Comparison
Dobsonian vs Refractor Telescopes
Two very different ways to spend the same money. Dobsonians buy raw aperture; refractors buy sharpness, low maintenance and portability. Here's how they actually compare on our live pricing data.
| Dobsonian | Refractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Models we track | 14 | 20 |
| Typical aperture | 232 mm | 90 mm |
| Largest aperture | 406 mm | 150 mm |
| Entry price | $60 | $97 |
| Median price | $1035 | $240 |
| Median $/mm aperture | $4.29 | $3.0 |
| Common mounts | Dobsonian (14) | Alt-Az (12), Unknown (4), Equatorial (3) |
Aperture decides how much light you gather, so $/mm is the cleanest value yardstick — lower is more telescope per dollar. Figures come from live retailer pricing across our catalogue, not manufacturer list prices.
Best value Dobsonian
| Celestron FirstScope 76mm | $59 · $0.79/mm |
|---|---|
| Sky-Watcher Heritage 130 Tabletop Dobsonian | $305 · $2.35/mm |
| Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 Tabletop Dobsonian | $439 · $2.93/mm |
| Explore Scientific Firstlight 10" Solid Tube Dobsonian | $849 · $3.35/mm |
| Sky-Watcher Classic 200P f/5.9 Dobsonian Telescope | $725 · $3.57/mm |
Best value Refractor
| Gskyer AZ70400 70mm Refractor | $96 · $1.39/mm |
|---|---|
| Celestron Travel Scope 70 | $99 · $1.43/mm |
| Hexeum AZ70500 70mm Refractor | $110 · $1.57/mm |
| Celestron Travel Scope 80 | $129 · $1.62/mm |
| Explore Scientific Firstlight AR90mm White Tube Refractor W/ AZ Mount | $159 · $1.78/mm |
Compare any two directly
Want a specific head-to-head instead of the category picture? Use the compare tool →
What the numbers mean
Refractor gives more aperture per dollar overall — 30% better on median $/mm across everything we track. But Dobsonian starts 1.6× cheaper, so at the bottom of the market that better average is simply out of reach — which range wins depends entirely on what you can spend.
Which wins at your budget
| Budget | Dobsonian | Refractor | Better value |
|---|---|---|---|
| under $300 | FirstScope 76mm
$59 · $0.79/mm |
AZ70400 70mm Refractor
$96 · $1.39/mm |
Dobsonian |
| $300–1,000 | Heritage 130 Tabletop Dobsonia
$305 · $2.35/mm |
AstroMaster 102AZ f/6.5 Double
$319 · $3.14/mm |
Dobsonian |
| $1,000–2,500 | Classic 10-Inch Dobsonian Tele
$1034 · $4.07/mm |
Advanced VX 6" Refractor Teles
$1899 · $12.66/mm |
Dobsonian |
| over $2,500 | 16" Truss Tube Dobsonian- F/4.
$3599 · $8.87/mm |
NP101is f/5.3 Petzval Refracti
$4267 · $42.25/mm |
Dobsonian |
Best $/mm in each band, from live prices — so this table changes when prices do. Aperture per dollar is only one way to judge a telescope; it says nothing about optics, mount or how it feels to use.