Best Keyboard Stands – All Styles Reviewed In 2022
- marshallsoundz
- Nov 6, 2018
- 13 min read
Keyboard stands are often not thought about as much as they should be. The main purpose of a keyboard stand is so that it can hold your gear/keyboards without fear of your investment falling down.
Today, we will be taking a deep look at the best keyboard stands for all types of keyboardists.
I will be talking about these reviews from my personal experience with them. I have been touring for the last 5 years and I have had the pleasure of using pretty much all of the major keyboard stands.
Having the right keyboard stand is important because the last thing that you want to worry about when playing a show or setting your studio up is your stand breaking. This sounds farfetched, but trust me it’s not. I’ve used many stands in my day and I’ve had my fair share of horrible stands that just didn’t get the job done.
Table of Contents
Best Keyboard Stands – A Quick Glance
IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS Editor’s Pick
Best For 76 Keys & Under
Most Durable Keyboard Stand
Easy To Adjust
Check Latest Price Heavy Duty
Can Hold Heaviest 88 Key Keyboards
Easily Adjustable
Quick Set-Up
Check Latest Price Best For Gigs
Can Hold 2 Heavy Keyboards
Quick Set-Up
Good For Gigs
Check Latest Price Budget Pick
Can Hold Most Heavy Keyboards
Lightweight
Inexpensive
Single Tier Keyboard Stands
These stands are only going to hold one keyboard. These stands range from cheap to moderate for the price. You typically see pianists standing when using these stands. You can sit and use these stands, but if you’re taller, you run the risk of potentially running your knees into the stand because of the design.
There are a couple of different options with single-tier keyboard stands. Let’s take a look below.
Single Tier X Stands
These are keyboard stands that form an X. The stands are cheap and I wouldn’t recommend them for gigging really. These are more so meant for a bedroom or studio stand.
On-Stage Single KS7190
The On-Stage single X stand is your classic budget keyboard stand. I believe all X-stands are budget and that’s okay. If you are a beginner or just need something cheap to hold a lighter keyboard, this will typically get the job done.
You can adjust the stand, but over time it will wear out on you.
Specs:
Can hold 90 pounds, however, be careful as you get close to the 90-pound mark
Height: Adjustable from 27 inches to 38 inches
Weight: 5.6 pounds
Build: 1-inch square tubing
Width: 11 inches to 31 inches
Single Tier Double-X Stands
These are keyboard stands that have two bars that form an X. They have more support and can hold more weight. These are much more suitable for gigging and holding heavier keyboards.
I personally am not a huge fan of these as far as touring because they break so easily. Be careful that your stand isn’t poorly made. You can check this by how easily you’re able to adjust the height. If it looks like the bolt is going to wear out, be careful.
ChromaCast CC-KSTAND
I like this stand more than On-Stage stands. It fits all sizes of keyboards, but the straps may not fit the bigger keyboards. Since it’s a double X stand it can hold a little more weight and it does provide additional support for your keyboards.
Like most X stands it comes with rubber stops for its feet so it won’t slide around.
Table Top Stands
These are stands that are flat across and look like a table. These stands are more for keyboardists who play sitting down, but you can also raise it and stand while playing on it.
I recommend these stands for digital pianos. If you are looking for a new digital piano, check out my favorites here.
K&M Omega 18810 Table Keyboard Stand
I am a huge fan of this stand when it comes to durability. This stand works perfectly for pianists who want to sit down and you can also adjust the height if you prefer to stand with it. It works with keyboards from 25 keys all the way to 88 keys.
I recommend this keyboard stand for musicians who want a professional stand and don’t want to worry about cheap products.
A big plus with this stand is you can also buy an attachment for it and make it a double tier stand. The Omega has 4 velcro strips to secure your keyboards. This stand is far more stable than the x style stands, but you will definitely pay more. You can also find this stand available in the color red.
Specs:
Weight Capacity: Up to 176 pounds
Height: 23.6 inches to 40.1 inches
Width: 7 inches to 31.1 inches
Depth: 13.6 inches
Build: Steel
Weight: 20.9 pounds
Z-Style Stands
They are stands that are typically a little bit more stable than x style stands. I like these stands more than X as I haven’t had nearly as many problems with them.
Stellar Labs 555-13830
The Stellar Labs Z style stand is highly regarded due to its cheap price and great stability. When I first tried this stand I immediately knew I didn’t want to go back to using X stands. You don’t have near as many problems with this stand when playing live either because it’s so much more stable.
It is meant for keyboards from 49-88 keys and it can’t fit a 25 key keyboard because it doesn’t adjust to that small. You can’t adjust the depth on this stand and to some players that might be an issue. Something to note is that you can’t add on any tiers so if you’re wanting more than one keyboard, you will have to get another separate stand.
Stability is the big thing with this stand and the negative is that it doesn’t break down a ton. If you’re wanting to travel with it, it still remains a little bit bulky.
If you’re in the market for a sustain pedal, I recently wrote about the best sustain pedals available.
Overall, I would recommend this as a sturdy stand that you will get a lot of use out of.
Specs:
Weight Capacity: Up to 100 pounds
Height: 23.5 inches to 35.5 inches
Width: 23 to 40 inches
Depth: 20 inches
Build: Metal tubing
Weight: 18.9 pounds
On-Stage KS7350 Folding Z
I have knocked On-Stage stands before in the past, but this is the one stand that I won’t. The weight capacity on this is something to be talked about as it can hold up to 395 pounds. This will hold the heaviest keyboards on the market and you won’t have any worries about its stability while doing so.
It says it doesn’t fit 49 key keyboards, but you can fit some of them. Check its dimensions before and match them with whatever keyboard you’re trying to fit on it.
I recommend this for touring musicians who just use one keyboard and maybe have a laptop as an attachment. There is an adjustable middle section where you can put your accessories.
Overall this is a great keyboard stand for touring musicians and it can work for studios as well. It is a little more expensive, but you won’t have near as many problems as opposed to a budget stand.
Specs:
Weight: 395 pounds
Height: 24 to 38 inches
Width: 21 to 36 inches
Depth: 16.75 inches
Build: ¾”, 1″, 2″ welded tubing
Weight: 17.35 pounds
Double Tier Keyboard Stands
Double tier keyboard stands hold up to two keyboards. They are practical for bands who use a lot of different keyboards and they come in different styles as seen below.
Gibraltar Key-Tree – Best Stand For 76 Keys And Under
I did a product review on this keyboard stand and I was blown away by it. My main concern was that it would take too long to assemble every time I wanted to use it, but I was wrong. This is easy to use and it is high-quality. You know what you’re getting when you buy Gibraltar gear.
The hardware for this stand is very similar to drum hardware as Gibraltar manufactures drum hardware. They are known for having the highest quality hardware. This stand is hands down the best keyboard stand you can for a keyboard that is 76 keys and under.
You can find my full review on the Gibraltar Key-Tree here.
2 Tier X-Style Stands
These stands are your classic X-style stand, but they can hold up to two keyboards. I have used these for years before I upgraded and they do work, you just have to be careful. Don’t put a ridiculous amount of weight on them if you’re going to use them.
Quik-Lok QL-742 Double Tier Stand
For a double tier X-style stand, I like this stand a lot actually. I’m very vocal about typically having problems with double tier stands X-stands, but this one worked really well for me. I still get nervous when gigging with this because X-style stands can be a little less stable on stages that are messed up.
This stand fits keyboards from 49 keys to 88 keys and I have used both on them. The top tier’s depth is locked in and can’t be changed, but it does go somewhat deep.
Specs:
Top Tier Weight Capacity: 75 pounds
Bottom Tier Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
Height: You can adjust to three different heights which are 26.4″, 30.3″, 34.3″
Top tier Angles: 90°, 77°, 64°, 51°
Bottom Tier Depth: 17.2 inches
Top Tier Depth: 16.5 inches
Leg Depth: 24”
Weight: 20.7 pounds
2 Tier Column Style
I prefer these for the use of two keyboards over X-style stands. They are more durable and can hold more weight. The downside is that they are a little more expensive.
Ultimate Support AX48 Keyboard Stand
This is the OG or “original” of column-style keyboard stands. I owned this stand for about 3 years and I got some really good use out of it. What makes this such a nice stand is the fact that it breaks down so easily. It literally looks like some sort of alien stand and the arms and legs fold into the stand for ease of traveling.
Be careful with the legs when you fold them in as you can break them if you’re not careful with them. There is a built-in handle to the stand that makes it easy to carry the stand.
A big plus about this stand is that it looks so much different than other ones. I like that it doesn’t look like every other keyboard players stand. You can tear this stand down and pack up in seconds and that is also another reason why I like it.
Specs:
Tier Height: 46 inches
Weight Capacity: 125 pounds per tier
Portable: Yes
Weight: 19 pounds
Colors: Silver and black
K&M 18860 Spider Pro Column Stand
This stand is similar to the Ultimate Support Apex 48. I don’t think it is as good personally, as it is much heavier and a kind of a pain to transport. Column stands are meant to be able to be transported easily and this isn’t the case.
K&M makes quality style stands and this is another example of that. The durability on this stand is pretty incredible as you could probably throw this down on the ground and it would be fine.
I do think that this is a pretty good stand, I just don’t like it as much as the Ultimate support stands.
Specs:
Weight Capacity: 231 pounds
Weight Capacity Per Tier: 77 pounds
Height: 51.5 inches
Width: Adjustable from 26.4″ to 37″
Depth: 11.8 inches to 18.5 inches
Build: Anodized aluminum
Weight: 22 pounds
2 Tier Z-Style Stands
These are somewhat heavy-duty as they can hold more weight than X-style stands. You can put a laptop or other accessories on top of these.
On-Stage KS7365EJ
I like the On-Stage KS7365EJ because it simply holds two keyboards well. I found that transporting this stand is a little bit tricky as it is a bit bulky though. It can fit keyboards from 55 to 88 keys. You can actually put a plank of wood across the bottom of this stand for it to be able to hold your laptop or other accessories.
There are a lot of musicians who are very fond of this stand as it can hold keyboards and stay stable. If you are a taller musician you may run into problems because of the height of the stand.
Some people have complained that they wanted to be able to adjust more settings, but it worked fine for what I was doing.
Weight Capacity: 400 lbs total
Weight Capacity Of Top Tier: 60 pounds
Height: Tiers are adjustable from 24″ to 38″
Top Tier Height: Adjustable from 5 to 12 inches
Width: Adjustable from 21″ to 37”
Weight: 29 pounds
Build: Welded steel tubing
My overall opinion on 3 tier keyboard stands is that there aren’t a ton of great options if you’re looking to do a lot of gigging or touring. They are typically a little bit bulkier so while they take up less space on stage, they can take up more space in your van or trailer. My main problem with most, but not all is that they’re simply not designed well enough for stability and portability.
3 Tier Keyboard Stands
Quik Lok QL-623
I really like the Quik Lok QL-623. This is an X-style keyboard stand that has 3 different tiers. Overall the tiers are pretty sturdy and the stand feels likes it’s quality. I wish the bottom level had a little bit more space, but it still gets the job done for me.
X-style stands, in general, are hard to tour with if you’re not careful. I say this because the tiers can break and get bent pretty easily when in a trailer or case with other equipment.
If you want a stand for your studio or for home use, this will get the job done. It’s all about preference and which style of stands you like. The top tier on the Quik Lok is more sturdy than I had thought it would be.
Overall, this is one of the better stands available and I would recommend it due to its stability. It’s a little more portable than the A-style frame stands as well, however you want to be careful with it and make sure it doesn’t get banged up.
On-Stage KS7903 3-Tier Keyboard Stand A-Frame
On Stage makes some products that I am not very fond of in the keyboard stand world. However, I like this stand and think it’s one of the best options for 3 tier stands. There aren’t a ton of solid options as these stands just aren’t extremely popular yet. Check out the link above to my favorite all-around stands! I think you will really enjoy the read.
Overall, stability isn’t an issue with this stand and that’s the main reason I like it.
Reasons To Use A 3 Tier Keyboard Stand
Less Stage Space: You will take up less space on the stage if you’re using one. Also, it cuts down on time to set up if you only need one stand rather than 3. You will have 3 keyboards right in front of you instead of spreading them out on the stage on different stands.
Look: I’ve always thought that they look cooler than normal X-stands.
Studio Use: I personally think these stands are more suitable for studios. You can use them live, but I like having them in a studio where your keyboards are all right in front of you for ease of use.
Things To Know About Keyboard Stands
Style: There are many different styles of stands. We have broken down all of the current styles of keyboard stands available. Be sure to figure out what style makes the most sense for your keyboard or keyboards. The styles are single x, double x, column, table style, Z-style,
Size And Weight: If you are touring or gigging frequently, you will want a stand that’s lighter and smaller. The lighter your keyboard stand, the more portable it will be. This is important when you’re setting up every night.
How Many Keyboards Do You Have? Some stands can house one keyboard whereas others can house up to three keyboards on one stand. Decide how many keyboards you want to put on one stand before getting your stand.
Strength: The strength is important and this will depend on how much weight you’re trying to hold on your stand. Make sure you look to see how much weight your stand can hold before placing your keyboards on it.
Keyboard Stands To Stay Away From
When I say to “stay away from” I am coming at this from a professional level. If you are a musician who just needs something cheap and you’re not doing heavy touring, then these brands are fine. I don’t recommend the single-X style keyboard stands because they’re only meant for super light keyboards.
On Stage Keyboard Stands
We’ve all seen the cheap-looking on-stage keyboard stands. On-Stage makes budget quality gear in their low price options. This isn’t to say no one can ever use it, it just isn’t good quality. My big problem with their stands is that you can’t properly change stand height. When you change the height, the bolt that you adjust will wear and tear super fast.
I think their table-top designed stands are much better than their x style stands. They are more expensive but far more durable and practical for a musician. If you are looking for a professional On-Stage Stand then you will want to look at their stands outside of their entry-level.
Another big problem I have is that they can’t hold a lot of weight. The legs feel flimsy and you’re constantly worried it’s going to tip. Now, if you’re a beginner and have a cheaper, lighter keyboard, their stands could work. I just wouldn’t want to put a nice keyboard on top of one of these.
ProLine
Okay, so ProLine is a company I have used for the last 3-4 years. They are actually the reason why I ended up taking a piano and converting it into a keyboard stands for my keyboards. ProLine is definitely better than On Stage, however, they still feel cheap.
I have broken 4 different stands by this company while on tour. When you put their stands together, the manual is confusing and you will find the pieces are different sizes than they should be. I have spent $60-$70 a few times on their stands and I always have a problem with them. I always think, maybe I just got a faulty product.
The rubber stoppers on the bottom of the stands are meant to stop your keyboard from sliding on the floor or the stage. My problem with these are they are often warped. This means that when you try and set your stand up it will be uneven and have a chance to tip. I actually had my $3500 Roland Fantom keyboard get tipped over from one of these stands.
If you are only using a keyboard stand for it to just sit in your room, you can get away with one of these stands, but if you’re using it frequently, I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s nothing more frustrating than setting your keyboard up and worrying that it’s going to tip over from a faulty stand.
The DIY Keyboard Stand
An additional option for your keyboards is to take an old piano and hollow it out. You can do this by taking out all of the internals and put your keyboards inside of it. This will make the piano shell hundreds of pounds lighters by doing this and you can also put power inside of it.
Conclusion
I hope that you found this write-up helpful as these are all of the best keyboard stands currently available.
Let me know if you’re using other keyboard stands not mentioned above!
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