How Much Does A Piano Cost?

Picking a piano is a precise operation. But it won’t necessarily be an easy task. You need to understand the broad framework you’ll need to make sound decisions about choosing a piano. It’s not just about how much does a piano cost, it’s about the attributes of sound quality, key surfaces, whether you’re purchasing a Faziloi or Bösendorfer, acoustic piano, or digital piano.

Of course, the bottom line is the budget. Establishing what you’re willing to spend will impact every aspect of the purchase. Put together a potential budget before you begin the research.

Buying the wrong piano is a waste. Many hopeful musicians buy a musical instrument looking forward to learning how to play. But if you’re sitting before the wrong instrument, you end up with a hunk of machinery everyone loses interest in.

The following article gives you sufficient information for choosing a piano and an idea of how much you’ll need to budget for the entire venture. But you should remember, prices aren’t set in cement. Everything from vendor and region to piano moving cost can affect pricing. One thing is for sure, whether you want an upright piano or grand piano, there’s a musical instrument perfect for you.

Costs of a Piano

Digital piano: Digitals start at around $300.

Grand piano: Entry-level grand pianos are pricey. These can run you from $7,000 to $30,000. The big dogs — coming from the likes of Steinway — will cost anywhere between $65,000 and $190,000. Grand piano or upright piano, everything from branding to materials and current market to labor, affects the costs.

Acoustic piano: A low- to mid-tier upright acoustic piano will cost around $1,000–$3,000

Baby grand piano: You’ll find a used baby grand for several thousand dollars and up to six figures for a new piano.

Concert grand piano: While the unique concert grand can cost significantly more, at the low end you will spend $120,000 and $200,000 for a new piano.

Vertical piano: Verticals are a type of upright. On average, expect to put between $3,000 and $6,500 into buying one of the musical instruments.

Spinet piano: You’ll spend about $1,500 for a spinet. This will likely be a reconditioned solution.

Quality pianos are available for every piano buyer. But choosing the right piano is about skill, size, dedication, purpose, and construction. All of it impacts your budget. Once you have a handle on that, you’ll have a better handle on how much does a piano cost.

What Impacts the Price:

Here are a few things that impact finding the right piano:

Branding

As in any purchase, you want a reliable brand. The brand will have the most significant impact on cost, and that’s regardless of the condition or age of the instrument. In the world of musicians, branding is greatly associated with quality construction, credibility, consistency, performance, and more.

A baby grand piano bought on the secondary market could snatch up thousands more than a new model based on the manufacturer. The opposite is also true.

Here’s a list of the market’s probably most trusted piano manufacturers.

Choosing between brands means you’re likely getting a better product. But that doesn’t mean you’re getting the right one. A console piano is a musical instrument that won’t perform the same function as an acoustic or digital piano. The features of a digital piano might suit you better than a Steinway grand.

We’d advise you not to let perception cloud your decisions though. The right piano can come from any piano maker.

The Market

The piano market controls costs. If the popularity of an electric piano rises, production increases, and you see the effect on pricing. The inverse is true. Consumers don’t buy, and prices fall to keep inventory moving.

A piano buyer might come across an old Spinet piano selling at 45 percent value of a new one. That’s a sign of price increasing in new models. The older model always increases in price with newer ones.

Like all things, the piano is seeing greater prices. To cut down expenses, manufacturers are highlighting opportunities like the less expensive entry-level grand piano or piano models with fewer features.

Size

Large pianos require greater production. Strings are longer, plates are bigger, and the size of the hammers may differ. The intensity of the labor has an impact on a new piano.

Quality

End of the day, regardless of costs, you want quality. A piano can have weighted keys and great acoustic vibes, but if it breaks down frequently or its function turns beginners away, you end with an instrument that won’t meet your objectives.

Here’s what you want out of a piano:

88 Keys

A standard, full-sized keyboard is the only way to properly learn or play a piano.

Weighted Keys

These are often referred to as “graded action,” “hammer action,” and “natural touch.” You’ll find the keys on a digital piano feel heavier. The engineering is to develop resistance and muscularity.

Touch Sensitivity

Touch sensitivity is also referred to as “dynamic response” and “velocity layers.” The feature refers to the pressure used on keys to change how soft or loud the sound is.

Music Stand

You cannot overlook the benefits of a music stand, or, as it’s also called, a rest. Upright piano or concert grand, you want a place to put your music and notes.

Other Piano Considerations

When you buy a piano, you take on more than the base instrument. The more common costs will be tuning and managing tuning pins, the piano moving company, and more. Take a look at what’s ahead when you go to a piano dealer.

Stand/Cabinet/Base

Not all pianos have legs. This is typically for an electric piano or digital piano. Your piano may need a base or stand to rest on. There are cabinets built into the instrument. It’s best to have a well-fitted device for sitting on. The right device makes playing easier and the piano feels sturdier.

Bench

Not all instruments come with a bench. It could be an additional piano cost. You may not need them at first, but you may want to invest in some pedals.

Amazon sells a range of pedals, both inexpensive or higher in price. Benches can cost you between $180 and $500.

Transportation

For a lot of larger models, you’ll need a moving truck. You can certainly move it yourself, but we’d recommend you get a professional piano mover. It’s the safest way to get your instrument from A to B and being able to hold someone responsible for any mishap.

For local moves, your expense will be in the vicinity of $200–$400. Long-distance moves will range anywhere from $700 to $2,000. You can give us a call for any needs related to this. We are one of the top piano movers in salt lake city.

Music Rest

A music rest gives you a place to rest your tablet or sheet music. This won’t be an expensive investment, running you around $20. It’s probably best to get the product where you buy the piano. That ensures it will fit properly.

Headphones

For your electronic or digital piano, you’d do well with a solid set of headphones. The investment can be as steep as you choose. If you purchase a Bluetooth device, we’d recommend not using the feature. Bluetooth comes with sound delays that can frustrate the playing process.

Piano Tuning

To be sure your instrument’s always on point, you want to have a piano technician tune your device at least twice a year or as often as needed. If you don’t keep up with this, the string tension slackens, and there’s lower tension in your playing.

When you get a piano tuning, strings are set to return a proper pitch. It can take days or weeks for tuned strings to settle. The tuner can also manage acoustics for voicing and regulation.