If you’re in any way serious about your piano playing, one of the best piano benches (also know as a piano stool) is an essential accessory. It’s not only important from an ergonomic perspective to maintain correct posture when playing and practising, but it’s much more comfortable to be supported properly at the correct height relative to the keyboard, in order to maintain the proper angle at the elbow and keep your wrists relaxed. You won't be able to achieve this with any old stool or chair.
A piano bench will not only allow you to adjust the height so that you’re seated at the perfect height elevation to the keys, but they’ll also make your piano or keyboard setup look that bit more professional and purposeful.
In this guide were taking a look at the various types of piano bench, with guidance on what to look for, plus our top picks for every budget.
Best piano benches: Our top picks
For those looking for a reasonably priced option that will provide the comfort needed to play the piano for hours on end, the On-Stage KT7800+ Deluxe is the stool for you. This X-frame style bench may not have any storage space, but for the price point, it's a well-made option for any pianist.
At the other end of the price spectrum, we have the Roland PB-500. This luxury bench oozes class and is the perfect accompaniment to any piano. With its premium padding, outstanding built quality and 10cm of continuous height adjustment, this really is one of the best piano benches on the market.
Lastly, we have to give a shout out to the Gear4Music Deluxe Duet bench. This inventive stool is the best solution for piano teachers, as each side can be adjusted independently - and better yet, it even comes with practical storage for tidying away sheet music and other learning materials.
Best piano benches: Product guide
Well-known for their high-quality keyboard stands and mic stands, it comes as no surprise to find that On Stage also have a seat at the table when it comes to piano benches. The KT7800+ is the deluxe version of their folding portable X-frame bench, with a thick padded seat for extra comfort and four different height adjustment settings.
Robust and durable, the KT7800+ is a folding design that features an X-style frame that pivots around a single central bolt. The height is adjusted by means of a set of four locking holes on a metal rail that spans the underside of the bench, allowing adjustment to four fixed heights of 19”, 21”, 23” and 25”, which caters capably for both adults and children.
The one downside of the folding design is that there’s no storage capacity, but if you’re after a portable solution this is a small price to pay.
This premium offering from digital piano heavyweights Roland is designed to perfectly match their pianos and as such ticks all of the required boxes.
There’s a high-quality, solid wood construction with a polished ebony gloss black finish, 10cm of continuous height adjustment, a velvet-lined storage compartment for music books and a deep, luxuriantly cushioned leather seat.
Emblazoned with the Roland logo on one side of the seat, this is a properly high-end piece of furniture that will not only complement your piano, it may well outlast it.
If James Bond had been a pianist - with a licence to trill of course - the Neewer NW-007 would have been the obvious choice for a bench.
Properly solid and weighty with a quality feel, this mid-priced bench is a great solution if you need a traditional look combined with a practical storage facility for your sheet music. The high-quality and durable imitation leather seat and piano-black gloss painted wood finish communicate that this is a quality item.
Some light self-assembly is required on day one, but this is easily accomplished using the supplied tool. The NW-007 is height adjustable through 48-55cm via a hinged metal subframe and traditional wooden adjuster knob mounted on the side of the bench. There’s no ejector seat function though, sadly.
It’s fair to say Yamaha knows a thing or two about pianos - as well as everything from guitars to saxophones, snowmobiles to motorcycles, but we digress - so it makes sense they’d know what makes a great piano bench.
Obviously, this elegant bench is the perfect companion for your beloved Yamaha piano, but that doesn’t mean you need to have a Yamaha piano to appreciate this sleek stool.
The B1 bench has a timeless aesthetic and certainly wouldn’t look out of place in any room, and the heavy-duty legs mean it’s solid and sturdy. And better yet, the top is designed to promote a “strong playing posture”, as this piano bench features an arched top padded cushion.
If you know anything about Hercules guitar stands, then you’ll know they are robust, durable and extremely reliable - all qualities you’d expect to find in the best piano benches. Well, luckily, that’s precisely what you get with the Hercules KB200B.
Okay, we admit this isn’t exactly the best looking bench on the market, but it’s perfect for keys players who need a dependable stool on the go. In addition, the compact nature of the Hercules bench - and the fact it’s foldable - means it’s perfect for live shows, rehearsals or lessons.
With four levels of height adjustment and a micro adjuster, this bench is also suitable for players of various ages and sizes.
Korg is no stranger to the world of pianos, producing some of the finest digital pianos on the market. This all-black rise and fall bench is perfect for those seeking a sleek, classic looking bench to accompany their black piano - that said, a white option is also available.
The thick cushion provides a highly comfortable seating position, and the heavy-duty legs mean the bench is sturdy.
This bench is perfect for households with multiple piano players that vary in height and playing position. The two knobs on the side of the bench make it a breeze to adjust, and there’s plenty of height if you need it.
Donner is a well-respected name in the digital piano and keyboard industry, and this lightweight, compact and adjustable bench is a perfect accessory for a digital instrument, either on stage or in the home.
The X-frame folds out to three adjustable height positions, which are adjusted by means of locating the central knob in one of the three holes provided.
The trade off for this bench being so light and portable is that the seat area is not the largest, but for a quick and easy solution for gigging musicians it’s well worth considering.
RockJam are a popular manufacturer of beginner keyboards, and the KBB100 is their matching stool that you sometimes find included, along with a pair of headphones, in the accessory bundle that comes with the keyboard, so it’s good to find that the stool is available to buy as a separate product.
With thick padding to allow for hours of comfortable play, solid steel construction and anti-slip rubber feet to ensure that the bench doesn’t move around during performance, the KBB100’s folding X-frame design allows it to be folded away easily for storage or taking on the move.
Adjustable to three different height positions, the KBB100 is a great choice if you’re after an affordable stool to match your RockJam - or any other - keyboard.
This traditional piano stool from HomCom is a fine example of the classic design, with its tufted, faux leather cushion sporting seven buttons and its legs a curvier, more antique-looking profile than most benches on this list, making it a great match for a traditional acoustic piano.
Assembly is simple - just attach the legs to the bench with the supplied wrench. There’s no storage compartment, but you do get 10cm of continuous height adjustment by means of the knurled knobs on the sides of the seat.
Made from solid hardwood and PU leather, it makes for a comfortable and durable seat for pianists of all ages and abilities.
Crafted solidly from beech with a gloss black finish, this Deluxe Duet bench from Gear4music is unusual in that it’s a double bench where each side can be adjusted for height independently - ideal if you’re a really tall teacher who teaches lots of primary school-age kids!
Add to that the practical underseat storage compartments - one under each seat - and the deep and luxurious leatherette cushions and you end up with one of the more practical and versatile benches we’ve seen.
If your piano journey consists of many ups and downs, this could be the perfect seat for you!
So, the Liquid Stands bench certainly stands out from the other, more traditional benches on this list. This fully adjustable, lightweight stool includes a backrest for added support - perfect for ensuring you keep the correct posture while playing.
The 2.5" thick firm cushion is comfortable to sit on and will offer plenty of support for those long hours at the piano working on scales and chord exercises.
What's more, this stand is incredibly easy to build, taking just a few minutes to put together with nothing but an Allen Key.
Best piano benches: Buying advice
What do you need from a piano bench?
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For something that fulfils the relatively basic function of being something to sit on, the best piano benches and stools come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles, so the right bench for you will depend on how and where you’re going to be using it.
Do you need a single or double piano bench?
Do you need more than one person to sit at the piano at the same time? This is something to think about if you have a visiting teacher that sits next to you at the piano during lessons, or if there are two of you in the home who like to play duets. Two people on a single bench can be a bit of a squeeze, so if you have regular duet sessions or private lessons, it could be worth investing in a double bench if you have room for one.
Does my piano bench need storage?
If you do a lot of sight reading and playing songs from sheet music and books, being able to store these materials somewhere out of sight when not in use is a big plus. Rather than having these scattered in unsightly piles on the top of your instrument, a bench with a flip-up lid and room for storage allows you to keep your sheet music hidden away.
How comfortable are piano benches?
A fairly obvious one this, but if you’re into long practise sessions, you’ll need a bench that’s comfortable and supportive with at least a minimal amount of padding - if what you’re sat on is not comfortable, you’ll not want to be sat at the piano for any length of time, so a degree of comfort is important when choosing your piano bench.
Most piano benches are pretty stable, too, and that’s a good thing - the last thing you want is for your seat to collapse while you’re rocking out at the keys. The traditional solid design with a leg at each corner will generally be a bit more stable than a folding x-type stool, but since these are much more portable, they’re an attractive prospect for gigging musicians.
Do I need height adjustment on my piano bench?
Most people only have one piano, so you might think that the height adjustment on your piano bench would be a set it and leave it affair. But if you do have multiple instruments at different heights, or if there are more than one of you in the family at different ages who play, then height adjustment is crucial for proper posture. If your 8-year old was the last person to play when you sit down at the piano for some practise, you don’t want to be banging your knees on the underside of the keyboard.
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