Steinway Upright Pianos

Steinway is best known for its grands, but it also builds excellent upright pianos, and a used Steinway upright can be a wonderful instrument for a home. The current range is led by the tall K-52, a 52-inch professional upright with a big, grand-like tone, alongside smaller studio models.

Want to see how the common models compare? Our Steinway upright models ranked guide sets out the K, V, Z, 1098 and 40 in order, with production dates and typical prices.

The models

The main one to know is the K-52, sometimes just called the Model K, a full-size 52-inch upright with the power and depth to stand in for a small grand. Below it sit shorter studio uprights such as the V-125 and the 1098. On the used market you will also come across older Steinway uprights going back decades, many of them still fine pianos.

Read our guide to each model: Steinway Model K · Steinway Model V · Steinway Model Z

Who they suit

A Steinway upright suits someone who wants the Steinway name and tone but has no room for a grand, or who simply prefers an upright. A good tall Steinway upright can outperform a small grand, and takes up far less space.

What they cost

New, a K-52 is around £40,000 and up. Used Steinway uprights vary enormously with age and condition, as the grands do. Our buying guide applies just as much to uprights.

The honest alternative

Pound for pound, a reconditioned Yamaha U3, a 52-inch Japanese upright, is one of the best-value serious uprights you can buy, and costs a fraction of a Steinway K-52. If it is a fine upright you are after rather than the Steinway badge, it is well worth hearing first.