Best 5 String Banjo (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

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The AKLOT leads for 5-string banjos because its kit pairs a full-sized banjo with a Remo head, a removable resonator and 24 brackets. The geared 5th tuner and the kit contents help a beginner from the first setup. Players who want a hard case with their banjo can look at the Gold Tone instead, with a maple neck and a Bell Brass tone ring.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	AKLOT Full-Sized Banjo Set: 38’’ 5 String	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	Gold Tone Mastertone OB-150 Orange Blossom 5-String	Check on Amazon
4	Also Great	Costzon 5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Geared	Check on Amazon
5	Also Great	Ktaxon 5 String Banjo	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Beginners who want a kit with a gig bag and tuner: AKLOT Full-Sized Banjo Set: 38’’ 5 String See pick 1More picks: Best Banjo for Beginners
Players who want a starter kit with a bag and tuner: Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo See pick 2
Players who want a hard case in the box: Gold Tone Mastertone OB-150 Orange Blossom 5-String See pick 3
Beginners who want a kit with a bag and tuner: Costzon 5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Geared See pick 4
Beginners who want a padded bag with dual shoulder straps: Ktaxon 5 String Banjo See pick 5

Want the full range? Best Banjo ranks the top banjos for every buyer, or browse all 24 guides.

The 5 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

AKLOT Full-Sized Banjo Set: 38’’ 5 String

Resonator back
Brackets: 24
Case or gig bag included
Strings: 5
2 year warranty stated

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall with a Remo head, a removable resonator and 24 brackets.

Who it suits

Beginners who want a kit with a gig bag and tuner
Players who want a geared 5th tuner and 24 brackets

Skip it if

You want a banjo that weighs under 6.2 lb
You need a banjo with more than 24 brackets

The banjo has a Remo head, a removable resonator and 24 brackets, with a mahogany resonator and neck. A geared 5th tuner, a maple bridge and a bridge ruler come in the box. The kit holds a thickened gig bag, a nylon strap, a digital tuner, extra strings and finger picks, and the banjo weighs 6.2 lb with a 2 year warranty.

2Runner-Up

Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo

Resonator back
Brackets not stated in the listing
Case or gig bag included
Strings: 5
6-month warranty stated

9.5Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Runner-Up with a removable sapele back cover and a starter kit in the box.

Who it suits

Players who want a starter kit with a bag and tuner
Players who want a removable sapele back cover

Skip it if

You want a warranty longer than 6 months
You want a banjo with a maple neck

The banjo has a removable sapele back cover over a sapele back, with an okoume neck. A polished chrome armrest sits on the banjo, and the kit holds a storage bag, a shoulder strap, extra strings, a digital clip-on tuner, a polishing cloth, an allen wrench and metal finger picks. The banjo carries a 6-month warranty.

3Also Great

Gold Tone Mastertone OB-150 Orange Blossom 5-String

Resonator back
Brackets not stated in the listing
Case or gig bag included
Strings: 5
Lifetime warranty stated

9.4Spec score View on Amazon

It earns its Also Great label with a maple neck, 22 frets and a Bell Brass tone ring.

Who it suits

Players who want a hard case in the box
Players who want a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard

Skip it if

You want a banjo that weighs under 11.5 lb
You want a banjo with a sapele back

The banjo has an 11 inch 3-ply maple rim, a one-piece cast flange and a sand-cast Bell Brass tone ring. A maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard carries 22 frets, and a Remo head sits on the rim. A hard case comes in the box, and the banjo weighs 11.5 lb with a lifetime warranty.

4Also Great

Costzon 5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Geared

Resonator back not stated in the listing
Brackets: 24
Case or gig bag included
Strings: 5

9.3Spec score View on Amazon

It earns its Also Great label with 24 brackets and a geared 5th tuner.

Who it suits

Beginners who want a kit with a bag and tuner
Players who want a geared 5th tuner and 24 brackets

Skip it if

You want a banjo that weighs under 6 lb
You need a banjo with more than 24 brackets

The banjo has 24 brackets around the drum and a geared 5th tuner. A sapele back and side pair with a rosewood fingerboard, and the strings use steel wire. The kit holds a 420D Oxford cloth bag, one strap, a wiper, 3 picks and a digital tuner, and the banjo weighs 6 lb.

5Also Great

Ktaxon 5 String Banjo

Resonator back not stated in the listing
Brackets not stated in the listing
Case or gig bag included
Strings: 5
1 year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It earns its Also Great label with a maple bridge and a mahogany neck.

Who it suits

Beginners who want a padded bag with dual shoulder straps
Players who want a maple bridge and a mahogany neck

Skip it if

You want a banjo with a removable resonator
You want a banjo with a hard case

The banjo has a maple bridge, a mahogany neck and a sapele body, with an imitation sheepskin head. A padded bag with dual adjustable shoulder straps and carry handles comes in the box, with an allen wrench and screwdriver tools. The banjo measures 38 inches, has a closed back and carries a 1 year warranty.

Side by side

Product	Resonator back	Brackets	Case or gig bag included	Strings	Weight	Warranty
AKLOT Full-Sized Banjo Set: 38’’ 5 String	Yes	24	Yes	5	6.2 lb	2 year
Kmise 5 String Resonator Banjo	Yes	Not stated	Yes	5	Not stated	6-month
Gold Tone Mastertone OB-150 Orange Blossom 5-String	Yes	Not stated	Yes	5	11.5 lb	lifetime
Costzon 5-String Banjo 24 Bracket with Geared	Not stated	24	Yes	5	6 lb	Not stated
Ktaxon 5 String Banjo	Not stated	Not stated	Yes	5	Not stated	1 year

How we ranked these banjos

Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.

Resonator back weight 2
Brackets weight 1
Case or gig bag included weight 1

Buying advice: 5 string banjo

Decide between a resonator and a closed back

A resonator back lifts off on some banjos, while other banjos have a closed back. The AKLOT banjo has a removable resonator, and the Ktaxon banjo has a closed back. The Kmise banjo has a removable sapele back cover. Decide which back style you want before comparing other specs.

Count the brackets and check the tuner

Brackets hold the head in place around the drum, and the 5th tuner tunes the 5th string. The AKLOT and Costzon banjos have 24 brackets each, and both have a geared 5th tuner. The Gold Tone banjo has planetary tuners. Check the bracket count and the tuner style before buying.

Look at what comes in the box

Kits differ in what they pack with the banjo. The AKLOT kit holds a gig bag, a strap, a tuner, extra strings and finger picks. The Kmise kit holds a storage bag, a strap, extra strings, a tuner, a cloth and finger picks. The Costzon kit holds a bag, a strap, a wiper, picks and a tuner. Compare the kit contents against what you already own before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Does each banjo come with a case or bag?

Yes. The AKLOT, Kmise, Costzon and Ktaxon banjos come with a bag, and the Gold Tone banjo comes with a hard case.

What does a removable resonator do?

On the AKLOT banjo, the resonator lifts off and fits back on, giving two voices in one banjo. The Kmise banjo has a removable sapele back cover that opens for a cleaner sound.

Which banjos have 24 brackets?

The AKLOT and Costzon banjos have 24 brackets each. Both also have a geared 5th tuner.

Do these banjos carry a warranty?

The AKLOT banjo carries a 2 year warranty, the Kmise banjo carries a 6-month warranty, the Gold Tone banjo carries a lifetime warranty, and the Ktaxon banjo carries a 1 year warranty.