What is a fair price for a used upright piano?

It depends on the brand and age; the live table on this page shows the median asking price for uprights on the site right now. As a rule, a serviceable Japanese upright from the 1980s–2000s in the low thousands is the value sweet spot.

Is a $500 upright piano worth buying?

Sometimes. If it's a known brand, every key works, and the tuning pins are tight, yes. If it's an unbranded spinet that hasn't been tuned in decades, the move and repairs will cost more than a better piano.

How much is a used Yamaha U1?

Check the Yamaha brand page for the live median and range on this site — U1s are among the most-listed used uprights, so the number updates constantly.

Are dealer pianos worth the higher price?

Often: delivery, a post-move tuning, a warranty and a technician's prep are usually included, which closes much of the gap with a private sale.

Upright vs. baby grand — which holds value better?

Baby grands from good makers hold value better and are easier to resell, but a tall upright from Yamaha or Kawai plays better than a cheap baby grand at the same price.

How old is too old for a used upright?

For production pianos, roughly 50 years unless it has been rebuilt. Premium names and well-maintained instruments can be exceptions — let a technician decide.

Do used piano prices go down over time?

For most production uprights, yes — steadily, until they hit a floor near the moving cost. Premium makes plateau instead of falling.

Should I buy a used digital piano instead?

If you need headphones, portability, or zero maintenance, a digital from Yamaha, Kawai, Roland or Casio is the right tool. For touch and tone that develops a student, an acoustic upright still wins.

How Much Does a Used Upright Piano Cost? (2026 Prices by Brand & Age)

Used upright prices span from a few hundred dollars to well over ten thousand. The live numbers below show where the market actually sits today, and what moves a piano up or down that range.

By Joey Bouza, Founder, US Piano Connection · Updated August 29, 2026

An upright piano is the instrument most families start with, and the used market is the best place to buy one: a well-kept upright from a good maker plays for decades, and someone else has already absorbed the new-piano depreciation. The prices below are computed from the listings on this site right now, so they reflect what sellers are actually asking this month — not a guide written years ago.

What used pianos are listed for right now, by type

Type	Median asking	Lowest	Highest	Listings
Grand	$29,995	$1,500	$500,000	889
Upright	$4,545	$100	$76,005	572
Baby grand	$10,000	$10	$152,600	297
Digital	$3,100	$400	$18,650	246
Player	$19,920	$3,999	$286,999	99

Live asking prices from priced pianos currently listed on US Piano Connection, by type — recalculated hourly. Dealer asking prices run above what a private sale brings.

What drives an upright's price

Tier	Typical asking range	What you're getting
Old American spinets and consoles (pre-1980 Kimball, Wurlitzer, Story & Clark, unbranded)	Free – $800	Compact, often pretty, mechanically tired. Fine for a beginner if it passes inspection; the move can cost more than the piano.
Well-kept vintage American uprights (Baldwin, Acrosonic, Everett, Sohmer)	$800 – $2,500	Better build than the tier below; Acrosonics in particular hold value. Expect some regulation work.
Japanese production uprights, 20–45 years old (Yamaha U1/U3, Kawai K-series, older Young Chang/Samick)	$2,000 – $6,000	The heart of the used market: consistent quality, long life, easy to service. A 48-inch or taller model is worth the premium for a serious student.
Recent or premium uprights (Yamaha YUS, Kawai K-500/800, Boston, Schimmel, Steinway-designed Essex, European makes)	$5,000 – $15,000+	Near-new condition, taller cabinets, better actions; often sold by dealers with a warranty.

Ranges describe what listings in each tier typically ask; the live table above is the measured market.

Height: taller uprights (48"–52") have longer strings and a bigger soundboard — they sound and hold value better than 36"–42" spinets and consoles.
Age and service history: a 30-year-old Yamaha with a tuning record beats a 10-year-old unknown brand with none.
Condition of the action and hammers: regulation ($300–$800 typical) and new hammers ($1,000+) are the repairs that matter; cabinet scratches are cosmetic.
Seller type: dealers price higher and usually include delivery, tuning and a warranty; private sellers price lower and you arrange the move.
Location: markets with many listings (see our state pages) are buyer's markets; a rural listing with no competition can go either way.

Budget beyond the sticker

Add a professional move ($150–$400 locally for an upright), a tuning a few weeks after delivery ($100–$200), and a bench if one isn't included. On a private-sale piano, keep $300–$500 in reserve for the regulation work most used uprights eventually need. Those are industry-typical figures; your quotes will vary.

Where the brands sit right now

Brand	Median asking	Lowest	Highest	Listings
Yamaha	$8,250	$400	$89,995	408
Steinway & Sons	$58,500	$1,500	$250,000	384
Kawai	$8,492	$648	$185,000	196
Baldwin	$9,992	$10	$60,775	126
Roland	$2,848	$400	$18,650	70
Schimmel	$34,780	$6,500	$172,363	51
Samick	$4,435	$999	$11,995	48
Young Chang	$4,785	$1,500	$19,996	43
Mason & Hamlin	$22,990	$1,495	$68,500	39
Boston	$14,200	$4,795	$49,200	37
Wurlitzer	$2,488	$100	$10,195	32
Kohler & Campbell	$4,990	$499	$10,195	30
Pearl River	$6,647	$1,500	$21,437	30
Casio	$2,999	$1,030	$7,500	29
Essex	$8,395	$3,899	$19,990	25

Live asking prices from priced pianos currently listed on US Piano Connection; brands with at least five priced listings, ranked by median — recalculated hourly.

Frequently asked questions

What is a fair price for a used upright piano?: It depends on the brand and age; the live table on this page shows the median asking price for uprights on the site right now. As a rule, a serviceable Japanese upright from the 1980s–2000s in the low thousands is the value sweet spot.
Is a $500 upright piano worth buying?: Sometimes. If it's a known brand, every key works, and the tuning pins are tight, yes. If it's an unbranded spinet that hasn't been tuned in decades, the move and repairs will cost more than a better piano.
How much is a used Yamaha U1?: Check the Yamaha brand page for the live median and range on this site — U1s are among the most-listed used uprights, so the number updates constantly.
Are dealer pianos worth the higher price?: Often: delivery, a post-move tuning, a warranty and a technician's prep are usually included, which closes much of the gap with a private sale.
Upright vs. baby grand — which holds value better?: Baby grands from good makers hold value better and are easier to resell, but a tall upright from Yamaha or Kawai plays better than a cheap baby grand at the same price.
How old is too old for a used upright?: For production pianos, roughly 50 years unless it has been rebuilt. Premium names and well-maintained instruments can be exceptions — let a technician decide.
Do used piano prices go down over time?: For most production uprights, yes — steadily, until they hit a floor near the moving cost. Premium makes plateau instead of falling.
Should I buy a used digital piano instead?: If you need headphones, portability, or zero maintenance, a digital from Yamaha, Kawai, Roland or Casio is the right tool. For touch and tone that develops a student, an acoustic upright still wins.

About the author

Joey Bouza — Founder, US Piano Connection

Working musician and founder of Prospects International, the marketing firm behind appointment-based piano sale events across the country.

Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (mover quotes, tuning fees, rebuild costs) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.