Used Kawai Pianos: Buying Guide, Models & Prices
Kawai is Japan's other piano giant, and among technicians it's something of an open secret: comparable quality to its more famous rival, usually at a friendlier price. Founded in 1927 by a former Yamaha engineer, Kawai has spent decades innovating on the action — the mechanical heart of the piano.
Kawai's signature is its ABS-composite action parts, which shrug off the humidity swings that make wooden actions sticky and uneven. On the used market that translates to instruments that stay consistent with less fuss — and prices that make them one of the best values in used pianos.
What Kawai is known for
- Warmer, rounder tone than the typical Japanese brightness — often described as closer to European voicing
- ABS/carbon composite action parts that resist humidity and stay consistent for decades
- K-series uprights and RX/GX grands that routinely undercut equivalent rivals on price
- Excellent digitals (CA/CN series) using real wooden-key actions
Popular used Kawaimodels & prices
Kawai K-series uprights (K-200–K-500)
$3,000–$8,000 usedThe direct U-series competitor. A used K-300 (48") is one of the best value-per-dollar uprights you can buy; the K-500 adds grand-like depth.
Kawai RX-series grands (RX-1–RX-7)
$9,000–$25,000 usedThe workhorse grand line of the 1990s–2000s, later succeeded by GX. An RX-2 (5'10") is a favorite teacher's grand; RX-3 and up fill bigger rooms.
Kawai GX-series grands
$15,000–$40,000 usedThe current premium line with stretched-length designs and refined Millennium III actions. Recent used examples are near-new for thousands less.
Kawai GL/GM baby grands
$6,000–$14,000 usedCompact grands with honest actions at entry prices — a smart first grand.
Ranges are typical asking prices for privately sold and dealer-restored instruments in the U.S.; condition, age, and restoration quality move prices substantially.
Kawai pianos for sale now
DealerKawai CP119
Troy, MI
Digital
Solich Music
Nationwide Delivery Available
$2,586
View details
Dealer1982 Kawai KG2C
Dublin, OH
Grand
Solich Music
Nationwide Delivery Available
$19,914
View details
DealerKawai CA48B
Wexford, PA
Digital
Solich Music
Nationwide Delivery Available
$2,295
View details
Dealer1986 Kawai GE1
Wexford, PA
Baby grand
Solich Music
Nationwide Delivery Available
$11,994
View details
Dealer1975 Kawai BL-51
Beachwood, OH
Upright
Solich Music
Nationwide Delivery Available
$7,888
View details
Dealer2003 Kawai RX1
Beachwood, OH
Baby grand
Solich Music
Nationwide Delivery Available
$21,995
View detailsBuying a used Kawai: what to check
- Don't let anyone scare you off 'plastic parts' — Kawai's ABS action components are a proven upgrade, not a cost cut, and technicians widely respect them
- K-series and RX-series pianos from the 1990s onward are the safest used buys; confirm the model and year via the serial number
- Listen for Kawai's darker voicing and decide if it suits you — players coming from bright pianos sometimes need a session to appreciate it
- As with any used piano, a $150–$250 technician inspection before purchase is the best money you'll spend
Frequently asked questions
Kawai vs. Yamaha — which used piano should I buy?
Condition beats brand at this level. Broadly: Yamaha runs brighter, Kawai warmer; Kawai often costs 10–20% less used for equivalent quality. Play both and buy the better-maintained instrument.
Are Kawai's plastic action parts a problem?
No — the opposite. Kawai's ABS (now carbon-infused) parts don't swell or shrink with humidity like wood, so the action stays more consistent over time. It's been standard on their pianos for 50 years.
Selling a Kawai piano?
List it free on US Piano Connection and reach buyers nationwide — read our guide to selling your piano or start your listing.