2026 piano value guide · updated 2026-10-08
How much is my piano worth?
Real 2026 asking prices by brand and type from 2,240 priced pianos for sale across the US right now, the six factors that move the number, what your piano is worth by age, and when it pays to sell.
The short answer
Most used pianos in the United States sell for between $500 and $8,000. Mass-market consoles and spinets from the 1950s–1980s bring $200–$1,500 (and many are given away). A good Japanese upright, a Yamaha U1 or Kawai K-300, brings $3,000–$8,000. Used baby grands from mainstream brands run $4,000–$15,000. Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, and Bösendorfer grands start around $15,000 and, fully rebuilt, run $40,000–$150,000+. Everything below explains where your piano lands and why.
2026 piano values by brand
Live asking prices from priced pianos currently listed on US Piano Connection(dealers and private sellers; brands with at least five priced listings). Dealer asking prices run above what a private sale brings; see the note below the table.
| Brand | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha | $8,200 | $400 | $85,995 | 473 |
| Steinway & Sons | $58,950 | $1,500 | $250,000 | 390 |
| Kawai | $8,990 | $648 | $185,000 | 194 |
| Baldwin | $8,994 | $10 | $54,385 | 136 |
| Roland | $2,995 | $400 | $18,650 | 71 |
| Schimmel | $30,495 | $6,500 | $172,363 | 52 |
| Young Chang | $5,990 | $1,500 | $19,996 | 51 |
| Samick | $3,995 | $999 | $15,380 | 47 |
| Boston | $14,200 | $4,795 | $49,200 | 37 |
| Mason & Hamlin | $24,800 | $1,495 | $68,500 | 37 |
| Casio | $2,799 | $650 | $7,500 | 36 |
| Wurlitzer | $2,488 | $100 | $9,990 | 34 |
| Pearl River | $6,995 | $1,500 | $21,437 | 31 |
| Kohler & Campbell | $5,444 | $499 | $9,995 | 30 |
| Essex | $8,000 | $3,499 | $19,990 | 29 |
How to read it: the median is the middle asking price, so half the listings ask more and half ask less. The lowest and highest show how wide a brand's range is: a $400 Yamaha is a 1970s console, an $89,000 Yamaha is a new CFX-series grand. Roughly 60–70% of the median is a realistic private-sale figure for an ordinary example in good playing condition. Brand names link to our buying guides.
Piano values by type
| Type | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand pianos | $29,999 | $1,500 | $500,000 | 947 |
| Upright pianos | $4,495 | $100 | $76,005 | 627 |
| Baby grand pianos | $9,987 | $10 | $152,600 | 291 |
| Digital pianos | $3,190 | $400 | $18,650 | 255 |
| Player pianos | $19,850 | $3,495 | $286,999 | 114 |
| Other | $64,000 | $12,499 | $149,000 | 6 |
Type sets the ceiling. Grands over 6' dominate the top of the market because they are what teachers, churches, and serious players want; a spinet from any maker is capped at a few hundred dollars because its short strings and indirect action limit what it can do. Digitals are electronics: they depreciate like laptops, and a ten-year-old model is worth a fraction of its price new regardless of brand.
Baby grand piano values by brand
A baby grand is a grand under about 5'6", and it is the most searched piano type on this site. The brand decides most of the number: the same size from Steinway, Kawai and a mass-market 1970s maker can sit a factor of ten apart. Live asking prices for every brand with at least two priced baby grands listed right now, refreshed hourly.
| Brand | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha | $11,495 | $5,495 | $21,995 | 49 |
| Kawai | $12,000 | $4,995 | $24,990 | 41 |
| Steinway & Sons | $31,990 | $11,990 | $89,990 | 31 |
| Baldwin | $11,990 | $10 | $24,999 | 15 |
| Young Chang | $6,448 | $3,500 | $19,996 | 14 |
| Samick | $5,390 | $3,395 | $9,995 | 13 |
| Wurlitzer | $4,990 | $2,995 | $6,995 | 11 |
| Kohler & Campbell | $5,390 | $3,590 | $8,995 | 9 |
| Pearl River | $7,600 | $4,790 | $10,000 | 8 |
| Essex | $10,990 | $8,000 | $13,500 | 7 |
| Knabe | $8,995 | $6,000 | $17,990 | 7 |
| Boston | $16,747 | $9,995 | $38,200 | 6 |
What moves a baby grand inside its brand range: age and whether it has been rebuilt, the finish (satin ebony is the easiest to sell), a player system that works, and the bench and original paperwork. See every baby grand for sale or get a free appraisal for yours.
The six factors that decide the number
1. Brand
The single biggest factor, and the reason two pianos that look identical can be $800 and $28,000. Steinway & Sons, Mason & Hamlin, Bösendorfer, and Blüthner are the makes technicians rebuild because the result is worth it; they hold value for a century and, restored, often exceed their original price. Yamaha and Kawai hold value well for decades thanks to consistent manufacturing and deep parts supply. Mid-century American brands (Kimball, Wurlitzer, Baldwin's Acrosonic line, Story & Clark, Kohler & Campbell) were honest instruments made in huge numbers, which is exactly why they sell modestly today: supply outstrips demand.
2. Age and the restoration curve
Pianos do not age like violins. A piano is a machine with roughly 10,000 moving parts plus 18–20 tons of string tension pulling on a wooden frame. Felt hammers compact, strings lose brilliance, the pinblock loses grip, and the soundboard slowly flattens. Most pianos lose value steadily for 40–60 years. Premium instruments then follow a second curve: a rebuilt golden-era (1900–1940) Steinway can sell for several times an unrestored one, because rebuilders treat the case and plate as the valuable core. Everyday brands rarely justify a rebuild; the work costs more than the finished piano brings.
3. Type and size
Grands out-value uprights of the same make and era, and bigger usually means more: a 6'11" Steinway B commands far more than a 5'1" Model S. Among uprights, tall professional uprights (48"–52", like a Yamaha U1/U3 or Kawai K-series) beat 40"–44" consoles and 36"–38" spinets, which sit at the bottom of the market. Player systems (Disklavier, PianoDisc, Spirio) add real value only while the electronics work and are current enough to update.
4. Condition
Cracked or flat soundboards, loose tuning pins that will not hold pitch, sticky or uneven actions, worn hammers, and chipped keytops all subtract quickly. A piano tuned regularly and kept away from radiators, fireplaces, and direct sun can be worth double a neglected twin. Cosmetics matter less than mechanics to a buyer who plays, but a refinished cabinet moves a piano faster in a private sale.
5. Documented rebuild or refurbishment
New strings, hammers, dampers, action regulation, pinblock or soundboard work, and refinishing by a reputable shop is the one exception to depreciation, and it matters most for the premium makes. Keep every invoice: a rebuild with paperwork is worth more than a rebuild on trust. For everyday brands, expect refurbishment to improve saleability far more than price.
6. Your local market
Pianos cost $300–$1,500 to move, so buyers shop locally and local supply sets prices. The same Yamaha U1 can bring $3,500 in one metro and $5,500 in another. A national marketplace with nationwide delivery options smooths that out, which is why sellers here often do better than on a local classifieds board.
What a piano is worth by age
Find the year first. Every piano carries a serial number, usually stamped on the cast-iron plate near the tuning pins (lift the lid on a grand, or the top panel on an upright) and sometimes on the back. Free serial-number databases date almost any brand to the year. Then find your band:
0–10 years
Sells at roughly 50–70% of the current new price for the same model. Buyers pay for warranty and the showroom experience, so a lightly used, near-new piano is the best value on the market for a buyer and the steepest depreciation for a seller.
10–30 years
The sweet spot for Yamaha, Kawai, Boston, and Schimmel. Well-kept examples sell for 30–50% of new. Mass-market brands from this era (Samick, Young Chang, Pearl River) are typically $1,500–$6,000.
30–60 years
Where most American consoles and spinets live. A 1960s–1980s Kimball, Wurlitzer, or Baldwin Acrosonic in tune and playing well is usually $300–$2,000; many are given away. A 1970s Yamaha U-series is the exception and still brings $2,500–$5,000.
60–100+ years
Two very different stories. A pre-war Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Baldwin grand, Knabe, or Chickering is a rebuild candidate worth $5,000–$40,000 even unrestored (far more rebuilt). A pre-war mass-market upright with original strings and hammers is usually worth $0–$500 and often costs more to move than it sells for.
What the market is asking right now, by decade of manufacture (median asking price of priced listings on US Piano Connection; decades with at least eight priced pianos):
| Built | Median asking | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | $39,900 | 9 |
| 1890s | $24,995 | 9 |
| 1900s | $49,800 | 51 |
| 1910s | $61,495 | 76 |
| 1920s | $56,500 | 89 |
| 1930s | $53,250 | 32 |
| 1940s | $46,488 | 26 |
| 1950s | $39,900 | 25 |
| 1960s | $8,495 | 51 |
| 1970s | $6,995 | 113 |
| 1980s | $8,600 | 186 |
| 1990s | $9,450 | 233 |
| 2000s | $11,995 | 209 |
| 2010s | $11,000 | 135 |
| 2020s | $12,999 | 147 |
Older decades skew high because the pre-war pianos that survive and get listed are disproportionately Steinways and other rebuild-grade grands; an ordinary 1920s upright is not represented by that median.
Get the number for your exact piano
Our free appraisal compares your make, model, year, and condition against live asking prices from thousands of pianos for sale across the US, including fully refurbished examples, and gives you a realistic private-sale range in seconds. No account, no obligation.
What's my piano worth?When to sell, and when not to
Sell now if the piano is not being played. A piano that sits loses value every year through the slow mechanical wear described above, and an un-tuned piano that drifts far below pitch can crack its own plate or soundboard when a technician brings it back up. There is no appreciation waiting for an ordinary instrument.
Sell before you move. Movers charge $300–$1,500 for a piano, more for stairs and grands, and a piano that arrives out of tune and scuffed in a new city is harder to sell than one advertised from the home it has lived in. Listing four to six weeks before a move gives buyers time and gives you leverage.
Time it to demand. Piano buying peaks from late August through October (school year, lessons starting) and again from mid-November to Christmas. Mid-summer is slowest. Listings with clear photos, a recent tuning, and a price set from real comparables sell in two to six weeks on this marketplace; overpriced listings sit for months and then sell for less than they would have.
Do not rebuild before sellingunless it is a premium grand and a rebuilder has quoted the work against a realistic sale price. Do spend $150–$400 on a tuning, a light regulation, and a clean case: it changes how the piano feels in the first thirty seconds of a buyer's visit, which is when most sales are decided.
Consider donating when the realistic value is under about $500. Schools, churches, and community programs take playable pianos, the tax deduction can exceed the sale price, and you skip the listing and the strangers. If it needs more than a tuning to play, be honest that it may be at the end of its life; a piano technician can tell you in ten minutes.
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Common questions about piano value
How much is a used upright piano worth?
Most used uprights from mass-market American brands (Kimball, Wurlitzer, Baldwin Acrosonic, Story & Clark) sell for $300–$2,500. A well-maintained Yamaha U1 or U3 brings $3,000–$7,000, a Kawai K-series $3,500–$8,000, and professional uprights from Schimmel, Bösendorfer, or Steinway can reach $10,000–$30,000. On US Piano Connection the live median asking price for an upright is shown in the table above.
How much is a used baby grand piano worth?
Entry-level used baby grands (Samick, Young Chang, Pearl River, older Kimball or Wurlitzer grands) run $3,000–$8,000. Yamaha GB1/GC1 and Kawai GL/GM baby grands sell for $6,000–$16,000 depending on age. A Steinway Model S or M is typically $15,000–$40,000 unrestored and $40,000–$80,000 fully rebuilt.
How much is a Steinway piano worth?
Steinway values depend on model, era, and restoration. Uprights (1098, K-52) $8,000–$25,000; Model S/M baby grands $15,000–$45,000; Model L/O $20,000–$60,000; Model B $30,000–$95,000; Model D concert grands $60,000–$150,000+. Fully rebuilt golden-era (1900–1940) examples sit at the top of each range, and new Spirio models list at $100,000–$200,000+. Our live Steinway listings currently span the range shown in the brand table.
How much is a Yamaha piano worth?
Yamaha holds value better than almost any brand. A used U1 upright is $3,000–$7,000, a U3 $4,500–$9,000, C-series grands (C1–C7) $8,000–$35,000, and Disklavier models add $2,000–$8,000 when the player system works. Clavinova digitals depreciate faster: $800–$4,000 used.
How much is a Baldwin piano worth?
Baldwin made both premium and budget instruments, so the spread is wide. A Baldwin Acrosonic spinet or console is $300–$1,500; Hamilton studio uprights $800–$2,500; Baldwin R, L, and SF-10 grands from the 1960s–1990s $5,000–$20,000; and fully rebuilt pre-war Baldwin grands can reach $25,000–$40,000.
How much is a Kimball or Wurlitzer piano worth?
Both were mass-market brands sold in enormous numbers from the 1950s–1980s, so supply is high and prices are low. A Kimball or Wurlitzer console or spinet in good playing condition sells for $200–$1,200; their baby grands $1,500–$4,000. Kimball-era Bösendorfers (1966–2002) are a separate, premium story.
Are old pianos worth anything?
It depends almost entirely on the maker. A 1920s Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Chickering, Knabe, Baldwin, or Bösendorfer is a restoration candidate worth real money even in rough shape. A 1920s mass-market upright with original strings and hammers usually has more sentimental than market value: often $0–$500, and moving it can cost more than it sells for.
How do I find out what my specific piano is worth?
Use the free instant appraisal on this site: enter the make, model, year, and condition (the serial number, stamped on the plate near the tuning pins, dates it precisely) and you get a value range in seconds based on live asking prices from comparable pianos for sale across the US, cross-checked against current market data. For an insurance or estate valuation, hire a Registered Piano Technician for a written appraisal ($100–$250).
Does refurbishing a piano increase its value?
For premium brands, yes, dramatically: a fully rebuilt golden-era Steinway can be worth two to four times an unrestored example. For everyday brands, refurbishment rarely recovers its own cost, though a tuning, regulation, and cleaning before listing ($150–$400) almost always pays for itself in a faster sale.
Why do dealers ask more than my appraisal says?
Dealer asking prices include restoration or prep work, a warranty, delivery, a showroom, and financing, and are negotiable. A private sale realistically brings 50–70% of dealer asking for the same instrument. Our appraisal shows you both: the dealer comparables and the private-sale range.
Brand and type values on this page are computed from live listings on US Piano Connection and refresh hourly; the ranges in the text are our editorial read of the US used-piano market in 2026. Neither is a formal appraisal. Ready to sell? Read how to sell your piano or list it free.