RS Recommends: The Best Keyboard Pianos Under $250 for Practicing and Performing
Whether you just signed up for your first piano lesson or you’re going on tour, finding the right keyboard should be as easy as learning middle C — without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for a more portable instrument to play on the road, we have you covered: The best keyboards under $250 will get the job done (and sound seriously good doing it). Here are our favorite budget-friendly picks to start jamming right out of the box, no matter if you’re memorizing Mozart, making music, or just starting out.
Buying Guide: Best Piano Keyboards Under $250
When researching our guide to the best keyboards under $250, we looked at the amount of keys, included accessories, and the instrument’s portability. Here’s what you should consider when buying yours:
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Keys: Though an acoustic piano features a full set of 88 keys, the best keyboards under $250 come in a wide variety of sizes. No size is necessarily better to play, but we recommend anywhere between 61 and 88 keys so you can play more music the more you advance.
Portability: All of the best affordable keyboards offer serious portability, with lightweight designs that are easier to haul on a commute or load in a car. While you can find battery-powered keyboards, most require a power source to plug in and play.
Accessories: Your keyboard’s accessories might not be top of mind when you’re shopping for a new instrument. But essentials and extras like a sustain pedal, music stands, and even carrying cases can make it easier to learn and play at home and on the road. Our buying guide includes a mix of both, including bundle systems with a pedal and attached stands for lesson books.
Connectivity: From headphone jacks to Bluetooth, today’s best new budget keyboards offer a decent range of features that let you pair your other devices to your new instrument. We prefer keyboards with a headphone input for practicing, and, if you’re planning to write music, some models even have MIDI inputs and outputs to connect to a tablet or laptop.
The Best Piano Keyboards Under $250
From 61-key Casios to complete keyboard kits, here are the most affordable instruments fit for any musician.
Casio CT-S1 Keyboard Piano
Casio has produced excellent keyboards for decades, and the instrument company’s latest Casiotone won’t disappoint. New pianists will love its portable design, and its full-sized 61-key design is also touch-responsive, offering a more realistic feel when learning new scales or arranging your own original riff.
We’ve long been fans of playing Casio pianos for their realistic sound quality, and this model offers a suite of up to 60 tones, including stereo grand piano. In other words, it’ll sound just as close to playing a piano, but it’s a lot easier to take with you on the go, whether you’re going to the practice room or to the stage. The bottom line: Musicians can’t go wrong with Casio — and this portable, budget-friendly pick proves it.
Casio Keyboard at
Alesis Recital Piano Keyboard Bundle With Sustain Pedal
It’s no surprise this keyboard is a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon. The Alesis electric keyboard features 88 semi-weighted keys, making it an ideal fit for performances and, like its name says, showing off your hard work at a recital. Better yet, you can get the keyboard as a bundle along with a sustain pedal to take your practice sessions to the next level. Plus, it’ll sound even closer to playing an acoustic piano than keyboards without one. It also comes with 20-watt speakers, along with a headphone jack so you can practice around roommates. Bonus: It’s currently on sale, bringing the price down to below $249.
Alesis Keyboard at
Kmise Digital Piano
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this electric keyboard has all your piano-playing needs covered. It comes with a full set of 88 semi-weighted keys, meaning you won’t have to upgrade to a larger-sized model just to play the lower or higher octaves in your favorite sheet music down the road. It’s also ideal for students and teachers alike thanks to its included accessories, like a convenient music stand for tablets, lesson books, or your phone, plus a travel-friendly sustain pedal. You can even connect headphones to the aux input, or pair your phone over Bluetooth.
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