Definition of Grand Pianos.
These are defined as having the strings horizontal with the action mechanism lifting the hammer up to the string. This is a better system than the upright one (see our Used Grands page for reasons why). 

Length - shortest and longest.
The length of grand pianos goes from about 4ft to 10ft, with the most common domestic pianos being between 4ft 11in (150cm) and 7ft 6in (228cm). The longer the piano, the better it tends to sound as the strings are longer and deeper in tone, the action is larger and therefore has more control, and the soundboard is also larger allowing for more resonance.

Baby Grand Pianos
This term "Baby Grand" if thought to be first coined by Challen in about 1920 to describe a piano from 4ft 6in to 5ft long (152cm). Today it is often used to describe any piano up to 6ft, though the trade generally sticks to about 5ft 7in being the maximum length for a baby grand. We don't recommend pianos shorter that 4ft 6in as apart from having a weak bass tone, they also have a cramped action which doesn't allow for much variation in tone. The repetition lever is also missing in many very short pianos, meaning that they are not so sensitive.

Boudior Grand Pianos
A term to describe pianos from about 5ft 8in to 6ft 11in long (approx 180 - 210cm).

Drawing Room Grand Pianos
Not used so much today, this term described pianos from about 6ft 6in to 7ft 6in (approx 200 - 230cm)

Concert Grand Pianos
Usually any piano 7ft and above and with a strong tone. 7 - 7ft 6cm are often called small concert grands, Steinway model B or Yamaha C7 are commonly used pianos in this category. Full concert grand pianos are usually 8ft 6in and above, common ones being the Steinway model D and Yamaha CF111, though many other firms make excellent concert grands, such as Bosendorfer, Grotrian, Steingraeber, Seiler, etc.

Best Makes available in the UK.
The most common top used makes in the UK are Bechstein, Bluthner, Steinway, Kawai and Yamaha. Some other top makes that are available but less common in the UK are Bosendorfer, Steingraeber, Fazioli, Seiler and Richard Lipp.