Best Piano Brands 2026: Ranked by a Piano Dealer

If you are searching for the world’s best piano brands, you’re in the right place.

I’ve sold over 2,000 pianos during more than 20 years in business. The rankings below are based on the brands I have seen perform best over decades of ownership, servicing and resale value. I will show you the world’s best piano brands based on real-world results, not marketing claims.

If you want a quick answer, here is my quick comparison table

Premium piano brands

Steinway & Sons

Steinway & Sons is the world’s most famous piano manufacturer and has been setting the benchmark for concert grand pianos since 1853. Their instruments are used in the world’s leading concert halls, recording studios and conservatoires, and are renowned for their rich tone, responsive action and exceptional craftsmanship. For professional pianists with the budget, they remain one of the finest choices available.

Most expensive model: Model D-274 concert grand — around £190,000.

Bechstein

Bechstein is one of Germany’s most prestigious piano manufacturers, producing refined instruments with exceptional clarity and precision. Their pianos are particularly popular with advanced players who prefer a lighter, more delicate European tonal character. They are beautifully built, but their high prices and limited availability make them a niche choice for most buyers.

Most expensive model: D 282 concert grand — around £180,000.

Blüthner

Blüthner is a historic German piano maker best known for its warm, lyrical tone and traditional craftsmanship. Their pianos have long been associated with romantic repertoire and are often chosen by pianists seeking a softer, more colourful sound than many modern concert instruments. They are outstanding pianos, although their high prices and relative rarity mean they are not commonly purchased in the UK.

Most expensive model: Model 1 concert grand — around £170,000.

Bösendorfer

Bösendorfer is an Austrian manufacturer producing some of the world’s most exclusive concert grand pianos. Their instruments are famous for a rich, powerful tone with exceptional depth, making them favourites among many concert pianists and recording artists. They are magnificent instruments, but their prices place them well beyond the budget of most home buyers.

Most expensive model: Imperial 290 concert grand — around £230,000

Fazioli

Fazioli is a relatively young Italian manufacturer that has built an exceptional reputation for precision, clarity and craftsmanship. Many concert pianists consider them among the finest pianos available today, with a tone that is often described as more transparent and articulate than a Steinway. Production is extremely limited, making them one of the world’s most exclusive piano brands.

Most expensive model: F308 concert grand (308 cm / 10’2”) — around £220,000.

Sauter

Sauter is one of Germany’s oldest piano manufacturers and is renowned for beautifully crafted uprights and elegant grand pianos. Their pianos combine traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering and are admired for their warm, colourful European tone. Although relatively uncommon in the UK, they have an excellent reputation among technicians and professional pianists.

Most expensive model: Omega 220 concert grand — around £150,000.

Schimmel

Schimmel is one of Germany’s largest and best-known piano manufacturers, producing a wide range of premium upright and grand pianos. Their flagship Konzert series competes with some of Europe’s finest instruments while remaining more affordable than brands such as Steinway or Bösendorfer. They are widely respected for their consistency, reliability and responsive touch.

Most expensive model: Konzert K280 concert grand — around £180,000.

Petrof

Petrof is the Czech Republic’s best-known piano manufacturer and has been building pianos since 1864. Their instruments are recognised for a warm, singing tone that appeals to pianists who prefer a softer European sound. They also represent excellent value compared with many German premium brands.

Most expensive model: P 284 Mistral concert grand — around £150,000.

Grotrian

Grotrian is a highly respected German piano maker with a reputation for producing exceptionally refined concert instruments. Their pianos are admired for their responsive action, clear tone and meticulous craftsmanship, although they remain relatively rare outside specialist dealers. They are often considered one of Germany’s hidden gems.

Most expensive model: Concert Royal concert grand — around £170,000.

Steingraeber & Söhne

Steingraeber & Söhne is a small German manufacturer producing some of the world’s most exclusive handcrafted pianos. They are known for technical innovation, bespoke construction and exceptional attention to detail, making them favourites among concert pianists, conservatoires and buyers seeking something truly unique.

Most expensive model: E-272 concert grand — around £200,000.

Best piano brands for most people

For the vast majority of buyers, the realistic best choices are Japanese-made Yamaha and Kawai.

High-end European brands are undeniably excellent but far beyond typical home budgets. You can find those brands cheaper by buying very old, tired models, but those typically have clunky old actions and a drab tone.

Why Yamaha is the safest choice

Yamaha stands out for one reason: consistency.

• Reliable build quality
• Strong resale value
• Widely available parts
• Proven long term durability

Models such as the “Yamaha U1 and U3”/pianos are widely considered the benchmark for upright pianos. In fact The Pianist Magazine’s piano buyer’s guide 2025 said the following

Let’s have a plain-text version of that because of how amazing an endorsement that was;

The backbone of tens of thousands of music schools and conservatoires around the world for over half a century, the evergreen U1 offers an unbeatable combination of high quality sound and response for players at every level.

Many buyers who start on cheaper pianos eventually upgrade to the Yamaha U1 or U3

(View our Yamaha Pianos For Sale page for our current selection)

Kawai vs Yamaha

Both are strong brands, but they differ slightly:

• Yamaha: stronger tone, more projection
• Kawai: slightly softer tone, heavier action

This is perhaps an oversimplification of the comparison as a good technician can setup each piano to be brighter/mellower with a different touch weight. In practice, Yamaha tends to be the safer long term choice for most buyers, and far easier to sell when the time comes to let it go.

Which piano brands should you avoid?

This is where many buyers make expensive mistakes.

There are dozens of piano brands on the market that look impressive in a showroom but fail to provide the long-term quality and value that most buyers expect.

Budget Chinese brands

Many modern Chinese pianos are built to meet a target price rather than a target quality. They often represent good value for beginners, but cost-cutting can show itself through a less refined action, a thinner tone and lower long-term resale values.

Some Chinese-built pianos are getting better, but at the budget end of the market I generally recommend spending the same money on a professionally reconditioned Japanese Yamaha or Kawai instead.

European-sounding brands

Some pianos are sold under names that sound German, Austrian or Italian despite having no meaningful connection to those countries. The branding may suggest centuries of European craftsmanship, but the instruments are often mass-produced elsewhere to compete on price.

That does not automatically make them bad pianos, but buyers should judge them on their quality rather than their name.

The biggest differences usually become apparent after several years of ownership:

• Lower resale value
• Less consistent touch and action
• Less tonal depth and refinement
• Shorter expected service life

Over the past 20 years I’ve regularly seen customers replace these instruments with Japanese-made Yamaha uprights such as the U1 or U3.

I’ve almost never seen the opposite happen.

That real-world buying pattern tells me far more than any manufacturer’s brochure.

New vs used pianos

This is one of the most important factors.

A new entry level piano often costs the same as a high quality older Japanese model.

Example:

• New Yamaha B10
• 1970s Yamaha U1

Despite the age difference, the U1 offers significantly better performance. We’ve made an exhaustive price comparison of new vs used Yamaha pianos

Simple rule to follow

Choose a Japanese made Yamaha U1 or U3 and avoid most budget alternatives.

This decision consistently leads to better long term results.

Final answer

If you want a clear recommendation:

• Yamaha is the best overall piano brand for most buyers
• Kawai is the closest alternative
• High end European brands are excellent but not practical for most homes

Frequently asked questions

Which piano brand holds its value best?

Yamaha generally holds its value better than any other piano brand due to its outstanding reputation, worldwide demand, reliability and the ready availability of parts. Well-maintained Japanese-made models such as the U1 and U3 are particularly sought after on the used market.

What is the best piano brand?

Yamaha is the best overall piano brand for most people due to its consistency, reliability, and strong resale value.

Are Yamaha pianos better than Kawai?

Both are high quality, but Yamaha pianos tend to have a stronger tone and are often the safer long-term choice.

What is the most expensive piano brand?

Steinway & Sons, Bösendorfer, and Fazioli are among the most expensive piano brands, typically used in concert settings.

Is it better to buy a new or used piano?

In many cases, a high quality used Japanese piano is a better choice than a new entry level model.

Which Yamaha pianos are best?

Yamaha U1 and U3 uprights are widely considered the best options for most home players. If you have a bigger budget then you can look towards the YUS series such as YUS5, also SU7 high end uprights.

You can view our Yamaha Pianos For Sale

Please contact me with any questions or suggestions to improve this page.