How to Sell a Used Piano in 7 Steps, From Serial Number to Pickup Day
How to sell a used piano: find the brand and serial number, tune it, photograph the keys and inside, price against real sales, and plan the move before an offer.
Here's how to sell a used piano: find the brand and serial number, get it tuned or at least note when it was last tuned, photograph the cabinet, keys and inside, price it against what the same make and type actually sells for, and settle who will move it before you accept an offer. Moving is the part that matters most. An upright piano commonly weighs several hundred pounds, and plenty of piano sales fall apart because nobody planned how it would leave the house.
I help people sell big, heavy, awkward things for a living, and pianos are the heaviest thing most households ever try to sell. They also attract more sentiment than almost anything else. That's fine. But buyers aren't paying for memories, they're paying for a playable instrument they can get home. This guide walks through the seven steps I'd follow. If you're not sure you want to sell at all, our guide to getting rid of a piano covers donation and removal too.
Step 1: Identify the piano you're selling
The first step to sell a used piano is knowing exactly what it is. Brand, type, size and age drive almost every buyer question and most of the price.
- Brand. Usually on the fallboard (the hinged cover over the keys) or inside on the cast iron plate.
- Serial number. Lift the top lid and look on the plate or the top of the soundboard area. Most manufacturers publish serial charts, so the number tells you roughly what year it was built.
- Type. Spinet, console, studio upright, full upright, baby grand or grand. Measure the height of an upright from the floor to the top of the lid, and the length of a grand from the front of the keys to the curved tail.
- Finish. Polished ebony, satin walnut, painted, and so on.
Put all of it in the listing. "Studio upright, satin walnut, built in the 1990s, serial included" gets a serious buyer's attention. "Piano, works" doesn't.
Step 2: Prep the piano so it shows well
A piano that sounds right sells. A piano that's badly out of tune sounds broken to most buyers, even when it isn't. If it's been years since the last tuning, a tuning before you list is the single best thing you can spend money on.
Beyond tuning:
- Play every key. Note any sticking keys, dead notes, buzzes or pedals that don't work. Be ready to disclose them.
- Clean the keys with a barely damp cloth, one key at a time, and dry them right away.
- Dust the cabinet with a soft cloth. Use a cleaner made for the finish, and never spray anything directly on the piano.
- Clear the top. Photos, plants and metronomes come off, both for photos and for the move.
- Find the paperwork. Receipts, past tuning records, and any technician notes all help. A buyer who sees regular tunings trusts the instrument more.
If you think something is seriously wrong (cracked soundboard, loose tuning pins, a piano that won't hold a tune), a piano technician's assessment is worth getting before you set a price. It protects you as much as the buyer.
Step 3: Photograph a used piano the way buyers want to see it
Shoot in daylight with the room lights on. Get the whole instrument in frame first, then work in closer.
- Full front view, fallboard open, bench in place
- Three-quarter view from each side
- Close-up of the keys, straight on
- Inside, with the top lid open, showing hammers, strings and plate
- The brand name and the serial number
- The pedals
- Any chips, scratches or worn finish, up close
Then record a short video of you, or anyone, playing a scale from the bottom of the keyboard to the top. That one clip answers more questions than the rest of the listing combined.
Step 4: Price a used piano honestly
A used piano is worth what similar pianos of the same brand, type and age sell for, and the range is enormous. Well-known makers in good condition hold value. Many older uprights from lesser-known brands sell for very little, because there are a lot of them and they're expensive to move.
How I'd approach the number:
- Search by brand and type in your area and see what's listed. Watch what sells and what sits.
- Weigh the condition. Tuning stability, key action and the soundboard matter far more than a scratch on the cabinet.
- Factor in the move. If the buyer has to hire piano movers, that cost comes off what they'll pay you. If moving is handled, you can ask more.
- Get an appraisal for a grand or a high-end upright. A technician's opinion is a strong pricing anchor and a selling point.
Be ready to negotiate. Almost every piano buyer asks for something off, usually citing the cost of moving and tuning it in the new home.
Step 5: Write a piano listing that filters for serious buyers
Lead with brand, type, finish and age. Then condition, tuning history, and the move: what floor it's on, how many steps, and whether the bench is included.
Answer these up front:
- When was it last tuned?
- Do all keys and pedals work?
- Has it been in a stable indoor environment, away from heaters and damp basements?
- What floor is it on, and are there stairs inside or outside?
- Is the bench included?
- Who moves it?
Pianos are a "come play it" purchase for a lot of buyers. If someone wants to play before they commit, that's reasonable, but schedule it like a real appointment, not a drop-by.
Step 6: Plan removal and pickup carefully
Moving a piano is not a two-friends-and-a-pizza job. It's heavy, top-heavy, and the action inside is delicate. Stairs, tight turns and porches make it harder. The person moving it needs a piano dolly or skid board, padded straps, moving blankets and enough people to control the weight.
Before pickup day:
- Measure doorways, hallways and any turns between the piano and the exit.
- Clear the path completely and protect floors.
- Close and lock the fallboard and lid if they lock.
- Tell the buyer or mover about every step, inside and out, in writing.
On Commonplace, pickup is handled by our drivers. They check the piano against your listing on-site, wrap it, and load it. You never meet the buyer, and you get paid when it's loaded, by Venmo, PayPal or Cash App the same day, or by bank transfer. The whole flow is on how it works. If you're selling because you're moving, our out-of-state moving checklist helps you time the sale.
Step 7: Avoid piano scams and no-shows
Pianos are a classic scam target. The script is old but still common: a buyer who can't see it, offers full price, sends a check for more than the price, and asks you to forward the extra to their "piano mover." The check bounces after you've paid the mover. Never accept an overpayment, and never pay a mover the buyer arranged.
Other red flags: requests for a verification code, buyers who won't talk on the phone, and anyone in a hurry to pay before seeing it. Lowballers are easier, give one counter and move on.
No-shows hurt more with a piano, because you've often cleared a path and lined up help. Take a small deposit through a protected method and confirm the day before. Or list your piano on Commonplace, where the buyer reserves it before pickup is scheduled and the people at your door are our drivers.
Selling a piano yourself vs on Commonplace
| Task | Selling it yourself | Selling on Commonplace |
|---|---|---|
| Listing | You write and post it | Free to list |
| Moving the piano | Buyer hires movers or improvises | Our drivers |
| Strangers in your home | Yes, often more than once | No, you never meet the buyer |
| Overpayment scams | Common | Avoided, Commonplace pays you directly |
| Getting paid | Cash, check or app | Paid when the piano is loaded |
Frequently asked questions
Is my old piano worth anything?
It depends almost entirely on brand, type and condition. A well-kept piano from a respected maker can be worth real money. Many older uprights from lesser-known brands are worth little, and some cost more to move than they sell for. The serial number and a technician's opinion will tell you which you have.
Should I tune my piano before selling it?
Usually yes, if it hasn't been tuned in a long time. An out-of-tune piano sounds broken to most buyers. A tuning makes it sound like the instrument it is.
Who pays to move a piano when it sells?
On local marketplaces, almost always the buyer, and they'll factor that cost into their offer. On Commonplace, our drivers handle pickup and the buyer pays for delivery.
How long does it take to sell a used piano?
Longer than most furniture. Pianos are a considered purchase. Start well before any move-out date so you're not forced to give it away on the last weekend.
Can I sell a digital piano the same way?
Yes, and it's easier. A digital piano is lighter and doesn't need tuning, so focus your listing on the model, the key action and whether every key and pedal works.
Ready to sell? List your piano on Commonplace for free. Our drivers handle pickup, and you get paid when it's loaded. Clearing out more? Start a listing for anything else.
Shopping for one? Browse used pianos on Commonplace. Each one is inspected at pickup and delivered, and you pay only after it passes inspection.