How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano?

The sound of piano music is one of the loveliest and most magical sounds in the world. It’s gentle and overpowering, cheerful and solemn, soothing and moving all at once.

It is only natural then that the instrument that produces such delightful, exquisite, and powerful music would be just as beautiful, delicate, and awe-inspiring as well.

A piano is a thing of beauty and grandeur. It’s a graceful and elegant item.

However, a piano is also a monstrously big musical instrument. Moving it from one place to another requires a great deal of effort and care. Not only are pianos extremely large and heavy, but they’re also very delicate and sensitive and, thus, quite vulnerable to damage.

On top of it, they’re very expensive and highly valuable as well – more often than not, pianos are treasured family heirlooms passed down from one generation to the next.

Moving a piano by yourself is, therefore, not a good idea. The job is better left to the professionals – experienced piano movers who have the specialized equipment and expert skills to relocate your magnificent instrument safely and efficiently.

But how much do piano movers cost?

Will you be able to afford the piano moving price?

Read on to find out the average cost to move a piano, including the factors that determine the actual price in every particular relocation case.

How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano?

What’s the average cost of moving a piano?

The average piano moving cost is about $200 – $400 for local moves and $1,000 – $2,000 for long-distance moves.

Type of Move	Average Piano Moving Cost
Local move	$200 – $400
Long-distance move	$1,000 – $2,000

What’s the average piano moving cost by type?

Moving an upright piano can cost as little as $150 – $500, while the cost to move a baby grand piano goes up to $250 – $2,000.

Type of Piano	Average Piano Moving Cost
Upright piano	$150 – $500
Baby grand piano	$250 – $2,000

You can move a standard upright piano within the city for a little more than a hundred dollars, but moving a grand piano long distance will cost you just a tad less than two thousand dollars.

What Is the Average Moving Cost?

How Is the Piano Moving Cost Calculated?

There are two basic ways to calculate piano moving costs:

• An hourly rate – Most local movers charge an hourly rate with a minimum of 3 hours (the amount of time it usually takes to safely carry a piano from its location inside a home into a moving truck, drive to the required destination within the same city, unload the instrument, and take it inside its new home);
• A flat rate – Cross-country piano movers usually quote a flat rate based on the type of piano being relocated, the distance of the move, and the difficulty of the job.

Professional piano movers typically have a base rate of $50.

When estimating moving costs, they add mileage at an average rate of about $1.50 per mile for local moves and $3 per mile for long-distance moves, and extra charges for steps, stairs, and other obstacles to that basic price.

Then, they consider how many workers and what kind of equipment will be required for safely packing, lifting, carrying, and transporting the piano (depending on the weight of the musical instrument, its size, and shape, its location within the home, any special packing or handling requirements, etc.).

Good to know:

1) In addition to specially-equipped moving trucks with ramps, piano moving requires a lot of specialty equipment to ensure the safety of the delicate musical instrument:

• a piano moving dolly – $200
• a hump strap – $25
• a piano skid board – $125
• a locking piano belt – $25

2) Depending on the instrument’s weight and size, 3 to 5 movers may be needed to perform the job in a safe and efficient manner.

The cost of labor and equipment is included in the movers’ quote.

When you do the math, the cost to move an upright piano locally comes to about $150 and the cost to move a grand piano across the country – to about $1,050.

These prices, however, increase by $40-$100 per flight of stairs and further $40–$240 per every other obstacle, resulting in the average piano moving costs of

• $200 for local moves (for small pianos), and
• $2,000 for long-distance relocations (for grand pianos).

Additional Costs of Moving a Piano

Now you have a good idea of how piano shipping costs are calculated, but as is usually the case, the cost equation isn’t that simple – a variety of other factors come into play and affect the final price as well:

1. Special packing requirements

If you have a very large, very sensitive, or very valuable piano that needs crating or taking apart for shipping, this will add to the moving cost:

• Partial disassembly: $100. Grand pianos often need to be partially dismantled to be taken safely out of the house – the movers will usually remove the legs, pedal box, and music rack of the instrument and charge you about $100 for the service;
• Crating: $800-$1,200. A grand piano crating fee starts at $800 and goes up to $1,200 for heat-treated crating;

2. Hoisting services

If your piano doesn’t fit through the doors or down the stairs, it will have to be moved in or out of the property through a window using a special crane.

This specialized service can cost you about $750 – $1,000.

3. Additional items

Any additional items you want to be moved with your piano (such as a piano bench for example) will cost about $1 per pound (a minimum of $20 for each item).

4. Rush jobs

A last-minute relocation may cost double the regular price of piano moving services.

You may be charged a rush fee of up to $300 for a local move and $400 – $700 for a long-distance move.

5. Piano moving insurance

Professional piano movers offer free insurance up to $5,000.

If you want to ensure your peace of mind and purchase additional insurance, it will cost you $10-$15 per $1,000 of value.

6. Rescheduling

If you are not ready at the scheduled moving time or if no one is available at the pickup or delivery locations when the piano movers arrive, you’ll be charged a rescheduling (or cancellation) fee of up to $400.

7. Storage

If you need to put your piano in storage for a while during your move (in case your new home isn’t ready to move in yet, for example), you’ll have to pay $50–$75 a month to have the instrument stored in a climate-controlled unit.

Storage Options for Moving: Temporary Storage Solutions

8. Re-tuning

It is highly recommended to have your piano tuned after it has been moved – despite your chosen piano movers’ best efforts, the delicate internal parts of the instrument may get a little shaken or loose during transportation.

Besides, it may be necessary to retune the piano to account for climate and humidity. Wait for a couple of weeks after the move so the piano has enough time to adjust to the humidity in the new place and then have the instrument professionally tuned.

This piano tuning service will cost you about $100 – $150.

Extra Charges and Fees When Hiring Movers

The final piano moving cost equation looks as follows:

Base rate ($50) + Cost per mile ($1.5/$3.00) + Cost per stair ($5.00) + Cost per hardship ($40-$240) + Extra charges (special services, insurance, storage, etc.)

To sum it up:

Type of Move	Upright piano	Grand piano
Local move	$150-$300 (average cost of $200)	$250-$650 (average cost of $400)
Long distance move	$500-$800 (average cost of $600)	$1,000-$2,000 (average cost of $2,000)

Piano Moving Cost Factors

The cost to move a piano depends on the type of musical instrument, the type of the move, and the specific circumstances in each relocation scenario:

1. Type and Size of the Piano

Different pianos have different shapes, sizes, and weights and require different handling techniques and equipment.

Therefore, the type of your musical instrument will have a major impact on its moving cost:

• Heavier pianos require more workers and more specialized equipment, so they cost more to move;
• Larger pianos may require partial disassembly and/or crating (as well as greater amounts of cushioning and wrapping materials, of course), which adds to the moving cost;
• Grand pianos have a unique shape that makes them very difficult to maneuver and carry around, so they’re more expensive to move than upright pianos; etc.

In order to accurately calculate the moving cost and determine what kind of equipment, how many people, and how much time will be required for the job, piano movers need to know the type, size, make, and model of the musical instrument.

So, when looking for piano movers and asking for cost estimates, make sure you:

1) Specify the type of your piano correctly:

• Spinet pianos are less than 40 inches tall and weigh about 300-400 lbs.;
• Upright pianos are compact instruments that weigh between 500 and 800 lbs.;
• Grand pianos have a distinctive shape with beautiful curves. They are longer than they are tall and can weigh anywhere from 600 to 1200 lbs.

2) Measure the size of the piano precisely:

• If you have an upright piano, measure the height from the floor to the lid;
• If you have a grand piano, measure the length from one end of the keyboard to its bow – baby grand pianos are usually less than six feet long, while concert versions can be up to seven feet long.

3) Find out the make and model of the piano, so the movers get an accurate idea of the specific shape and weight of your musical instrument.

2. Move Distance

The distance the instrument must travel to its new home is the second most important factor that determines the cost of moving a piano. As a rule of thumb, the longer the distance, the higher the moving cost.

Moving a piano across the country costs more than moving a piano across town, as the moving company needs to account for the extra time and fuel required for a long-distance relocation.

When calculating the moving cost, professional piano movers consider the distance to be covered and compute the mileage – they usually charge about $1.50-$2.50 per mile for a local move and $2.50-$10 per mile for a long-distance move.

3. Peculiarities of the Pickup and Delivery Locations

Any obstacles that increase the difficulty of taking a piano in or out of a home greatly affect the final moving cost as well.

Stairs pose the biggest challenge when moving a piano – taking the huge, heavy instrument up or down stairs is very difficult and risky and requires 2-3 strong people and specialized equipment.

Therefore, moving companies charge an extra fee for moving a piano along a staircase – $5–$10 per step or $40-$100 per staircase.

So, when discussing costs and conditions with your piano moving company, make sure you tell them about any stairs at the pick-up or drop-off location ahead of time (not only inside either building but outside stairs leading up to the entrances as well). 

This way, the movers will be able to provide you with a more accurate cost estimate and will know what equipment to bring in order to take your piano up and down the steps safely.

If there is an elevator at either location that the piano can fit into, that will bring down the moving cost considerably (especially if you’re moving into or out of an upper-floor apartment).

Other obstacles that may result in higher piano moving cost include:

• Spiral staircases;
• Tight spaces and sharp turns;
• Narrow doorways;
• A gravel, brick, or grass walkway between the entrance to your home and the moving truck;
• A hilly terrain.

All these factors represent additional challenges to safely moving a piano and result in higher moving costs.

Good to remember: Be sure to inform your piano movers of any possible obstacles and difficulties both at your old home and your new one, so that the pros can correctly assess the potential risks, bring the necessary equipment, send properly qualified and experienced workers, and ensure a safe and smooth relocation.

How to Find the Best Piano Movers

As you can see, moving a piano is neither easy nor cheap – to ensure the safety of your musical instrument and avoid breaking the bank during your relocation endeavor, you need to get the best piano moving services at the best possible price.

It is, in fact, feasible to find cheap piano movers who are also highly competent and completely reliable specialists – you just need to know how to search properly:

• Step 1. Fill out a moving quote to get in contact with several reputable piano movers in your area;
• Step 2. Visit the companies’ websites to find additional useful information – see what services the movers offer, check their tariffs, find out how long they’ve been in business, look for credentials and evidence of professional qualification, verify their USDOT numbers, etc.;
• Step 3. Read moving reviews left by people who have recently worked with the piano movers you’re interested in to see if they were happy with the moving services they received;
• Step 4. Request on-site estimates from the piano moving companies that seem to best suit your needs, requirements, and available budget;
• Step 5. Show the movers your piano and inform them about any possible difficulties in both your old home and your new one (stairs, tight spaces, gravel walkways, limited access, etc.).
• Step 6. Discuss any special handling requirements you may have, any necessary (or desirable) extra services, preferred pickup and delivery dates, and any other relevant details. Ask about your insurance options as well;
• Step 7. Compare the offers and choose the best piano movers for you. Make a final check of your chosen piano moving company to be sure you’re dealing with licensed, experienced, and trustworthy professionals;
• Step 8. Book the services of your chosen company as soon as you’ve made your final decision.

The experts will complete the job in a safe and hassle-free manner and your prized piano will be in your new home before you know it.

You’ll be able to enjoy the lovely sound of piano music in your new surroundings without having drained your wallet during the relocation process.

And that should feel pretty good!

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers?