Understanding the New-Piano Market
By Hannah Beckett
For first-time piano shoppers, understanding the piano market is not as straightforward as most might think. Like the car industry, piano manufacturers offer different lines and models with varying price points and quality levels. Understanding how the new piano market is organized can simplify the purchasing process and help you make an informed decision that aligns with your musical goals. A piano is not just a piano, and choosing the right one requires an investment of time and energy. At the risk of over-simplification, the intent of this article is to provide a simple new-piano market summary that serves as a basic framework to guide shoppers in the right direction.
Today's new-piano market can be organized categorically, with manufacturers offering diversified “lines” (or “series”; these terms are used interchangeably) in three distinct quality tiers: entry-level, mid-grade, and high-end. The following charts present these three tiers by category. Entry-level pianos (Category 3) are a manufacturer’s most affordable line; mid-grade pianos (Category 2) make up the vast majority of quality pianos for a broad range of uses; and high-end pianos (Category 1) include a manufacturer’s flagship and concert lines, which typically reflect the finest available craftsmanship and materials. As with any general overview, a simplified market summary cannot capture the nuances that distinguish one piano line from another. Even within a single line or series, some manufacturers tailor their offerings even more precisely than this overview shows. Use these charts to compare competitive models - there are far more brands available than you may realize, so once you’ve selected the category that accommodates your budget and musical needs, take the time to compare all available options in your area, and after narrowing your options, you can learn more about the subtleties that make one manufacturer or one line unique from another.
The Piano Buyer Piano Pricing Search function helps you compare competitive models. Select your criteria to browse your competitive options.
Note: Brands are listed in alphabetical order; no judgment of these brands’ relative rankings should be inferred from this order.
On The Subjective Nature of Quality
Quality in the context of a musical instrument is extremely subjective. In the piano world, no one instrument can be defined as “best” or “worst,” and anyone who says otherwise is merely conveying a personal preference or belief, not a fact. The piano industry hasn't achieved scientific objectivity, and musicians’ opinions reflect different priorities; sound is a matter of taste, and responsiveness often depends on physical ability and style. This is the beauty of piano manufacturing: the right piano for you is the one that moves and inspires you, not one based on price or a brand’s perceived industry prominence. Shop within the category your budget affords, and then choose the piano that makes you want to play every day.
Category 3: Entry-Level
Entry-level pianos are a manufacturer's most affordable, and thus lowest-quality, offerings. The term “low-quality” is a bit of a misnomer; today’s lowest-quality pianos are built much better than the entry-level pianos of twenty years ago. A piano’s quality level primarily correlates to service-life expectations: an entry-level piano may function reliably for half the time a mid-grade piano can. Some manufacturers also use entry-level pianos to foster brand loyalty. Starting with an entry-level piano often leads to an upgrade once a player outgrows its inherent limitations, and the general hope is that the upgrade leads to a higher-end offering from the same manufacturer.
Entry-level pianos fall into two categories, as shown in the chart below. In the 1980s, imported pianos from Japan, China, and South Korea dominated the entry-level market, and over the next several decades, most major manufacturers began outsourcing production of their lowest lines to Asian-owned companies. In the early 2000s, dozens of Chinese manufacturers imported pianos to the U.S., but recent policy changes in China have reduced piano manufacturing by 80-90%. Today, only a handful of independent Chinese manufacturers export pianos to the U.S., and most other entry-level pianos are produced in partnership with manufacturers with long-standing industry presence.
Manufacturers take different approaches to quality oversight of entry-level lines. Balancing low overhead with quality that minimizes warranty work is an ever-moving target, and manufacturing locations change often as a result. In general, manufacturers combine assembly at one location with final touches or installation of higher-quality parts at another. Manufacturers are fairly transparent about these processes. You can find information about specific brands on the Acoustic Brand Profiles pages or directly on the manufacturer’s website. Enough variation in quality exists to justify two categories for entry-level pianos: 3B and 3A. The differences are primarily in the level of quality materials and post-assembly finishing oversight. While 3B pianos suit beginners, 3A pianos are part of a manufacturer’s broader offerings and carry the same dealer-preparation expectations as the rest of the manufacturer’s offerings. Pricing is based on the SMP approximation from the most recent price lists.
Entry-Level Uprights 3B | |
|---|---|
A. Geyer | $8,000 - $9,000 |
Baldwin (Academy Line) | $8,000 - $10,000 |
Cline | $7,000 - $9,000 |
Cristofori | $5,000 - $7,000 |
Cunningham | $11,000 - $13,000 |
Henry F. Miller | $8,000 - $12,000 |
Hupfeld (Studio Line) | $6,000 - $8,000 |
Irmler (Studio Line) | $9,000 - $13,000 |
Pramberger (Legacy & Signature Series) | $6,000 - $10,000 |
Pearl River | $6,000 - $9,000 |
Ritmuller | $9,000 - $12,000 |
Story & Clark | $5,000 |
Weber | $8,000 |
Young Chang | $5,000 - $8,000 |
Entry-Level Uprights 3A | |
Brodmann (CE Series) | $8,000 |
Essex | $7,000 - $10,000 |
Gebr. Schulz | $9,000 - $12,000 |
Hailun | $10,000 - $12,000 |
Hupfeld (Europe Line) | $10,000 - $12,000 |
Irmler (Professional Line) | $9,000 - $13,000 |
Kayserburg (Heritage Line) | $8,000 - $10,000 |
Mason & Hamlin (Classic Line) | $8,000 |
Pramberger (J.P. Platinum Series) | $12,000 - $13,000 |
Petrof (Discovery Line) | $13,000 |
Schimmel (Fridolin Line) | $9,000 - $12,000 |
Yamaha (B Series) | $5,000 - $9,000 |
Zimmerman | $9,000 - $12,000 |
Entry-Level Grands 3B | |
A. Geyer | $12,000 - $14,000 |
Baldwin (Academy Line) | $8,000 - $10,000 |
Cline | $14,000 |
Cristofori | $11,000 - $20,000 |
Cunningham | $21,000 - $70,000 |
Henry Miller | $22,000 - $30,000 |
Hupfeld (Studio Line) | $17,000 - $35,000 |
Irmler (Studio Line) | $22,000 - $31,000 |
Mason & Hamlin (Classic Series) | $16,000 - $17,000 |
Pramberger (Legacy & Signature Series) | $14,000 - $26,000 |
Pearl River | $15,000 - $21,000 |
Ritmüller | $15,000 - $66,000 |
Story & Clark | $16,000 - $21,000 |
Young Chang | $10,000 - $37,000 |
Entry-Level Grands 3A | |
Baldwin (Professional Line) | $20,000 - $35,000 |
Brodmann (CE Series) | $19,000 |
Essex | $16,000-$22,000 |
Gebr. Schulz | $18,000-$24,000 |
Hailun | $21,000-$64,000 |
Hupfeld (Europe Line) | $30,000-$51,000 |
Irmler (Professional Line) | $24,000- $47,000 |
Mason & Hamlin (Artist Series) | $20,000 - $25,000 |
Kayserberg (Heritage Line) | $20,000-$30,000 |
Schimmel (Fridolin Line) | $17,000-$20,000 |
Yamaha (GB Series) | $15,000 |
Zimmerman | $27,000-$37,000 |
Category 2: Mid-Grade
The mid-grade quality category satisfies a broad range of players, from students and accomplished, non-professional pianists to professional and institutional use. Mid-grade pianos have decades-long lifespans (with appropriate maintenance, of course) and are built with care and attention to detail. Category 2 includes pianos designed for institutional use and premium pianos for professionals and hobbyists alike. This category is woefully oversimplified, but as a reminder, the intent is merely to provide a very basic overview of a manufacturer’s portfolio. Because mid-grade pianos serve such a wide range of uses, differences between the 2A and 2B categories are primarily based on each manufacturer’s marketing of its own lines. The 2A list includes pianos with technical upgrades over the 2B lines, reflected in the price points. For more information, visit the Brand Profiles pages for more technical details on individual lines.
Mid-Grade Uprights 2B | |
Boston | $15,000 - $20,000 |
Brodmann (PE Series) | $9,000 - $14,000 |
Kawai (K Series) | $7,000 - $27,000 |
Kayserburg (Master Line) | $18,000 - $21,000 |
Mason & Hamlin (Artist Series) | $10,000 - $13,000 |
Petrof (Inspiration Line) | $19,000 |
Yamaha (U Series) | $12,000 - $17,000 |
Mid-Grade Uprights 2A | |
Kawai (Master Series) | $25,000 - $40,000 |
Petrof (Mastery Line) | $25,000 - $50,000 |
Rönisch | $31,000 - $50,000 |
Schimmel (Wilhelm Line) | $21,000 - $26,000 |
W. Hoffmann | $17,000 - $31,000 |
Yamaha (YUS Series) | $17,000 - $27,000 |
Mid-Grade Grands 2B | |
Boston | $26,000-$68,000 |
Brodmann (PE Series) | $25,000-$44,000 |
Kayserburg (Artist Line) | $48,000 - $168,000 |
Kawai (GL Series) | $23,000 - $41,000 |
Pramberger (J.P. Platinum Series) | $33,000 - $133,000 |
Yamaha (GC Series) | $27,000 - $35,000 |
Mid-Grade Grands 2A | |
Kawai (GX Series) | $42,000 - $90,000 |
Schimmel (Wilhelm Line) | $58,000 - $68,000 |
W. Hoffmann | $31,000 - $64,000 |
Yamaha (CX Series) | $38,000 - $83,000 |
Category 1: High-End
High-end pianos are generally built to a single high standard, almost without regard to cost, and the price charged reflects whatever it takes to build such a piano and bring it to market. A greater proportion of the labor required to build them is in the handwork involved in making custom refinements to individual instruments, often with extreme attention to detail. Many manufacturers in the high-end category are boutique, small-batch manufacturers with a legacy in piano making that goes back five or more generations, and are still under the ownership of the same family. As a result, many have achieved almost legendary status, and their pianos are often purchased as much for their prestige value as for their performance. This category contains the instruments most likely to be called into service when the highest performance level is required, particularly for classical music. Like Category 2, differences between A and B lists primarily reflect the manufacturer's own positioning and pricing.
Grand pianos in this category are performance-grade, whether on stage or in the home. Most manufacturers offer sizes ranging from about 5’ 7” to over nine feet long. Concert grand models have been separated into their own chart, which you can find below.
To clarify a common misnomer, we do not use “baby grand” to describe grand piano sizes, as no industry-standard definition is tied to this term. Grand pianos from 5-7 feet are commonly categorized for in-home use, but 7-foot pianos are also quite suitable for small concert venues and other institutional use. Concert grand pianos must be capable of projecting enough sound to be heard with an accompanying orchestra, which typically requires an instrument at least nine feet long.
High-End Uprights 1B | |
C. Bechstein (Academy Line) | $33,000 - $39,000 |
Haessler | $34,000 - $58,000 |
Mason & Hamlin (VX Line) | $35,000 - $43,000 |
Rönisch | $45,000 - $50,000 |
Schimmel (Classic Line) | $38,000 - $42,000 |
High-End Uprights 1A | |
August Förster | $24,000 - $53,000 |
Blüthner | $46,000 - $89,000 |
C. Bechstein (Residence & Concert Lines) | $41,000 - $89,000 |
Ant. Petrof | $55,000 - $65,000 |
Sauter | $76,000 - $90,000 |
Schimmel (Konzert Line) | $46,000 - $58,000 |
Steingraeber | $58,000 - $120,000 |
Steinway & Sons | $74,000 |
High-End Grands 1B | |
August Förster | $67,000 - $183,000 |
Blüthner (Classic Line) | $108,000 - $205,000 |
C. Bechstein (Academy Line) | $89,000 - $136,000 |
Estonia | $64,000 - $112,000 |
Haessler | $106,000 - $220,000 |
Mason & Hamlin | $86,000 - $154,000 |
Petrof | $78,000 - $225,000 |
Rönisch | $80,000 - $145,000 |
Schimmel (Classic Line) | $80,000 - $101,000 |
Yamaha (SX Series) | $84,000 - $113,000 |
High-End Grands 1A | |
Ant. Petrof | $245,000 |
Blüthner (Supreme) | $162,000 - $308,000 |
Bösendorfer | $161,000 - $300,000 |
C. Bechstein (Concert Line) | $145,000 - $235,000 |
Fazioli | $161,000 - $329,000 |
Sauter | $161,000 - $333,000 |
Schimmel (Konzert Line) | $105,000 - $173,000 |
Steingraeber | $137,000 - $208,000 |
Steinway & Sons | $96,000 - $442,000 |
Yamaha CF | $122,000 - $212,000 |
High-End Concert Grand Models | |
Ant. Petrof 275 | $348,000 |
August Förster 275 | $172,000 |
Blüthner 1 | $285,000 |
Bösendorfer 280 | $290,000 |
Bösendorfer 290 | $336,000 |
C. Bechstein D-282 | $295,000 |
Estonia L274 | Special Order Pricing |
Fazioli F278 | $290,000 |
Fazioli F308 | $429,000 |
Mason & Hamlin CC | $209,000 |
Sauter 275 | $371,000 |
Schimmel K280 | $212,000 |
Shigeru SK-EXL | $266,000 |
Steingraeber E | $315,000 |
Steinway & Sons D | $246,000 |
Yamaha CFX | $212,000 |
Hannah Beckett is Piano Buyer's current Publisher and Editor, the Executive Director of the Professional Piano Technicians Network, and a piano technician in the DMV area. She's a lifelong piano lover and enjoys participating in all parts of the piano industry. She can be reached at hannah@pianobuyer.com.
