Piano bench height and footstools for kids: how to sit at the piano

Updated 2026-11-14

A piano is built for an adult body. A child who sits at one needs two fixes: a higher seat, so the arms reach the keys, and something under the feet, so the legs do not dangle. This page shows how to set both.

What good posture looks like

Piano teachers describe the same picture.

Shoulders loose. The upper arms hang down from the shoulders.
Forearms level. With the hands on the keys, the forearms are about level with the floor. The elbows are about as high as the keys.
Front half of the bench. The child sits toward the front edge. The body is free to lean left and right.
Feet flat. Both feet rest on the floor or on a firm support.
Knees a little lower than the hips.

Step 1: set the height of the seat

Sit your child at the piano with the hands on the white keys. Stand to the side and look at the forearm.

What you see	What to do
The elbow is below the keys and the wrist bends up	Raise the seat
The forearm is level from elbow to knuckles	Leave it
The elbow is well above the keys and the wrist bends down	Lower the seat

Ways to raise the seat:

An adjustable piano bench. This is the best choice, since it changes as your child grows.
A firm cushion or a folded blanket on a standard bench.
Large, flat books on a standard bench.

Soft pillows squash and tip. Use something firm and flat.

Step 2: set the distance

Slide the bench back until the elbows sit a little in front of the body. A child who sits too close has cramped arms. A child who sits too far reaches and leans.

Step 3: support the feet

Once the seat is high enough for the arms, a small child’s feet will hang in the air. Dangling feet give the body no base. One teacher describes children curling their legs around the stool when the feet have no support.

Put something under the feet.

A footstool made for piano students. Many can be set to more than one height.
A sturdy box or a low step stool.
A stack of big books. One teaching studio calls this the next-best choice when there is no pedal extender.

The top of the support is at the right height when the feet rest flat and the knees are a little lower than the hips.

Footstool or pedal extender?

A footstool holds the feet. It does not work the pedals.

A pedal extender is a platform with its own pedals. Rods link them to the piano’s pedals. The child presses the small pedal, and the piano’s pedal goes down. Many models also serve as a footrest, and some adjust in height.

	Footstool	Pedal extender
Holds the feet	Yes	Yes
Works the piano’s pedals	No	Yes
When a child needs it	From the first lesson	When the teacher starts pedal work and the feet cannot reach

There is no set age for starting the pedal. The teacher decides, based on the music and on the child’s reach. Ask before you buy an extender.

Check the setup as your child grows

Children grow. Check the forearm and the feet at the start of each school term. Lower the seat or the footstool a notch when the picture changes.

Mark the right settings. Put a strip of tape on the bench at the right height and write your child’s name on it. This helps when two children of different sizes share the piano.

At a digital piano or keyboard

The same rules apply. A keyboard on a folding stand can be too high or too low. Set the stand so the keys are about as high as the keys of a piano, and then set the seat. A wobbly stand needs fixing first. Read piano or keyboard for a beginner: what to buy.