Piano Guidance
Photo by ALLAN FRANCA CARMO Pexels Logo Photo: ALLAN FRANCA CARMO

Do pianos appreciate in value?

Pianos typically depreciate to 78% of their value in the first year alone. After this, you can see it slowly continues to decline for 20 years, reaching its final number of 40% of its original value. As you can see, after the first couple of years, pianos will depreciate by about 5% per year.

What is the saddest mode in music?
What is the saddest mode in music?

The minor scale is the pattern in western music typically associated with sad feelings. It includes three different variations called the natural...

Read More »
What music activates the brain?
What music activates the brain?

Classical Music Researchers have long claimed that listening to classical music can help people perform tasks more efficiently. This theory, which...

Read More »
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide
Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Buying a piano is an exciting feeling as you are not only purchasing a musical instrument but also, potentially a staple for your home. Today we’re going to analyze whether or not pianos depreciate once you purchase them & also provide some percentages. In short, yes, pianos do depreciate over time, how much they depreciate is determined by brand/demand for it, the overall piano market, and the condition. Note: There are rare cases in which your piano can actually appreciate over time, and we will get to that later in the article. One of the main reasons I wanted to write this article is to educate buyers on what they can expect if they’re buying a used piano or if they’re buying a new piano.

What Makes Pianos Depreciate?

Here is a quick video that breaks down depreciation from an accounting perspective. If you’re curious as to why your piano depreciates, it’s very similar to buying a car off a dealer lot. Piano dealers, just like car dealers, need to turn a profit. Everyone knows that as soon as they drive the car off the lot, it’s going to depreciate. This is very similar with pianos. With this being said, you can still resell your piano to a buyer for a similar price if it was taken care of. Here is a list of factors that will cause your piano to depreciate. I’ve labeled it with numbers to mark the importance of each.

Brand/model of piano Overall condition Overall market Age

*Selling a piano to a dealer is never going to amount to anything close to what you paid, it’s more of a convenience thing as they will come and pick it up for free and perform the necessary maintenance. Now that we have an idea for why pianos depreciate over time, let’s take a look at just how much below. Note: Used pianos depreciate much faster than newer pianos. This is typically because they are usually in much worse condition.

Can I use rubbing alcohol on piano keys?
Can I use rubbing alcohol on piano keys?

Take a small drop of antibacterial soap on the corner of a damp cotton cloth and wipe down the keys. Don't use too much soap or you will be dealing...

Read More »
What key is the song 7 Years in?
What key is the song 7 Years in?

G minor "7 Years" is a soul-pop song with hip hop influences, written in the key of G minor with a chord progression of Gm-Bb-Eb-F. It runs at 130...

Read More »

How Much Do Pianos Depreciate? This table below shows how much the piano is worth from its original price on average. These are approximations that assume certain wear & tear over time. 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 78% 75% 70% 65% 55% 50% 40% Piano Depreciation Guide Pianos typically depreciate to 78% of their value in the first year alone. After this, you can see it slowly continues to decline for 20 years, reaching its final number of 40% of its original value. As you can see, after the first couple of years, pianos will depreciate by about 5% per year. Remember, the more wear & tear on your piano, the more it depreciates. With this being said, there are some things you can do to slow the depreciation. Because pianos are often very heavy, used pianos are sometimes given away for free. If you’re someone looking for a used upright piano, be sure to check Facebook marketplace and other avenues. Another thing to remember is that a piano that has depreciated to $1,000 in value, is usually not going to sell for that. This is because there will most likely need to be tuning and inspection to ensure none of the hammers or strings are damaged. Moving pianos is also not cheap and it usually drives the price down.

Which Pianos Depreciate The Most?

Like most things, more expensive pianos typically do not depreciate as fast as cheaper ones. On average, upright pianos will depreciate the most in value. I was actually given a Story & Clark upright piano for free years ago & in all honesty, it worked great. So why did I get it for free? Well, it was over 30 years old, weighed over 800 pounds, & it needed a tuning. Older upright pianos are often worth little to nothing and people who are moving, usually will look to just give them away if they’re no longer playing them.

What is the best key signature for piano?
What is the best key signature for piano?

C major, G major, D major and A major account for more than a third of all songs. In pop music specifically, C major and G major along with A minor...

Read More »
How many men does it take to move an upright piano?
How many men does it take to move an upright piano?

four people How many people does it take to move a piano? It takes at least four people to efficiently move a piano, with two to three people doing...

Read More »

Which Pianos Hold Value The Most Or Appreciate?

Grand pianos typically hold value the most. This is mainly because they are so expensive that they are considered a valuable asset. Steinway pianos are generally the most expensive and they tend to hold their value the most.

Do Digital Pianos Depreciate?

Even the best digital pianos absolutely depreciate. This is mainly due to the fact that newer models come out which replace them with more features & usually improvements. With this being said, this leaves an opening for buyers to search for used digital pianos. As long as the instrument isn’t damaged and it has been taken care of, this route can be very effective for buyers. You can save hundreds of dollars by buying something that is only a couple of years old.

Proper Maintenance

Pianos that are taken care of drastically hold value more than ones that are neglected. If you own a piano, you need to make sure you are tuning it as needed, preventing cats or other pets from damaging it, and keeping it in a good climate-controlled environment. If you are taking good care of your piano & cleaning it, this will only benefit you in the long run. It will also look nicer, making your property look nicer as well.

Wrapping Up

I hope this guide helped you understand piano depreciation and answer all of your questions. If it didn’t, leave a comment below and I will get back to you with answers.

What is the easiest rap?
What is the easiest rap?

7 easy rap songs for beginners Doori from Gullyboy. Rishi Rich composed the music for 'Doori,' sung by Ranveer Singh. ... Swag Mera Desi from...

Read More »
What key is C dominant 7?
What key is C dominant 7?

For example, the dominant seventh chord in C major (or minor) is G-B-D-F.

Read More »
Was Hitler's Eagle's Nest destroyed?
Was Hitler's Eagle's Nest destroyed?

In fact, Hitler seldom visited the Eagle's Nest. In the end, Allied bombing at the end of World War II did not damage the Eagle's Nest and thanks...

Read More »
What instruments does Justin Bieber know?
What instruments does Justin Bieber know?

Growing up, he learned to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet.

Read More »