Hinoki wood.
Among them, “The Hinoki” stands out as an exceptionally expensive model at 55,000 yen (about $367 USD).
One reason for the high price is its extra-thick 10.5 mm single-ply construction.
At the same time, DONIC has also partnered with Zhang Jike, who remains extremely popular in China, and continues to develop premium carbon blades as well.
These high-end Japanese penhold blades and Zhang Jike signature models likely contribute to the brand’s high average price.
With its long history and strong reputation, DONIC still feels very much like one of the iconic brands of European table tennis.
５．Overall Average Price and Market Trends
Finally, here are the overall results from this survey.
- Total number of blades surveyed: 168
- Average price: 18,079 yen (about $121 USD)
The survey showed that the most common price range was 8,000–15,000 yen ($53–100 USD), accounting for about 33% of all blades surveyed.
Looking at the overall average price, it seems that around 18,000 yen ($120 USD) has become one of the standard price points for modern penhold blades.
Interestingly, the two most expensive blades included in this survey were the “Cypress G-MAX” from Butterfly and “The Hinoki” from DONIC, both priced at 55,000 yen (about $367 USD).
Both are premium single-ply Japanese penhold blades made from top-grade Hinoki wood, and they may represent the ultimate niche category for blade enthusiasts in today’s table tennis blade market.
When I was a student about 30 years ago, even high-quality Hinoki single-ply blades could often be purchased for under 10,000 yen.
Compared with those days, a price tag of 55,000 yen feels almost unbelievable.
At the same time, demand for premium wood materials and advanced composite technologies has increased in recent years.
As a result, table tennis blades themselves are evolving into long-term competitive equipment rather than disposable gear.
Although the following pages are in Japanese, interested readers may still want to check current retail prices online.
６．Conclusion
First, please take a look at the summary table of the survey results above.
As mentioned earlier, all prices shown in this article are official retail prices.
In actual stores and online shops, many blades can often be purchased at lower prices.
As someone who has played table tennis for nearly 40 years, I personally feel that blade prices have become significantly more expensive compared with the past.
As this survey also shows, many manufacturers have raised their average prices compared with the 2024 market survey.
This suggests that overall blade prices continue to rise across the table tennis industry.
Higher material costs, increased shipping expenses, and the growing popularity of composite blades may all be contributing factors.
At the same time, table tennis blades are long-term equipment compared with rubbers, which need to be replaced more frequently.
Once players find a blade they truly like, many are willing to invest in a more expensive model.
This survey also highlights how the growing number of composite-material blades is pushing average prices upward across the market.
On the other hand, there are still many excellent all-wood blades available for under 10,000 yen (about $67 USD).
In that sense, players can still find highly cost-effective blades even today.
I have actually researched additional manufacturers that were not included in this article, but the overall pricing trends were broadly similar.
I hope this article helped share a clearer picture of current penhold blade prices across different manufacturers.
I have also written separate articles about shakehand blade prices, blade weight rankings, and wood vs. composite blades, so feel free to check those out as well.
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