Piano Cost

• A half-size keyboard with training software averages $200 -$250. Expect to pay $550 -$2,000 or more for a full (88 keys) digital piano keyboard with touch-sensitive keys and a damper pedal. Digital pianos can be played silently (using headphones), don't need tuning, can make non-piano sounds and are easy to move -- but they don't have the depth and finger action of a traditional acoustic piano. ConcertPitchPiano.com lists digital pros and cons.
• Beat-up traditional pianos are often available for $250 -$500. These may have problems such as rusty strings or cracked pin blocks, but if an old piano is in reasonably good playing shape and still tunable, it can be a "starter" instrument.
• Upright pianos with a vertical sounding board start with the spinet at about 36 inches tall for $900 -$1,800 and up; console and studio models are taller (40-60 inches) and sell for $2,000 -$8,000 or more.
• Grand pianos, which have a horizontal sounding board, come in three basic sizes. A baby grand (less than 6 feet long) starts around $4,000 -$8,000 from little-known manufacturers but can run $10,000 -$24,000 or more for a high-end brand like Steinway; a grand piano (6-9 feet) is $10,000 -$40,000 or more; and a concert grand (9 feet or longer) costs $30,000 -$80,000 and up.
• A piano does wear out eventually (if not rebuilt or restored), so the age of a used instrument is important. Find the manufacturer's name and the piano's serial number (inside the piano), then check BlueBookOfPianos.com. Get more detailed searches done for $5-$15 at PianoAtlas.com.
• Many experts recommend The Piano Book: Buying & Owning a New or Used Piano at $24.95 (it might be in your local library).

• A piano's distinctive sound is made by small hammers striking the strings. Traditional acoustic pianos have 5,000-10,000 or more moving parts. These include the back, the sounding board, the plate and bridges, strings, hammers, keys, pedals and more; PianoWorld.com provides an overview of the basic parts of a piano.
• If buying from a dealer, ask if the piano will be tuned and thoroughly cleaned before delivery. A typical warranty on a new piano covers 5-10 years under one owner, and does not include tuning or action regulation.

• A piano bench may be included, or might add $50 -$500; some grand-piano benches can be $2,000 or more.
• If you've narrowed your search to a specific used piano, having it evaluated by a qualified piano tuner-technician costs about $70 -$150.
• Don't buy a piano that won't stay tuned; restoring it can cost $5,000 -$10,000.
• A piano should be tuned a minimum of once a year; twice a year is better. Tuning a piano takes about two hours and costs $75 -$125. Most pianos need action regulation (leveling the keyboard, filing the hammers and more) every 5-10 years, at a cost of $1,000 -$3,000.
• Check if delivery is included. Plus, owning a piano can increase your moving expenses if you hire a professional piano mover.

• Some dealers offer 100 percent trade-up; if you buy a piano and later purchase a more expensive model, they'll take the old one back and apply its price to the cost of the next piano.

• Most experts recommend buying a piano of slightly higher quality than your playing ability. It's also good to see (and play) as many pianos as possible before making a decision. With a used piano, look inside for rust or other signs of problems.
• MusicWithEase.com lists the major piano brands for both traditional and digital models; the nonprofit PianoEducation.org gives piano buying tips; and the Piano Technicians Guild talks about what to expect when buying from a dealer or from a private individual.
• PianoStores.com lists piano stores by state. Pianos are sold on eBay.com and Amazon, but shipping costs can be high.

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