If you’re thinking about selling your piano, then you need to know its value. In this guide, I’ll explain how you can determine the worth of your piano so you’ll know how much money it will sell for on the secondary market.
Determine the Type of Piano You Have
It’s important to understand what kind of piano you have, as that will be one of the factors that affects its overall value.
Acoustic Pianos
Grand Pianos: These pianos have large, horizontal frames and emit beautiful sound. The craftsmanship of a grand piano is top notch, leading to a higher price tag and higher value estimate.
Upright Pianos: Upright pianos have a vertical frame. These pianos tend to be more compact, and thus are less expensive and hold less value than grand pianos.
Digital Pianos
Digital pianos offer convenience and less maintenance. They feature weighted keys to simulate an acoustic piano. But digital pianos don’t hold their value as much as acoustic pianos do, so they have far less value in the secondary market.
Understanding the type of piano you have is crucial because it sets the baseline for potential value.
| Type of Piano | Typical Value Range |
| Grand Piano | $5,000 – $50,000+ |
| Upright Piano | $500 – $10,000 |
| Digital Piano | $100 – $5,000 |
Find the Brand and Model
The brand and model number of a piano has a major impact on its value. In fact, I previously wrote a detailed article on how to determine piano value by brand.
In the article, I examined what various sellers were selling their pianos for based on the piano manufacturer. I found that high-end and beloved brands like Steinway & Sons, Yamaha, or Bösendorfer often retained their value far more than lesser-known brands.
Where to Find the Brand and Model Number
Upright pianos: Often, the brand name is easy to find above the keys.
To find the model number, however, you can look inside the lid above the keyboard or near the tuning pins. In certain cases, you may have to look at the back of the piano to find the model number.
Grand pianos: Usually, you can find the brand name of a piano above the keys or on the underside of the keyboard cover. To find the model number, try looking on the soundboard or close to the tuning pins.
Keep in mind that a piano’s model number is usually quite short and begins with a letter.
If you’re interested in finding out the worth of certain pianos based on their brand, check out some of my articles here:
Acrosonic Piano Value
Baby Grand Piano Value
Baldwin Piano Value
Baldwin Acrosonic Piano Value
Baldwin Upright Piano Value
Brambach Piano Value
Cable Piano Value
Cable Nelson Piano Value
Chickering Piano Value
Currier Piano Value
Duo Art Player Piano Value
Estey Piano Value
Everett Piano Value
Fischer Piano Value
Gulbransen Piano Value
Hamilton Piano Value
Hobart M Cable Piano Value
Howard Piano Value
Ivers and Pond Piano Value
Kawai Piano Value
Kimball Piano Value
Knabe Piano Value
Kohler and Campbell Piano Value
Lesage Piano Value
Lester Piano Value
Piano Player Rolls Value
Player Piano Value
Steinway Piano Value
Story & Clark Piano Value
Vose & Sons Piano Value
Winter Piano Value
Wurlitzer Piano Value
Yamaha Piano Value
Use the Serial Number to Find a Piano’s Age
One thing that can help determine a piano’s worth is understanding how old the piano is. To do that, you can locate the piano’s serial number, which can help provide valuable information about the piano itself.
In fact, I previously wrote an article dedicated to the topic of assessing the value of pianos by serial number.
Serial numbers can be found in various places, depending on the manufacture. With that said, on an upright piano, try opening the top and look for the cast iron plate (which holds the pins and strings together). The serial number should be located near the top.
The serial number is usually a six to eight digit number.
To find the serial number on a grand piano, lift the lid and look for the tuning pins and strings. The serial number will generally be located closer to the keyboard section.
Once you have the serial number, use a piano serial number lookup tool or contact the manufacturer. You will then be able to determine the age of your piano.
| Brand | Serial Number Location |
| Yamaha | Inside lid or soundboard |
| Steinway | Cast iron plate |
| Baldwin | Inside lid or plate |
You can look up a piano’s serial number online, as well. For example:
Bechstein Piano Serial Number Lookup
Kawai Piano Serial Number Lookup
Steinway Piano Serial Number Lookup
Yamaha Piano Serial Number Lookup
Why age matters: Pianos generally depreciate over time, but some vintage pianos increase in value due to craftsmanship, brand, or significance to history.
Evaluate the Piano’s Condition
The condition of your piano is perhaps the most important element when determining its worth. In fact, a pristine older piano can be worth much more than a newer one in poor condition.
Key Areas to Assess:
- Exterior: Scratches, fading, chipped veneer.
- Interior: Cracks in the soundboard, rusted strings.
- Mechanical: Sticky keys, worn hammers, poor pedal function.
- Tuning stability: Can it still hold a tune?
Hiring a piano technician to inspect your piano can provide an accurate understanding of its condition.
Assess Sound Quality and Playability
Another element that impacts the value of a piano is its sound quality. If the piano’s strings and hammers aren’t in good shape, or if the piano’s sound isn’t as good as it once was, then the piano’s worth will be negatively impacted.
When you test how your piano sounds, I recommend listening for the following:
- Evenness across registers
- Buzzing or muted notes
- Responsiveness of the keys
When a piano is in good working condition, it will always have higher market appeal.
Check for Restoration or Repair History
A piano that has been restored can significantly increase its value. When a piano is carefully restored by a professional, it can not only sound better than it ever has, but can increase the lifespan of the piano too.
When a piano gets restored, here are some of the key elements that get fixed or replaced:
- Restringing
- Hammer replacement
- Action regulation
- Cabinet refinishing
Research Market Comparisons
To find a rough estimate of your piano’s worth, I recommend looking at piano listings of comparable models. Getting a sense of what a similar piano is selling for can provide valuable insight.
Some of the platforms I recommend using to do this are:
- Facebook Marketplace
- Ebay
- Craigslist
- PianoMart
- Reverb
I very much recommend that you look into listings that have sold pianos, not just listings showing a seller’s current asking price.
Also, look at the description on the sales page. Are there any noticeable discrepancies compared to your piano model. For example, a piano that sold for a lot of money may have been recently restored. Conversely, a piano that sold for less than market value may have had sticky keys or been out of tune.
Get a Professional Appraisal
When you need to go beyond online research to determine your piano’s worth, you must contact a certified piano appraiser. This is especially important for antique and higher priced pianos, as accuracy in the appraisal is paramount.
When a piano appraiser visits you, he or she will carefully inspect the piano. The piano may be partially disassembled in order to better inspect strings, hammers, and tuning pins.
When inspecting the piano, you will see the piano appraiser use tools like a flashlight, screwdriver or brush to examine the pins and bridge.
When the inspection is complete, the appraiser will be able to assess the piano’s model, age, and condition. The appraiser will then be able to give you a rough estimate of the piano’s value.
Piano appraisals aren’t just for assessing the value of a piano, however. They can also be conducted to determine the proper insurance required for the piano. Other times, a piano appraisal is needed if the piano owner is planning a private sale of the instrument.
Final Thoughts
Assessing your piano’s worth involves more than just looking up the brand or visiting eBay. It’s a holistic approach the requires examination of the piano’s physical appearance, age, sound, and brand reputation.
Although seeking answers to your piano’s value can be time consuming, it can ultimately be very beneficial to the piano owner.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is my old piano worth anything?
A: It depends on the brand, age, and condition. Some vintage pianos are collectible, while others have little resale value.
Q: Should I restore my piano before selling it?
A: Only if the potential increase in value exceeds the cost of restoration. Get an estimate first.
Q: Do digital pianos hold their value?
A: Not as much as acoustic pianos. Digital pianos depreciate like other electronics, though high-end models may retain value longer.