The World's Best Piano Brands In 2024

Looking for the best piano brands in 2024? There's no shortage of piano companies to choose from, including iconic and world renowned piano makes like Steinway pianos, to lesser known but still noteworthy piano brands such as Bösendorfer pianos.

The right piano brand for your needs will all depend on the type of piano you are looking for. You might be in the market for concert grand pianos for expansive concert halls, or you might be looking for an upright piano for home practice. You'll also need to choose between an acoustic piano or a digital piano, or split the difference with a hybrid piano, of which there is a wide selection available.

Finding the right piano maker for your needs is as much about examining your own preferences and goals as it is about the various manufacturers available.

Who sells the world's best upright and grand pianos?

Deciding who sells the world's best upright pianos and grand pianos is very much a matter of preference. Consider the following piano manufacturers as outstanding examples of companies making pianos that are renowned for their exceptional quality.

Bösendorfer

Bösendorfer is an Austrian piano builder owned by the Yamaha corporation since 2008. They have been making highly respected instruments since 1828, when the company was founded by Ignaz Bösendorfer. The company is known for producing 97 and 92-key models, including the standard 88-key instruments. To this day, their handcrafted pianos are make in the same Vienna factory, and around 300 are produced each year.

Yamaha

Since 1887, Yamaha has been crafting pianos with precision and incredible craftsmanship. They employ the principle of Kando to synchronise technology and passion for sound quality. Every year, they produce a range of concert grand pianos, upright pianos, acoustic pianos, digital pianos and hybrid pianos with a range of digital features.

View our range of Yamaha Pianos

Schimmel

The German piano brand Schimmel is known for their factories in Braunschweig, Germany and Kalisz, Poland. The company was founded in 1885 by Wilhelm Schimmel and four generations of the Schimmel family have kept the family name going. With over 40 awards to their their name, Schimmel Pianos are the most awarded piano brand in Germany. They are known for their innovative approach to piano making, with an extensive range to choose from.

Kawai

In 1927, Koichi Kawai and 7 of his esteemed colleagues banded together to form the Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory in Hamamatsu, Japan. Their mission was to create the world's finest piano. Despite a slow start, marred by a lack of qualified manufacturers and material shortages, by the early 50s, Kawai had grown to a company of around 500 people producing 1,500 pianos per year. The company was awarded the “Blue Ribbon Medal” from the Emperor of Japan, the first musical instrument company to be awarded this honour.

View our range of Kawai Pianos

Sauter

In the early days, Sauter was best known as a pianoforte manufacturer. Founded in Spaichingen, Baden-Württemberg in Johann Grimm in 1819, this is one of the world's oldest piano brands. Grimm travelled to Vienna to study piano building with Johann Andreas Streicher and his wife, Nanette Streicher, who was a renowned pianoforte builder. Nanette Streicher counted Ludwig van Beethoven as one of her customers. With his newfound knowledge, Grimm returned to his hometown and began building virginals. His nephew Carl Sauter succeeded him and was responsible for turning the small workshop into a full factory operation. To this day, Sauter pianos are constructed in Germany using only German parts, and are comparable in quality to brands such as Steinway Sons, Carl Bechstein pianos and Steingraeber.

Which grand piano brand should I buy?

If you're in the market for a grand piano, you need to consider your budget and how you plan to use the instrument. Concert grands are best reserved for spaces that can do the sound quality justice. An acoustic piano needs space to fill, so if you're shopping for a smaller room, a digital piano might be better suited to your needs. The location should also be considered. A grand piano can be incredibly heavy, but some modern designs are using carbon fiber in the design to help make them lighter without losing quality.

Best grand pianos to buy

If you're looking for a grand pianos, we recommend exploring our full collection of new and used instruments. A used concert grand could be the best piano for your needs as it will enable you to get more for your investment.

Consider options such as the Yamaha A1 Baby Grand Piano, the Kawai KG-2A Grand Piano and the W. Hoffman Vision 158.

Best upright pianos to buy

An upright model might be more appropriate for your home or business if you have less space to play with. Examples of great upright models to consider include the Yamaha B1 Upright Piano, the Kawai K18 Upright Piano and the C. Bechstein Concert 8 model.