Upright Pianos

Upright pianos are one of the two main categories of acoustic pianos. Unlike grand pianos, which can extend horizontally over 7’, an acoustic upright piano or vertical piano saves space by having a vertical soundbox.

Generally speaking, an upright piano might also be called a vertical piano. But that’s not all you might hear an upright piano called. There are four types of upright pianos:

• Spinet upright piano: The smallest of the upright pianos, these are typically less than 40” tall. It also has shorter keys.
• Console upright piano: A console piano is typically between 40″ to 44″ tall. Due to the construction of its hammer mechanisms, it’s considered to have better sound quality when compared to a spinet piano.
• Studio upright piano: A studio piano is between 44″ to 48″ and features a full-sized action. It also has longer strings and a larger soundboard, giving it a richer tonal quality.
• Professional upright piano: A professional upright piano is taller than 48”. It has the largest soundboard and can rival a baby grand piano in resonance and tonal quality.

Depending on construction, brand, and age, upright piano prices can vary in price from a few thousand dollars to six-figures. Occasionally, you can find extremely affordable (and even free) upright pianos that sellers simply want to move out of their homes for one reason or another. Sometimes these are high-quality and simply need to be tuned, but some have a litany of issues, especially if they haven’t been played or maintained.

The cost of tuning an upright piano varies by region and experience of the piano tuner, but can range from $65 to $200 or more depending on the condition of the piano. Prices can increase significantly if the piano is in such a condition that it needs to be tuned over several sessions.

Briefly put, the battle of upright piano vs grand piano doesn’t have a clear winner. Professional upright pianos can rival a baby grand piano in tonal quality and resonance while being more affordable and space-efficient. However, a concert grand piano offers a sound and resonance that can’t be replicated.

The grand piano is older than the upright piano. Grand pianos first saw popularity in the 1700s, and upright pianos weren’t invented until 1826.

To exclusively browse Upright Pianos near you, reference the list of top cities and countries available on Reverb to search within a desired location. You also can review shipping details within an item’s “Shop Policies” section.