Tips for Choosing a Piano/Keyboard Chair or Bench and Recommended Options [2025 Ed.]

2022-02-08

The piano chair is a necessity when you play the piano. The chair often comes with the piano, but if you have to buy one yourself, you might be confused because there are so many different types of chairs. You may be wondering, “Is it okay to use a regular chair that I already have or should I buy a piano chair?” and “What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of piano chair?” To help solve these questions, I’m going to tell you how to choose a piano chair and list some of other popular options!

■ Major Types of Piano Chairs

○ Chair with Backrest

This elegant chair is the type that you often see at piano recitals and in lesson rooms. When you think of piano chairs, I think this is what many people think of. The most distinctive feature is that the height can be adjusted by cranking the lever on the back. You can 、quickly adjust the height to more than a dozen levels. This is useful for lessons, recitals, and other situations where multiple students take turns using one chair, as they can memorize the height of the seat and say to their teacher, “My seat height should be set at the 〇th level from the top”, or the teacher can mark the height with a sticker. The disadvantage of this type of chair is that the seat is hard. If you are sitting for a long time, your behind and thighs may grow tired. However, it is widely used in schools and homes, so it can be considered a standard piano chair.

○ Piano Bench

The piano bench has a wider and cushioned seat that 、lets you sit comfortably for long hours. In general, the height of the seat can be smoothly adjusted by turning the knobs on the sides of the seat. However, since it takes some time and strength to turn the knobs, this seat is recommended for one person who is practicing for hours rather than for multiple people which requires changing the height over and over again. There are many variations of piano benches that range from wide and thick ones to more compact ones.

○ Chairs/Benches for Digital Pianos and Keyboards

If you were to place a fancy piano chair or bench in front of your digital piano or keyboard, it would look a bit strange. In this case, use a chair designed for digital pianos and keyboards. There are many compact benches and foldable benches. Note that some of these chairs are not adjustable in height. I recommend a chair that is specially made for piano, not a regular chair so that you should be able to play comfortably with the right posture.

■ Tips on How to Choose

○ Who will use it and how?

Based on the characteristics of each type of chair, you can choose the one that suits your purpose as follows.

If you plan to let many people sit on it, choose a piano chair with a backrest.
If you’re planning to practice for long hours at a time, choose a piano bench.
If you want to be able to carry it with you or store it away when not in use, choose a foldable type.

There are also benches with storage features for those who want to keep the piano uncluttered. The bench opens up so you can store sheet music and small items inside.

○ Choose a chair that matches the model, design and color of your piano

Choose one that is well-suited for your piano. For grand pianos or upright pianos, chairs with backrests or heavy benches match these types of pianos best, and for digital pianos or keyboards, the ones with slimmer designs suit those pianos better. You can also match the color of the piano and the chair for a more cohesive look.

○An adjustable chair is better

If you can’t decide, choose a chair that is at least adjustable. This is because playing the piano at the right height is super important for improving your piano skills! By playing at the proper chair height (= proper arm position), you will be able to learn how to use your fingers correctly. Furthermore, if the chair is too high or too low, it can cause unnecessary tension and carpal tunnel to your hands and arms...! When you sit on the chair at the proper height, your fingers should freely be able to touch the keys and your forearms should be parallel to the floor. For children whose feet don’t touch the floor yet, use a footrest. The appropriate chair height changes as the player physically grows, so adjusting the height is a must for children. On the other hand, if the chair is going to be used by only one adult player and the chair is already at the appropriate height, the height adjustment function is not necessary. The advantage of chairs without height adjustment is that they can be relatively less expensive and they have a simple design.

■ 10 Most Recommended Piano Chairs & Benches

Here is the list of some of the most popular piano chairs that are frequently purchased at Sound House!

[Foldable] Easy 4-level adjustments! Thick cushion makes it comfortable to sit for a long time!

The simple design of the KS30 matches any digital piano and keyboard. The height can be easily adjusted and the cushioning is excellent. It is a user-friendly chair that we can confidently recommend to beginners who are not sure how high the right seat height should be.

PLAYTECH / KS30

[Bench] Firm cushioning and at a reasonable price! A bench that also matches acoustic pianos.

While many chairs for acoustic pianos are pricey, this KS40B piano bench is being offered at a reasonable price. The matte-textured seat and glossy-finished legs make it look luxurious.

PLAYTECH / KS40B

[Other] Bench with pneumatic springs for instant height adjustments.

The 14080 is a keyboard bench from K&M, an instrumental stand manufacturer with an established reputation for stability. The built-in pneumatic springs allow you to adjust the height easily by simply pulling the handle while sitting. The steel legs have rubber protectors at the base for excellent stability. K&M’s pneumatic spring piano chairs also come in other shapes, such as round and single leg, so be sure to check them out.

K&M / 14080

[Foldable] Outrageously low price! Simple design and useful for many applications.

The KS20 is a foldable chair that has always been a best-selling chair for its comfortability and affordable price. The height can be adjusted by using a wrench. Recommended for keyboard players who rarely change the height of the chair.

PLAYTECH / KS20

[Chair] If you need a chair with a backrest, this is it! Beautiful glossy coating.

The NO.5 PI-5 is a piano chair by YAMAHA, the famous piano manufacturer. This standard piano chair can be used in various situations such as recitals and lessons. The beautiful shape with the glossy finish is perfect for a grand piano.

YAMAHA / NO.5(PI5)

[Bench] Perfect for digital pianos! A variety of 5 colors to choose from!

The BNC-05 is a basic adjustable bench that can be used with a variety of digital pianos, from entry level to high-end models. Available in a total of five colors, including two shades of beige in addition to the standard black, brown, and white. Since basic adjustable benches are available from an array of manufacturers such as KORG, CASIO, and KAWAI, you can also choose one from the same manufacturer as your digital piano.

ROLAND / BNC-05NB

[Bench] With useful storage! Available in two colors to match the color of your piano!

You can store small items such as sheet music up to 4cm thick under the seat. The KS50 is great for those who often get clutter around the piano. It’s available in two colors: white and black.

PLAYTECH / KS50W　

[Foldable] One of the few white folding chairs! Sufficient load capacity.

The PC-110-WH is recommended for those who have white pianos or keyboards. It is also lightweight at only 3.5kg.

KORG / PC-110-WH

[Bench] A piano bench with a luxurious feel made with real leather!

While many piano chairs use synthetic leather on the seat, the 13981 uses real leather. It has a luxurious feel that can match any grand piano perfectly.

K&M / 13981

[Bench] Fixed-height chair. Suggested for people around 160cm tall.

The CB-5 looks unique in this slender design. It is neat and you won’t feel cramped. The height is fixed at 49.5cm, so make sure to take measurements in advance!

CASIO / CB-5