Sourcing acoustic pianos from China

0% duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, heading 9201 covers pianos, including automatic pianos, harpsichords and other keyboard stringed instruments. All four leaves, new upright pianos (9201 10 10 00), used upright pianos (9201 10 90 00), grand pianos (9201 20 00 00) and other (9201 90 00 00), carried 0% on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure, no registration and no suspension.

Digital pianos are classified elsewhere (see our digital pianos and electric guitars guide); confirm the commodity code.

Ivory and protected timber

GOV.UK guidance on the Ivory Act 2018 says importing an item made of or containing elephant or other listed ivory to buy, sell or hire counts as dealing, which needs a registration or exemption; one standard exemption covers musical instruments made before 1975 with less than 20% ivory by volume. Used pianos with ivory keytops need checking before they are shipped.

GOV.UK guidance on worked specimens gives pianos with ivory keys or rosewood marquetry as examples of instruments that can contain species listed under the Wildlife Trade Regulations, and says a CITES permit is needed to import worked specimens. Ask the maker to confirm the timber species in the case and veneers.

Specifying pianos

Specify model, height or length, action and hammer maker, soundboard material and moisture content, string and pin specification, cabinet finish and veneer species, keytop material, bench, and packing in a sealed crate with desiccant for the sea journey.

Worked duty example

Suppose, purely for illustration, you import 12 new upright pianos in crates under 9201 10 10 00. At £21,600 free on board and £2,400 to ship and insure, the customs value is £24,000. With 0% duty on upright pianos, the only charge is import VAT: 20% of £24,000, or £4,800. VAT-registered businesses usually recover that in their next return. The method is set out in how UK import duty and VAT work.

Inspection checklist

Before shipping: play every key, check action regulation, pedals, tuning stability and cabinet finish, and record serial numbers.

Packing: check crates, moisture barriers and desiccant, and that the piano is secured upright.

After delivery: allow the piano to settle, then tune and regulate before sale.

What goes wrong

Piano orders fail on climate and finish. Soundboards crack or tuning drifts after moving from humid to dry heating, keys stick, polyester finish is scratched in transit, and used pianos arrive with undeclared ivory keytops.

Test samples before shipping. See our quality inspection guide.

Cambridge China Bridge sources acoustic pianos for UK piano retailers, schools and hire companies, checking the factory first. See factory verification.