What Is My Piano Worth?

It’s a fair question—and one I hear every day. The honest answer is that a piano’s value depends on far more than its age, brand name, or what it originally cost.

Market value is influenced by factors such as overall condition, maintenance history, quality of manufacture, and—most importantly—current market demand. Two pianos of the same make and model can have vastly different values depending on how they have been cared for and how they compare to truly similar instruments in today’s market.

It’s also important to understand that many older pianos, particularly uprights, have limited or no resale value despite being well-built or emotionally significant. While family history and sentimental value are very real, they do not always translate into financial value in the marketplace. Sharing this information upfront helps avoid unnecessary expense and disappointment.

Determining value responsibly is not a matter of guessing or referencing online asking prices. It requires professional judgment, informed comparison, and an understanding of how condition and use affect value for a specific purpose—whether that purpose is insurance, estate planning, charitable donation, or legal documentation.

How I Help

All inquiries begin with a professional valuation intake. This allows me to review your piano’s information and photographs to determine whether a formal appraisal is appropriate and what outcomes are realistic based on condition and market factors.

If your piano meets the criteria for further appraisal, the intake fee is applied toward the cost of appraisal services. If it does not, that determination is made early—before additional time or expense is incurred.

Next Step

If you’d like a professional, honest assessment of your piano’s potential value, the best place to begin is the valuation intake.

Are Old Upright Pianos Worth Anything?

Sometimes—but many are not, and that often comes as a surprise.

Older upright pianos frequently carry strong family history and sentimental value, but market value is driven by condition, functionality, and current demand, not age alone. In fact, age can work against value when it is accompanied by structural or mechanical decline.

As I often explain to clients, when a piano gets old enough to qualify for Social Security and Medicare, it tends to experience challenges similar to someone at that stage of life. Materials fatigue, systems wear, and components that once functioned reliably may require significant intervention. In pianos, this commonly shows up as tuning instability, worn actions, soundboard issues, or diminished musical performance. The analogy isn’t meant humorously so much as practically—it reflects how time affects complex mechanical instruments.

A common misconception: “antique” value

Pianos rarely have meaningful antique value in the traditional sense. While some older instruments may have beautifully crafted cases or visual appeal as decorative pieces, my appraisals are based on pianos and other keyboard instruments as usable musical instruments, not as furniture or decorative art objects.

That distinction matters. A piano’s value is tied to its ability to function musically and reliably, not simply to its age or appearance.

In rare cases—such as instruments with documented historical significance, notable provenance, or truly one-of-a-kind construction—the scope of valuation may extend beyond a standard piano appraisal. Those situations often require a broader and more comprehensive analysis and may involve collaboration with colleagues within the American Society of Appraisers to address historical, cultural, or collectible considerations appropriately.

Why many older uprights have limited market value

Several factors commonly limit the value of older upright pianos:

• Condition outweighs age. Pinblock integrity, tuning stability, soundboard and bridge condition, and action function are far more important than the year of manufacture.

• Restoration costs are significant. Meaningful rebuilding often exceeds what most buyers are willing to invest, particularly when newer instruments are readily available.

• Market demand is selective. Today’s buyers generally favor instruments that offer predictable performance, ease of maintenance, and long-term reliability.

As a result, many older uprights are valued primarily for sentimental or personal use rather than as financial assets.

An important exception: rebuilding and reconditioning

There are meaningful exceptions, and this is where professional evaluation becomes essential.

An older upright may warrant further consideration if it has received substantial rebuilding or reconditioning within the last decade or two, such as:

• Soundboard replacement or major soundboard repair

• Complete restringing with new tuning pins

• Action replacement or comprehensive action rebuilding

• Documented professional reconditioning addressing structural and mechanical issues

When this level of work has been properly performed and documented, it can materially improve function, longevity, and—in some cases—market value. These instruments are evaluated very differently than unrestored pianos of similar age.

A practical self-check

Before pursuing a formal valuation, consider whether the piano meets most of the following:

• It is a full-size upright (not a spinet or small console)

• It has been maintained through the years and holds tuning reasonably well

• Keys and pedals function consistently

• There are no major soundboard or bridge failures

• It has been kept in a stable indoor environment

• There is documentation of significant rebuilding or reconditioning (workmanship verified during an independent inspection).

If several of these factors are missing, the piano may have limited market value regardless of age, brand, or original purchase price.

How I help

If you’re unsure where your upright falls, the first step is a professional valuation intake. This allows me to review your piano’s information and photographs to determine whether a formal appraisal is appropriate and what outcomes are realistic.

If a formal appraisal is not appropriate, that will be discussed early—before additional services are recommended. If an appraisal does proceed, the intake fee is applied toward appraisal services.

How Much Is My Piano Worth for Insurance?

For insurance purposes, a piano’s value is not based on what someone might pay for a used instrument in a private sale or what happens to be available online at a given moment. Insurance valuation is concerned with replacement from the primary market—that is, replacing your piano with an instrument of like kind and quality obtained through an established piano dealer.

In practical terms, this means replacing a loss with a piano that is in excellent condition, professionally prepared for sale, and typically supported by a dealer warranty. Insurance replacement is not about “finding something comparable” on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace; it is about restoring you to the position you were in before the loss with a reliable, professionally sourced instrument.

New vs. Used Replacement

The age of the piano matters greatly when determining appropriate insurance value.

If a piano is less than 20 years old, it is generally considered a young instrument. Most major piano manufacturers design their instruments with an expected service life of 50 years or more, depending on use, environment, and maintenance. In these cases, a new replacement piano is often the most appropriate benchmark for insurance coverage, as it best reflects like kind, quality, and longevity.

Older instruments may be replaced with high-quality used or rebuilt examples from the primary market when appropriate, but those determinations are made carefully and based on condition and current availability—not on opportunistic pricing from secondary or informal markets.

Why professional appraisal matters

An insurance appraisal establishes a defensible replacement value that reflects:

• Current pricing in the primary dealer market

• Condition and specification of the insured piano

• Availability of comparable instruments

• Appropriate replacement strategy (new vs. professionally prepared used)

This helps avoid underinsurance, disputes at the time of loss, and unrealistic expectations about what “replacement” actually means.

How I help

The first step in determining appropriate insurance value is a professional valuation intake. This allows me to review your piano’s information and photographs, confirm its age and condition, and determine the most appropriate replacement approach for insurance purposes.

If a formal insurance appraisal is appropriate, the intake fee is applied toward appraisal services. If it is not, that will be discussed early—before additional services are recommended.

How Is a Piano Valued for Estate or Probate Purposes?

For estate and probate matters, a piano is valued very differently than it would be for insurance. The goal is not replacement, but to determine fair market value as of a specific valuation date—often the date of death or another legally relevant date.

Fair market value reflects what a willing buyer and a willing seller would reasonably agree upon, neither being under compulsion to act, and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. This valuation is based on actual market behavior—not asking prices, sentiment, or replacement cost.

How estate value is determined

In estate and probate situations, valuation typically reflects the secondary market, because that is where the piano is most likely to be sold. This often means drawing comparables from private-party sales, estate transactions, and other arms-length transactions involving similar instruments.

In many cases, families either:

• Sell the piano themselves, or

• Engage an estate sale company

In these scenarios, the piano is usually sold “as is,” with the buyer assuming all responsibility and risk associated with condition, transport, and future performance. That reality has a meaningful impact on market value and is reflected in the appraisal process.

Time-to-sell matters

Another important distinction between estate valuation and dealer pricing is market exposure time.

Piano dealers operate under very different conditions. For common models, dealers often aim to sell within 90 days. For higher-end or more specialized instruments, dealers may be willing to wait one to two years—or longer—for the right buyer, while carrying overhead, warranties, and post-sale obligations.

Most estates do not have the luxury of extended exposure time. Practical considerations—timelines, property sales, storage, and administrative closure—often limit how long a piano can reasonably be marketed. That constraint is a normal and appropriate factor in estate valuation and helps explain why estate values frequently differ from dealer asking prices.

Why expectations can differ from reality

Because of these factors, estate values are often lower than families expect—particularly when expectations are based on brand reputation, original purchase price, or retail listings. While pianos frequently carry deep personal and family significance, fair market value must reflect how the instrument would realistically perform in the market under estate conditions.

Why professional judgment matters

Estate and probate appraisals must be defensible, prepared in accordance with professional standards, and suitable for review by attorneys, courts, fiduciaries, and tax authorities. Online estimates or informal opinions are not appropriate substitutes.

A properly prepared appraisal helps:

• Support fiduciary responsibility

• Reduce disputes among heirs

• Provide clarity during emotionally difficult transitions

• Withstand legal and tax scrutiny

How I help

All estate and probate inquiries begin with a professional valuation intake. This allows me to review the piano’s information and photographs, determine whether a formal appraisal is appropriate, and define the correct scope of work based on how the piano is most likely to be handled.

If a formal estate or probate appraisal proceeds, the intake fee is applied toward appraisal services. If it is not appropriate, that determination is made early—before additional services are recommended.

How Is a Piano Valued for Charitable Donation (IRS Form 8283)?

Charitable donation appraisals are among the most technically demanding piano appraisals and must be prepared with particular care.

In this context, the intended user is the IRS, and the reviewer may have little familiarity with pianos or the music market. As a result, the appraisal must clearly explain both the broader musical instrument market and the piano market specifically, so the reasoning behind the valuation can be understood by a non-specialist.

What a credible donation appraisal must do

For IRS purposes, an appraisal must go well beyond stating a value. It must demonstrate how that value was reached. This includes:

• Identifying the relevant market for the donated piano

• Selecting appropriate, well-supported comparables

• Explaining the condition and preparation of those comparables

• Analyzing how the donated piano compares, particularly with respect to condition, functionality, and marketability

In many cases, the most reliable comparables come from reputable dealers in the secondary market—instruments that have been evaluated, professionally prepared for sale, and offered under typical market conditions. The donated piano may compare favorably, or adjustments may be required if it has been donated in a more raw or less maintained state.

Why the standard is necessarily high

Donation appraisals are prepared under a high level of scrutiny because the applicable rules and penalties are specific. The analysis must be objective, well-supported, and free from bias. For that reason, these appraisals are prepared to a level of detail suitable to withstand audit review and, if necessary, consideration in a U.S. Tax Court setting.

As a result, donation appraisals tend to be more comprehensive and analytical than other types of appraisals. They require specialized knowledge and a significant investment of professional time.

Practical considerations

Because of the complexity involved, charitable donation appraisals generally make sense only when the piano has meaningful value and when the potential tax benefit is proportionate to the cost of the appraisal and the donor’s overall tax situation.

It’s also important to remember that charitable contributions are intended to support charitable organizations. When handled correctly, the appraisal process helps ensure that the donation is documented accurately and responsibly, consistent with both the letter and the spirit of the law.

How I help

All charitable donation inquiries begin with a professional valuation intake. This allows me to review your piano’s information and photographs, determine whether a donation appraisal is appropriate, and give you a realistic sense of whether proceeding makes practical sense.

If a formal appraisal moves forward, the intake fee is applied toward appraisal services. If not, that will be discussed early—before additional services are recommended.

How Is a Piano Valued After Fire, Smoke, or Water Damage?

Appraisals following fire, smoke, or water damage are often conducted under difficult circumstances. These situations are rarely just about property—they involve loss, disruption, and significant stress. When a musical instrument is involved, that loss can feel especially personal.

In the aftermath of major fires in Southern California in 2025, I worked with individuals and families who lost not only their homes, but instruments that had been part of their lives for decades. Those experiences inform how I approach damage-related appraisals: with professionalism, care, and a clear understanding of what is required during an already overwhelming time.

Damage appraisal goes beyond what is visible

Fire and water damage appraisals must account for more than what can be seen on the surface. Smoke infiltration, heat exposure, chemical residues, and moisture can all affect a piano’s structural integrity, mechanical function, and long-term reliability—even when outward damage appears minimal.

A credible appraisal considers:

• The type and extent of exposure (fire, smoke, water, or a combination)

• The piano’s construction and materials

• How damage affects playability, stability, and longevity

• Whether remediation is feasible, advisable, or economically reasonable

• How the instrument would realistically be replaced in the appropriate market

Hazardous exposure and material limitations

In some fire-loss situations—particularly in older homes—pianos may be exposed to hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead, or other chemicals released during combustion. Based on both my appraisal work and my prior career as a firefighter for 17 years, it is important to understand that there are circumstances where mitigation is not realistically possible.

Pianos contain highly porous materials—including felt, buckskin, and unfinished, open-pore woods—that readily absorb smoke, particulates, and chemical residues. Once contaminated at this level, these materials cannot be reliably or safely remediated. In such cases, the instrument may present long-term health concerns, and restoration is neither practical nor advisable.

This determination is made carefully and documented clearly, as it has direct implications for valuation, replacement, and insurance resolution.

Insurance perspective matters

In damage scenarios, the appraisal must align with how insurance policies address loss and replacement. That often means determining whether the piano can be reasonably restored, whether its value has been materially diminished, or whether replacement is the appropriate course.

When replacement is indicated, value is typically based on sourcing an instrument of like kind and quality through the primary market—not informal or private sales—so that the insured is made whole with a professionally prepared instrument that can be relied upon going forward.

Why experience matters here

Damage appraisals require specialized knowledge, careful documentation, and sound judgment. Conclusions must be unbiased, well-supported, and suitable for review by insurers and adjusters who may not be familiar with the complexities of musical instruments—or the realities of post-fire environments.

Just as importantly, these appraisals must be handled with sensitivity. Clear communication and realistic expectations help reduce uncertainty at a time when clients are already navigating loss and disruption.

How I help

All damage-related inquiries begin with a professional valuation intake. This allows me to review the circumstances, photographs, and available documentation to determine the appropriate scope of work and whether a formal appraisal is needed.

If a formal appraisal proceeds, the intake fee is applied toward appraisal services. If not, that will be discussed early—before additional services are recommended.

How Do Appraisers Use Comparables—And Why Asking Prices Aren’t Value?

One of the most common sources of confusion in piano valuation is the difference between asking prices and actual market evidence. While online listings can be useful for understanding what sellers hope to receive, they are not, by themselves, indicators of value.

Professional appraisers rely on comparables—instruments that have actually sold or are meaningfully positioned in the market—to understand what buyers are willing to pay under realistic conditions. Asking prices, on the other hand, reflect aspiration, not outcome.

A piano listed at a certain price tells us what a seller wants. A comparable sale tells us what the market has accepted.

Why asking prices are unreliable on their own

Online marketplaces and classified listings are filled with pianos at a wide range of prices, many of which never result in a sale at anything close to the original asking figure. Some listings remain active for months or years, while others are reduced repeatedly or quietly removed.

Asking prices often fail to account for:

• Actual condition and serviceability

• Necessary repairs or rebuilding

• Market exposure time

• Whether the piano is professionally prepared for sale

• Whether a warranty or dealer support is included

Because of this, asking prices are used cautiously, if at all, and never as the sole basis for a value conclusion.

What makes a piano truly “comparable”

For a piano to be considered a valid comparable, it must be similar in ways that actually matter to the market—not just in brand name or model designation.

Key factors include:

• Condition: Structural integrity, tuning stability, soundboard and bridge health, and overall function

• Originality vs. rebuilding: Whether the piano is original, partially rebuilt, or fully rebuilt—and the quality of that work

• Rebuild quality: Who performed the work, what was done, and when it was done

• Market position: Whether the piano is offered privately, through an estate, or by a reputable dealer

• Preparation for sale: Regulation, voicing, mechanical correction, and overall readiness

• Support and warranty: Particularly relevant when comparing dealer-sold instruments to private sales

Two pianos of the same make and model can have dramatically different values if one has received high-quality rebuilding and the other has not.

Context matters

Appraisers also consider why the value is being determined. Insurance replacement, estate settlement, charitable donation, and damage claims all rely on different markets and assumptions. A comparable appropriate for one purpose may be entirely inappropriate for another.

The appraiser’s role is to select and analyze comparables that reflect the correct market, condition context, and intended use, then clearly explain how the subject piano compares—positively or negatively—to those reference points.

How I help

If you’re trying to make sense of online listings or wondering whether a particular piano is truly comparable to yours, the first step is a professional valuation intake. This allows me to review your piano’s information and photographs, identify the appropriate market, and determine what types of comparables—if any—are relevant.

If a formal appraisal proceeds, the intake fee is applied toward appraisal services. If not, that will be discussed early—before additional services are recommended.