Resale value
Very high
The short answer
Our piano brand database rates the resale value of Pleyel pianos as “Very high”. This puts Pleyel among the brands that hold their value best. Even so, a worn or poorly restored instrument can be worth far less than a well-kept one.
That rating describes the brand in general. What one particular Pleyel is worth depends mostly on its age, type and condition — and only an inspection can tell you that.
What our data says about Pleyel
These ratings come from our piano brand database and describe the brand in general, not your instrument.
- Resale value
- Very high
- Collector interest
- Very high
- Price range
- Historic instruments only
- Tuning stability
- Stable
- Construction
- Handcrafted
- Pianos made
- GrandUpright
- Founded
- 1807
- Status
- No longer in business
- Role in piano history
- Main French romantic
The brand's typical price range as listed in our database — not the value of a used instrument.
How old is your Pleyel?
Age is the first thing anyone valuing a piano wants to know. Find the serial number — usually stamped on the cast-iron plate, visible when you open the lid — and look it up in our serial number tool.
Piano serial number lookupWhat decides what a used piano is worth
The brand sets expectations, but the instrument in front of you sets the price. These are the things a technician and an informed buyer look at:
Age
A piano has a useful life of several decades before major rebuilding is needed. The serial number tells you the year it was made — the starting point for any valuation.
Grand or upright
Grand pianos usually hold their value better than uprights of the same brand and age. Small spinets and console uprights are often the hardest to sell.
Soundboard and ribs
Cracks, loose ribs or a soundboard that has lost its crown affect the tone and are expensive to repair.
Pinblock and tuning pins
If the tuning pins are loose, the piano can't hold a tune. Replacing a pinblock is a major job — often costing more than an old upright is worth.
Action, hammers and dampers
Worn or moth-eaten felts, grooved hammers, sluggish keys and broken parts all mean regulation or repair work before the piano plays well.
Strings, bridges and plate
Rusty strings, cracked bridges or — rarely — a cracked iron plate can turn a bargain into a liability.
Maintenance history
A piano that was tuned regularly and kept away from direct sun, heaters and humidity swings is worth more than one that hasn't been touched in years.
Original or replaced parts
On quality and antique instruments, buyers ask what has been replaced and by whom. Careful rebuilding with good parts can add value; cheap replacements can reduce it.
Cabinet and appearance
Finish, veneer and keytops matter to buyers, but cosmetic work does nothing for the mechanism or the sound.
Moving and local conditions
In Israel, moving a piano — especially up stairs — is a real cost that buyers factor in, and both humid coastal air and dry inland heat take a toll on wood and felt.
Why many old upright pianos are worth little
Huge numbers of upright pianos were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, so supply is large and demand is small. Many old uprights are offered for free, or for the cost of moving them.
After many decades, felts, hammers, strings and the pinblock are often worn out. Restoring an old upright properly can cost more than a good used piano, so the repair bill, not the brand, ends up setting the price.
There are exceptions: fine makers, rare models, decorative art cases and well-restored instruments can be worth real money. The only way to know which group a piano belongs to is to have it examined.
The only way to know: a technician's inspection
An experienced piano technician can quickly tell whether a piano is a sound instrument or an expensive project. Before you buy a used piano, we inspect it and give you an honest assessment of its condition and of what it would need.
What we check
- Serial number and year of manufacture
- Soundboard, ribs and bridges
- Pinblock and tuning pins — will it hold a tune?
- Action, hammers, keys and pedals
- Strings, plate and cabinet
- What it would take to bring it into good playing condition
Buying a used Pleyel? Have it checked before you pay — and before you pay for moving it.
Selling one? A condition report and a fresh tuning help you set a fair price and show buyers the piano is sound.
Request an inspection of your Pleyel
Contact Us
We'll schedule a visit at your convenience.
Questions about Pleyel piano value
Is an old Pleyel piano worth anything?
It can be, but age alone doesn't make a piano valuable. Our database rates Pleyel resale value as “Very high”, and the condition of the soundboard, pinblock and action decides whether a particular instrument is worth keeping, selling or restoring.
How do I find out how old my Pleyel piano is?
Find the serial number — usually stamped on the cast-iron plate, visible when you open the lid — and look it up in our serial number tool. It gives you the approximate year of manufacture.
Should I tune a piano before selling it?
A tuned piano sounds the way it should, which helps buyers judge it fairly. If it hasn't been tuned in years, a technician can also tell you whether it can still be brought up to pitch.
Is it worth restoring an old Pleyel?
That depends on the piano's quality, type and condition, and on what it means to you. A technician can tell you what the work would involve, so you can compare it with the cost of a replacement.