🎹 Piano Bench Height Calculator
Find your ideal piano bench height based on your body measurements and piano type
| Player Height | Height (cm) | Recommended Bench (in) | Recommended Bench (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4’8" – 5’0" | 142–152 cm | 17–18" | 43–46 cm |
| 5’0" – 5’4" | 152–163 cm | 18–19" | 46–48 cm |
| 5’4" – 5’8" | 163–173 cm | 19–20" | 48–51 cm |
| 5’8" – 6’0" | 173–183 cm | 20–21" | 51–53 cm |
| 6’0" – 6’4" | 183–193 cm | 21–22" | 53–56 cm |
| Under 4’8" (child) | Under 142 cm | 14–17" | 36–43 cm |
Key Height
Key Height
Key Height
Key Height
Key Height
Angle
Bench Range
Bench Range
| Forearm Length (in) | Forearm Length (cm) | Upright Bench (in) | Grand Bench (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9" – 11" | 23–28 cm | 14–16" | 14–15.5" |
| 11" – 13" | 28–33 cm | 16–18" | 15.5–17.5" |
| 13" – 15" | 33–38 cm | 18–20" | 17.5–19.5" |
| 15" – 17" | 38–43 cm | 20–22" | 19.5–21.5" |
| 17" – 19" | 43–48 cm | 22–24" | 21.5–23.5" |
| Seated Elbow Height (in) | Seated Elbow Height (cm) | Upright Piano Bench | Grand Piano Bench |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24" – 26" | 61–66 cm | 15–17" | 14.5–16.5" |
| 26" – 28" | 66–71 cm | 17–19" | 16.5–18.5" |
| 28" – 30" | 71–76 cm | 19–21" | 18.5–20.5" |
| 30" – 32" | 76–81 cm | 21–23" | 20.5–22.5" |
| 32" – 34" | 81–86 cm | 23–25" | 22.5–24.5" |
| Scenario | Player Height | Piano Type | Ideal Bench Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Adult Woman | 5’4" (163 cm) | Upright | 18.5" (47 cm) |
| Average Adult Man | 5’10" (178 cm) | Grand | 19.5" (50 cm) |
| Teenage Student | 5’5" (165 cm) | Upright | 18.5–19" (47–48 cm) |
| Child Age 8–10 | 4’4" (132 cm) | Upright | 15–16" (38–41 cm) |
| Concert Performer | 5’10" (178 cm) | Grand | 19.5" (50 cm) |
| Senior Player | 5’6" (168 cm) | Upright | 19" (48 cm) |
Choosing the right Piano Bench Height is more important than most beginners think. When the seat is too low or too high it can cause stiff hands, bad posture and even shoulder pain. Finding the right level for the bench helps a lot in learning piano.
The perfect Piano Bench Height falls between 18 and 22 inches. Some models go up to 23, or even 24 inches, if you fully extend them. For upright piano, most suggest 19 to 22 inches from the floor to the top of the seat.
How to Choose the Right Piano Bench Height
For grand piano, the range is a bit more low, namely 18 to 21 inches. Many players like to sit some inches lower at grand piano, to have a good angle of the forearms.
A useful general tip says that the forearms should be parallel with the floor, while the hands rest on the keys. The elbows almost macth the level of the keyboard. If you play with hands and elbows much lower than the keys, everything becomes really hard.
The height of the piano player plays a role too. Tall folks usually want a bench a bit higher. Short people maybe need something more low.
Those of middle height, said around 5 feet 11 inches, usually find fine enough with average fixed benches. Someone who measures 6 feet 4 inches or only 5 feet, must care more closely about the setup. For short people ore children, laying a book or soft cushion on the bench can help them reach the right height.
Adjustable benches help much more than you think. Some types range between around 17 and 22 inches by means of a five-level system. Others have a hydraulic lever, that depends on the weight of the body and go from 18.1 to 22.4 inches.
For instance, the Songmics piano bench has a thick cushion and shifts between 18.5 and 22.4 inches. Typical sizes of piano benches are 14 by 30 by 20 inches, while benches for two players are wider: 14 by 36 by 20 inches.
The sitting style is just as important as the height. The bench stands right before the piano. Sit on the front half of the bench.
The feet stay flat on the floor from the heel to the toes. Keep the weight in the center, shoulders loose and back straight. The distance to the piano matters a lot too.
Even with the best height, sitting too close to the keyboard ruins everything.
The maximum height of a grand piano is around 70 centimetres from the keyboard to the floor. Most players use a Piano Bench Height of around 50 centimetres, though some centimetres more up or down happen often based on body shape and playing style. The bench height could change even a bit based on the time of day.
Drum stools and office chairs work as replacements, but traditional benches stay common in classical music, where you want to avoid reaching too far above the keys. Round seats can also help avoid cutting bloodflow in thelegs, which happens sometimes with square benches.
