Hamilton tickets are some of the hottest tickets on Broadway, with the hit musical routinely selling out shows months in advance. But with such high demand comes high prices, leaving many fans wondering exactly how much it costs to see Hamilton live on stage.
Face Value Hamilton Ticket Prices
The face value price of a Hamilton ticket depends on the seating section and where you purchase from. Here are the typical base ticket prices:
- Rear Mezzanine: $179
- Mid Mezzanine: $299
- Front Mezzanine: $399
- Rear Orchestra: $199
- Mid Orchestra: $299
- Front Orchestra: $399
In addition to the ticket price, there are fees that vary by seller. Directly through the Broadway box office, there is a $10 service fee per ticket. Resellers and third-party marketplaces like StubHub may have higher fees.
Premium Hamilton Tickets
For premium Hamilton tickets in prime orchestra seats or VIP packages, prices are elevated well above face value. Here are some typical prices:
- Front Row Orchestra: $700+
- VIP Experience: $1,000+ (includes merchandise, concessions, premium seating)
The most expensive Hamilton tickets for special events like opening night can run over $2,000 per seat.
Average Hamilton Ticket Prices
According to SeatGeek data, below are the average secondary market prices Hamilton tickets have sold for over the past year:
Section | Average Price |
---|---|
Rear Mezzanine | $350 |
Mid Mezzanine | $550 |
Front Mezzanine | $750 |
Rear Orchestra | $400 |
Mid Orchestra | $600 |
Front Orchestra | $850 |
As you can see, the average resale price is almost double the face value price for most areas of the theater. Front row and VIP tickets average well over $1,000.
Cheapest Hamilton Tickets
Getting cheap Hamilton tickets under $200 is extremely difficult these days. Here are some of the only ways to get budget-priced seats:
- Buy rear mezzanine tickets directly through the box office without fees
- Get $10-$20 lottery tickets when available
- Find promo deals for standing room only tickets
Otherwise, the closest to cheap would be rear mezzanine resale tickets in the $200-$300 range during slow periods like January and September.
Hamilton Ticket Lottery
21 front row tickets are sold for every performance for just $10 each through the Hamilton digital lottery. You can enter the lottery via the official app. Winners are selected and notified daily.
Hamilton Standing Room Only Tickets
When available, $39 standing room only tickets are sold for each performance 2.5 hours before showtime. However, the SRO tickets have limited availability and are extremely scarce compared to normal seating.
When Do Hamilton Tickets Go On Sale?
Broadway tickets typically go on sale 6-8 months in advance of a performance. However, Hamilton was so instantly popular that tickets are now on sale over a year in advance.
A new block of tickets is released every Monday at 10 AM Eastern Time. This includes both new performances being added to the schedule as well as newly released seats for existing shows.
Hamilton Ticket Release Calendar
You can see exactly when tickets will be released for upcoming Hamilton shows using the production’s official ticket calendar. It shows the on-sale dates for future ticket blocks as they’re announced.
Where To Buy Hamilton Tickets
Because Hamilton sells out instantly, buying tickets the moment they go on sale gives you the best price and seat selection. Here are some of the top official sources:
- Hamilton App – New blocks are released here first on Mondays
- Broadway Direct – Official box office tickets with fees
- Ticketmaster – Primary market tickets
Resellers can provide last minute options after box office tickets have sold out:
- StubHub
- Vivid Seats
- SeatGeek
Avoid Hamilton Ticket Scalpers
Street scalpers will often approach you outside the theater, but prices are inflated and there’s no guarantee the tickets are valid. Only buy from trusted sources.
Hamilton Ticket Prices Over Time
Hamilton tickets maintain their lofty prices year after year. There are very minor dips during the slowest sales months of January and September, but otherwise prices remain sky-high.
To visualize the small fluctuations, here are the average resale prices month-to-month over the past 3 years:
Month | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|
January | $750 | $725 | $740 |
February | $900 | $875 | $890 |
March | $950 | $925 | $940 |
April | $900 | $875 | $900 |
May | $950 | $925 | $940 |
June | $975 | $950 | $965 |
July | $1,000 | $975 | $990 |
August | $975 | $950 | $965 |
September | $750 | $725 | $740 |
October | $900 | $875 | $890 |
November | $950 | $925 | $940 |
December | $1,000 | $975 | $990 |
Despite some minor ebbs and flows, prices remain exorbitantly high year-round. There are no drastic sales or discounts for Hamilton.
Other Ways to Get Hamilton Tickets
In addition to buying them directly, here are some other ways you may be able to get Hamilton tickets for free or at a discount:
- Enter contests and giveaways
- Join fan clubs for pre-sales and exclusive deals
- Sign up for promotional emails
- Follow Hamilton social accounts for special offers
Opportunities like this are very limited, but provide a chance at scoring tickets outside of just purchasing them. Be sure to jump on special deals and offers when you see them.
Hamilton Ticket Refunds and Exchanges
Refunds and exchanges for Hamilton tickets vary based on where and how you purchased:
- Broadway Direct – Refunds available up to 3 days before the performance. Exchanges available up to 24 hours before.
- Ticketmaster – Restrictive refund policy. Resells tickets rather than refunding.
- StubHub – Refunds if event is canceled and not rescheduled. No refunds otherwise.
Given how quickly Hamilton sells out, exchanging or refunding tickets is extremely difficult unless done well in advance. Triple check dates before purchasing tickets to avoid issues.
Why Are Hamilton Tickets So Expensive?
There are a few key reasons why Hamilton tickets command such high prices:
- Extremely limited supply – Only 1,321 seats per show. Even with nearly 500 performances per year, demand far exceeds availability.
- Critical acclaim – Hamilton is widely considered one of the best musicals ever. It draws interest beyond just typical Broadway fans.
- Cultural impact – Hamilton weaves hip-hop into the story of an iconic Founding Father, creating a uniquely fascinating premise.
- Lack of touring productions – Outside of NYC, the only current Hamilton production is in London, making Broadway the only way most can see it.
With these factors combined, Hamilton has cemented its status as the hottest Broadway ticket by far. Fans have shown their willingness to pay almost any price to get a seat inside the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
How To Save on Hamilton Tickets
While Hamilton tickets are expensive no matter where or when you buy, here are some tips to help save a little money:
- Buy on weekdays – Tuesday through Thursday shows are generally a bit cheaper than weekends.
- Avoid peak tourist seasons – Prices are lowest in January, September, and October.
- Buy rear mezzanine – It’s the cheapest seating section, so start your search there.
- Buy exactly when tickets go on sale – Prices go up exponentially as show dates approach.
- Join fan clubs – You’ll get access to special deals and pre-sales.
- See matinees – Afternoon shows are marginally cheaper than evenings for most Broadway shows.
While Hamilton will still be expensive, these tips can potentially save $50-$100 or more per ticket.
Should You Pay So Much for Hamilton Tickets?
Only you can decide if paying over $1,000 for a Broadway musical is worth it. Some things to consider:
- Cost per hour – At nearly 3 hours long, Hamilton provides a lot of entertainment for the money.
- Experience – Seeing Hamilton live is a memory you’ll cherish forever.
- Scarcity – Who knows when you would get another chance to see Hamilton?
- Alternative options – You could see 3+ Broadway shows for the price of one Hamilton ticket.
For many hardcore fans buying Hamilton tickets is a no-brainer. Others have a harder time justifying the high cost. Ultimately it’s about how much value you ascribe to the experience.
Future of Hamilton Ticket Prices
There is no sign of Hamilton ticket prices dropping anytime soon. The demand continues to exceed supply each year, leading to higher and higher resale prices especially.
If more Hamilton touring productions open in major US cities, Broadway prices could see marginal decreases. But as long as the NYC production remains the only way most can see the show, expect astronomical ticket costs.
It took over a decade for prices of hits like Book of Mormon and Wicked to normalize. Hamilton’s popularity continues to grow, indicating even longer before prices become affordable to more fans.
Conclusion
Attending a Broadway phenomenon like Hamilton comes with a sky-high price tag, with the average ticket selling for $850 though prices easily reach $2,000 and beyond. The show’s tremendous popularity coupled with limited capacity ensures prices stay high indefinitely.
While getting cheap Hamilton tickets is nearly impossible, you can shop strategically, buy direct when newly released, and jump on rare deals to save a little money. For those unable to afford Hamilton, entering the lottery or hoping touring productions visit your city remain the only options.
The bottom line is that Hamilton’s astronomical ticket prices are simply a function of unprecedented demand meeting extremely limited supply. If you want to be in the room where it happens, you have to pay Broadway’s premium prices.