If you’re thinking of buying a piano and investing in your own talents, it’s natural to be confused about how much to invest. Pianos can cost anywhere between hundreds of dollars to even a million. You don’t want to go overboard and drop a thousand dollars on a piano to develop your skills when you could’ve done the same for less than half.
So whether you’re new to pianos or an experienced practitioner, here’s a complete guide to how much does a piano cost and how much you ought to invest.
How Much Does a Piano Cost?
The cost of a new piano varies with size, type, and make, but there are two overarching piano types you need to know about — vertical and horizontal.
Horizontal pianos are made specially for concerts and large auditoriums as they are designed and constructed to produce a more refined sound. These pianos are typically too large to make room for at home.
Vertical pianos are short and have vertically aligned strings. They’re easier to make room for at home.
Here’s the approximate cost range for different kinds of pianos.
#1. Upright Pianos
Also called “grandma’s pianos,” upright pianos are the tallest of the vertical pianos. They have a classic design and can range from 50 to 60 inches in height and length. If you maintain them well, upright pianos can retain the quality of their sound for decades.
On average, upright pianos cost between $3,000 and $6,500. The high-end ones, which are used in studios, can cost up to $70,000.
Here are the types of upright pianos.
-
Spinet
Image source: Pinterest
The spinet is the smallest upright piano you can buy. They’re usually shorter than 38 inches in height, with their price starting at $3,000.
-
Console
Image source: Pinterest
Console pianos are slightly larger than Spinet pianos. Their price ranges from $4,500 to $22,000, depending on the make.
-
Studio
Image source: Pinterest
Studio pianos are about 45 inches in height. They’re designed for recording and have a soundboard that’s comparable to grand pianos. They start at $4,000 and go up to $48,000 depending on the make.
#2. Grand Piano
Grand pianos have horizontally aligned strings and produce much finer tones. They come in varying sizes but are usually too large to fit indoors, with the exception of petite and baby grand pianos. On a grand piano, when you press a key, a hammer hits the string it’s connected to and produces a very crisp sound. This feature gives professional pianists better control over the keys.
These pianos are generally only bought for concert halls and used by professionals. Here are the different sizes they’re available in and the cost range.
-
Petite Grand
Image source: Pinterest
Petite grands are the smallest of the horizontal pianos, usually between 4 to 5 feet in height. They can fit into your living spaces, although you’d probably need at least 6 square feet of space. The average price ranges from $10,000 to $20,000, with higher-end ones going up to $100,000.
-
Baby Grand
Image source: Pinterest
Baby grand pianos are just slightly larger than petite grand pianos. They typically range from $9,000 to $120,000 depending on the make. If you have a large home, you might be able to accommodate a baby grand piano.
-
Medium Grand
Image source: Pinterest
Medium grand pianos are somewhere between 5 to 6 feet in length and have a large soundboard that produces improved tones. The price starts at $12,000 and can go up to $127,000 for high-end models.
-
Parlor Grand
Image source: Pinterest
Parlor grand pianos are about 6 feet in height and cost close to $95,000 on average.
-
Concert Grand
Image source: Pinterest
The concert grand is the largest grand piano you can buy. They range from 9 to 10 feet in height and $80,000 to $280,000 on average. The sound quality you get with concert grand pianos is unequivocally and unanimously voted as the finest.
#3. Digital Pianos
Digital pianos, also referred to sometimes as “keyboards,” are electronic pianos. They’re made from entirely different materials and work differently from regular pianos.
Digital pianos can be used to produce a whole range of sounds. They also include features like metronome, beats, and recording that make the experience more educational and fun. The price of a digital piano starts at $500, and if you’re looking for a high-end model, it can go up to $7,000.
5 Factors That Affect Piano Price
The price of a brand new piano depends on the following factors.
#1. Type
Horizontal pianos are typically more expensive than vertical or upright pianos. Digital pianos are the cheapest.
#2. Brand
Did you know that the world’s most expensive piano costs $3,220,000? It’s a crystal concert grand piano made by the German manufacturer Heintzman. The brand you purchase can affect the price drastically.
#3. Size
Larger pianos, of course, cost more as they are more expensive to make.
#4. Color and Shape
Some piano manufacturers like to incorporate artistry into their products by offering unique colors and shapes. Pianos with exotic finishes like walnut or spruce will likely cost you more.
#5. Materials Used
Pianos made from high-quality, rare hardwoods like mahogany, spruce, rosewood, and maple will cost more.
What To Consider When Buying a Piano
#1. Space
If you’re purchasing a grand piano, you will need at least 10 square feet of unoccupied living space to store it.
#2. Maintenance
Some pianos require more maintenance or cost more to maintain than others. That’s something you should factor into your budget.
#3. Your Level of Expertise
If you’ve only recently started learning piano, it would be better to go with a low-cost, entry-level piano. Once your skills are improved, you can invest in a more expensive piano for better sound.
How Much Should You Spend on the Piano?
That depends on your budget. As a general rule, when it comes to all musical instruments, be they guitars, pianos, or drums, it’s always better to invest according to your level of expertise. You should also take into consideration whether you’re performing and what the gig requires.
Becoming a professional pianist takes time, even for prodigies. And sometimes, people do tend to lose interest along the way. That’s why if you’re new to learning, buy from average brands or lower. And only invest more when your skill reaches a point where you can make returns through gigs.
Cost Of Accessories
Here are some of the accompanying accessories you may need for your piano and how much they range in cost.
#1. Piano Stand - $25 to $100
#2. Piano Stool - $20 to $50
#3. Adjustable Piano Bench - $50 to $70
#4. Metronome - $40 to $100
Future Costs - Maintenance and Repairs
Once you purchase a new piano, here are some of the additional costs you will likely incur. These costs vary with the type and make.
#1. Hiring Piano Movers - $150 to $200
#2. Tuning Costs - $65 to $225
#3. Repair - Can sometimes be more expensive than the piano itself. The cost of repair depends on the condition of the piano.
How To Choose The One You Want
#1. Inspect the piano to make sure it’s properly tuned and doesn’t have any broken or missing parts. If you don’t know much about pianos, consult a technician or ask your music teacher.
#2. Grand pianos provide the hammer action needed for advanced piano playing. Buy according to your expertise and the kind of performances you expect to play in.
#3. New pianos produce better sound than aged pianos and have lower maintenance costs. A piano’s lifespan, generally speaking, is about 25 years, after which they don’t sound as good.
