Summarize:

While it's always tempting to go with the cheapest option, you generally get what you pay for when purchasing a piano, provided you're dealing with an honest seller. It's better to spring for a higher-quality product that will give you greater enjoyment for years to come than settle for an inferior instrument. Most high-quality acoustic pianos will run between $4,000 and $200,000 new, and $1,000 and up used. Digital pianos are typically more affordable, running around $800-$10,000 new and as little as $200 used. While it may seem logical to start off with a lower-quality instrument if you're a beginner, the opposite is actually true: an inferior piano will be less responsive and make it difficult to produce satisfactory sounds. This is especially true for children, who will find it challenging to play properly on keys that aren't correctly weighted, since their hands are much smaller. Acoustic pianos (which include grands as well as uprights, or verticals) have much better sound, and the keys are more responsive. They are also typically more attractive, making a better addition to your home decor. Acoustics tend to cost more than digital pianos, but as they tend to last longer (20-30 years for an upright, 30-50 years for a grand), a used piano can still be a very good product and will tend to be more affordable. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Buy-a-Piano-Step-3-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Buy-a-Piano-Step-3-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Buy-a-Piano-Step-3-Version-4.jpg\/aid79437-v4-728px-Buy-a-Piano-Step-3-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} If you plan to perform with your piano, or bring it over to a friend's house for a jam session, you will want a digital piano, which is lightweight and portable. Digital pianos are also typically more affordable, and often come with special features such as sound options, recording abilities, and learning programs. When buying a digital piano, it's worth the extra expense to get one with weighted keys. This will give you a sense of how a real piano feels, and make for more dynamic, nuanced playing. Digital pianos have much shorter lifespans than acoustics (5-10 years if well cared for), and typically cost between $600 and $2,000 new. Digital pianos also frequently see more abuse, since they are portable and more often carried around and left in various places. You'll get more value for your dollar as the first owner of your digital piano. You'll get a better product, and you'll be paying for the piano's entire lifespan instead of just what's left. You also won't have to worry about past wear and tear or the last owner's neglect. If your budget is under $4,000, don't worry. Many used pianos can be of high quality, even if they require some tinkering after purchase. The most important thing is to know what you're paying for. A high-quality used piano will run between $2,500 and $25,500.
Decide on a budget. Buy an acoustic piano if you will be playing mainly at home. Buy a digital piano if you want to take it outside your home. Buy new if purchasing a digital piano. Buy a new acoustic if your budget is over $4,000.