New York has more ways to buy a piano than almost anywhere, from maker showrooms in Midtown to private sales from apartments being cleared out. Each kind of seller offers something different, and each needs a slightly different approach. This guide explains the options and gives a plan for a showroom visit. Our Where To Buy page lists showrooms with a city address, using only what each seller says on its own website.
The kinds of seller
Maker showrooms
Some piano makers run their own showrooms in Manhattan. You see the maker’s current range, often including grands you will not find elsewhere, and the warranty comes straight from the manufacturer. Choice is limited to that maker’s instruments.
Independent dealers
Independent dealers carry several brands, new and used, and sometimes digital pianos as well. Some run their own workshops and sell pianos they have rebuilt. Ask which brands they are authorized to sell new; for those, the manufacturer’s US warranty should apply.
Rebuilders and restoration shops
A few city businesses specialize in rebuilt instruments, often older grands with new strings, hammers or soundboards. The value lies in the work done, so ask for a written list of every part replaced.
Rental companies
Several companies rent pianos by the month, and some offer rent-to-own. Renting is a sensible first step if you are unsure; see Renting or Buying a Piano in NYC.
Private sellers
People moving out of the city often sell pianos privately. Prices can be low, but there is usually no warranty, no refund and no delivery. Use the checks in Checking a Used Piano Before You Pay and budget for movers at both ends.
Showroom visit plan
A showroom is designed to make every piano sound good. A plan keeps you focused on the one that will work at home.
- Bring your numbers. Room size, the tightest point on the route in and a photo of the wall. The Will a Piano Fit in Your Apartment? Measuring the Route and the Rules checklist has the list.
- Bring the player. The person who will practice should play every piano on the shortlist, including quiet passages.
- Play the same piece on each. A short passage you know well makes differences easier to hear.
- Listen from across the room. Ask someone else to play while you stand back; the tone changes with distance.
- Ask about the history. For a used piano: where it came from, its approximate age and what work was done.
- Ask for the paperwork. Warranty, refund policy and delivery terms, in writing.
Tip: Try to visit on a weekday. Showrooms are quieter, and you can hear a piano without three others playing nearby.
Questions to ask any seller
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is this piano new, used, reconditioned or rebuilt? | The label changes what you should expect and what warranty applies |
| What warranty comes with it, and who honors it? | The FTC says the law requires a warranty to be available to read before you buy |
| What is your refund policy? | New York requires stores to post it; read it before you pay |
| When will it be delivered? | New York requires a written estimated delivery date for furniture and major household goods; ask for one either way |
| Who moves it, and are they licensed? | Movers carrying household goods within the state need authority from the state Department of Transportation |
| Is a first tuning included after delivery? | A piano usually needs tuning once it settles into a new room |
Where digital pianos fit in
Digital pianos are sold by some piano dealers alongside acoustic instruments, as well as by general music and electronics retailers. A piano showroom lets you compare a digital model with an acoustic one side by side, which helps if you are still deciding between them; see Acoustic or Digital Piano for a New York Apartment?. Wherever you buy, ask about the warranty, the refund policy and whether delivery and setup are included, since a large digital or hybrid model can still need two people and a careful trip up the stairs.
Comparing prices
Compare the total, not the sticker. Include sales tax, which New York State’s tax department lists at 8 7/8 percent combined for New York City, delivery charges including any stair or elevator fees, and the first tuning. A cheaper piano with an expensive fourth-floor delivery can cost more than a pricier one near a freight elevator.
Outside the city
Some well-known showrooms that advertise to New Yorkers are in New Jersey, Connecticut or Westchester. Our sellers page lists only businesses with a New York City address, but nothing stops you from shopping farther away. If the piano will cross a state line on its way to you, the move falls under federal rather than state rules; see Moving a Piano in New York City: Licenses, Estimates and Damage Claims.
Before you pay a deposit
Get the price, the warranty, the refund policy, the delivery date and the mover’s name on paper. Then read Your Rights When Buying a Piano in New York, which explains what New York law adds to what the seller promises.