A piano bench is an essential accessory for every upright piano.
It usually matches the color of the acoustic piano and it’s not so rare that full concert grand piano benches are so comfortable that you would refuse to get up from it.
Let’s sit and discuss the very best benches on the market.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Piano Benches
- OUR TOP PICK: Neewer NW-007
- RUNNER-UP: Bonnlo Duet Piano Bench
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Bonnlo Artist Piano Stool
Table of Contents
Are All Piano Benches The Same
Piano benches are not made the same. They can be made with different materials based on the price range it aims at. Some are more designed to remain comfortable for longer playing sessions while others are designed to be portable. They may also differ in weight load or come with different height positioning and may have a different locking system mechanism.
Some can be folded up or detached, while others resemble the piece of home furniture. The latter may come with a basic modern design or more expensive vintage one.
How to Choose a Piano Bench
Here are some of the questions that may help you in making a decision regarding what you are actually looking for:
Duet or Upright
A duet piano bench, also referred to as a grand piano bench, is your typical wide seat that can accommodate two people sitting side by side at the same time. An upright bench is narrower than duet bench
Artist or Adjustable
While they both use the side knobs to change the height of the seat, the artist piano bench has a design feature that hides the gap when you raise the top part.
Folding Option
If you have a large room for your piano, you may use a traditional bench that doesn’t fold. But if you have a small apartment, a folding option can be a space-saver.
Storage Space
Some piano benches have additional storage space beneath the top cushion. This space can be used for storing your notes.
Neewer NW-007 can be adjusted and has a storage space you can use.
Test Drive
Whenever you have the chance, be sure to try a piano bench for yourself before buying. No online review and no web description can compensate for your own trial especially since most of the time it’s all a matter of personal taste.
Comparison Chart of the Best Piano Benches
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Review of the Best Piano Benches
In this section, we have reviewed some piano benches that looked interesting to us:
Best Overall:
Neewer NW-007
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The cushion is reported to be quite comfortable and the whole bench is easy to set up in about 5 minutes. It is also reported as sturdy and with a classy appearance and it exceeds users’ expectations, especially regarding the storage volume for music books.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Legs are made of wood with rubber ends that prevent skidding and the frame is metal and capable of loading up to 250 pounds. You can adjust the height by using a knob while the rubber on the legs ensures that your bench won’t slip.
Who Will Use This Most
Thanks to its luxury design and glossy finish, it can be used for both upright and grand piano. Thanks to adjustable height, it can accommodate taller players as well as regular ones and the cushioned comfort will be perfect for the long practice sessions.
Bottom Line
This is what a piano bench should look like. Stylish, firm and with enough space for all your music books so you can organize your playing space. And the best thing is that it’s quite affordable for what it has to offer.
Runner-up:
Bonnlo Duet Piano Bench
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
People loved the finish and it is reported that it’s not that glossy as it may look on the images. It is considered a good buy and it has enough width for two adults playing simultaneously. The top is reported as soft and comfortable But, you should know that adjusting the height isn’t silent.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is one of the best options we could find regarding height adjustment as it spans over 4 inches of height so it can suit anyone. It also can load more than 400 pounds of capacity so it’s more than sturdy.
Who Will Use This Most
This can be used a lot for teachers because they can monitor their students and play along. It is also comfortable enough for playing four-hand piano pieces and it will fit both upright and grand piano designs in both home and concert environments.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a duet bench, this is the best offer on the market at the moment. It comes with all the features you may ask from a manufacturer that actually cares about customer satisfaction.
Best for the Money:
Bonnlo Artist Piano Stool
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Users love its leather design and had no problem assembling it. They also find that the height is spot-on for an acoustic piano. Some users also have found this model to be smaller than comparable alternatives, meaning that its storage box doesn’t have as much capacity.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The price is unbeatable. It gives a lot of style for such a low price and includes all the necessary features such as anti-slip rubber pads or styled storage compartment beneath the top PU leather seat. And it is confirmed to withstand a 225 pounds of load capacity.
Who Will Use This Most
It will be a great add-on for players on a budget as they can both save some money and get a decent looking bench for practicing. The cushion is thick enough to provide you with enough support no matter how long you might want to play.
Bottom Line
This bench is so affordable and comfortable at the same time that you may even think of buying one for your home just as a piece of furniture even if you don’t have a piano.
Best Adjustable Piano Bench:
On-Stage KB9503B
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers say that this unit is completely silent even when loaded to the max. They feel you can’t find a better deal at this price especially compared to other offers. Bear in mind that the pad might get compressed after some time and that you may readjust.
Why it Stands Out to Us
A hydraulic mechanism is always a better option than a side-knob system. That’s why a hydraulic bench will generally be more expensive. Luckily, with the advanced price range comes also a more comfortable top seat. We also love the leg placement design as it occupies less space and allows you to put it closer under your piano.
Who Will Use This Most
With five inches of difference and the ability to fine-tune it, this bench can fit musicians of all ages. It will look stylish enough for a grand piano and won’t be overkill for an upright model. Also, not being so glossy makes it perfect for both types of piano finishes.
Bottom Line
This is an expensive option that might not be for everyone. But, if you’re serious about your playing and plan to go further you will find the investment in complete silent mechanism worth it.
Best Jansen Piano Bench:
Jansen Standard Artist Piano Bench
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
People find they were skeptical about the money Jansen asked for this model only to find out it was completely worth it once they sat on it. While it may look like some other cheaper models, the trick is how comfortable it is compared to them.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This is one of the rare products that is made completely in the USA. The build quality is exceptional and the “Micro-A-Just” mechanism is really silent as marketed. Leather is high quality made and it radiates with luxury especially thanks to spade design of the legs.
Who Will Use This Most
This bench was designed for premium grand pianos. Sure, it can be used with an upright piano as well, but the ebony satin and the bench size really come to shine when used with bigger models and especially in larger venues such as concert halls.
Bottom Line
This is the bench that will match any black Steinway or Bosendorfer available. Details are top-notch, comfort cannot be matched and it's a 100% American product. If you can afford it, this will be probably one of the most comfortable pieces of furniture you bought.
Best Yamaha Piano Bench:
Yamaha PKBB1
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
If we disregard the reviews of how this is distributed by Yamaha and not made by them, reviews are positive. Some users found that the depth of the padded seat is not ideal, though and they doubt that it can withstand 350 pounds of weight as the manufacturer declared.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We like how basic it appears and how easy it is to set it up. Height can be set in three heights so for most musicians it will be fine and the seat is padded enough to provide comfort. A foldable option will be handy for smaller homes.
Who Will Use This Most
This is more a keyboard bench than a piano but thanks to leather PU cushion it can be used with acoustic pianos as well. And on top of that, in case you would like to perform live, it’s easy to pack it up and bring it with you.
Bottom Line
While this may not be your typical bench, it may be good enough if you’re short on space. It won’t create you wonders, but it can save your wallet while giving you an okay bench for your piano.
What Do I Need To Know Before Buying?
Piano benches can come in different shapes and materials. Here are some additional side notes that you may check before deciding which piano bench you’re going to buy.
Material
Some premium piano benches are made to look like very stylish home furniture and are made from wood with many handcrafted details. They may also come with real leather on the top. Others are made to be portable and taken on the road so you can have the bench you’re used to wherever you may perform.
Color Matching
Your bench should match the color of your piano. Of course, due to different stages of stain, a perfect match might not be possible for some lighter variations but you should pick the one that matches not just the color, but the era of piano as well or the style of music it’s going to be performed.
Playing Frequency
If you’re going to play a lot, you should go out and buy the most comfortable piano bench that’s affordable for you. It’s very similar when you need to buy a chair for your desk job. If you’re going to spend a lot of time at some spot, make sure you’re completely comfortable at it.
Conclusion
If you decide to use a regular chair for your piano playing, you may not get the proper height or comfort a quality bench can provide you and it won’t look so stylish with your piano. But a piano bench will always come handy as an extra seat for many other occasions.
People Also Ask
There are many things that you might be afraid to ask as they might seem basic and obvious but apparently they are not and can affect your fatigue. That’s why we’re going to cover such questions next and even include some questions that you even forgot you wanted to ask at some point.
How Tall is a Piano Bench?
Piano benches can come in different heights but the most usual height is somewhere between 17 inches and 23 inches. What size it will actually come depends on the manufacturer's choice. If you’re playing a standard acoustic, your ideal piano bench height would be somewhere around 19 inches.
How Tall Should a Piano Bench Be?
There are many ways to measure an ideal height, but we prefer to match our elbow at the keyboard height forming a 90-degree angle with the rest of the body. This way muscles will respond naturally and without any extra effort.
How Much Does a Piano Bench Weigh?
Piano benches can vary in their weight based on the material used to make it and the features it comes with. It can go as low as 20 pounds up to almost amazing 50 pounds for the heaviest piano benches out there. The more heavy piano bench is - the more superior quality it is.
Why Do Piano Benches Not Have Backs?
Playing piano requires an active sitting, a way that stabilizes your torso completely. This way of sitting ensures you from any discomfort you may get while playing. If the piano benches had a back it would be really tempting to lean backwards and eventually cause back pain.
How Do You Adjust the Height of a Piano Bench?
The height can be adjusted by using knobs on both sides for a regular piano bench or turning the knob on the X-stand piano bench or pulling side levers on hydraulic piano benches. You will have to do it simultaneously and equally, otherwise, the bench may tilt aside.
