The average cost to move a piano is $400 but ranges between $260 and $580, depending on the style of the piano and the move distance
Piano owners often choose professional moving companies for all grand piano sizes, including baby grands, because they require dismantling expertise. Moving a piano is a labor of love not only for the owner but for professional moving companies. Everyone is completely invested in the safe transfer and delivery of the instrument regardless if the piano is a family heirloom or vital to your career as a musician.
Piano Moving Cost Breakdown
Protecting your piano during a move is a top priority because it has sentiment or income tied to its safe arrival. It's crucial to communicate the piano’s details (size, weight, make, model) clearly with a moving company near you so you can get the most accurate pricing. Your schedule and an accurate description of the challenges the movers will face while moving the piano are also essential details regardless of whether the move is down the street or across the country.
Size and Weight
Removal and delivery costs are $8 to $15 per hour per person or a flat rate between $100 to $2,000 based on the size and weight of your piano. You might think this is a wide range, but many factors can affect how much hiring movers will cost, including the style of the piano (vertical or grand) and how many crew members the transfer requires. As you can probably guess, as the weight and dimensions increase, so does the delivery price.
Distance of the Move
Moving companies will often quote you an hourly rate, usually with a three-hour minimum; the average time it takes to prepare the piano for the move. Keep in mind that not all piano moves are equal. A baby grand needs much more finesse than an upright that rolls easily out of the front door.
Hiring a local moving company is less expensive. The cost to move a piano locally is $1.50 to $2.50 per mile and $2.50 to $10 per mile for a long-distance move. Current gas prices will affect these rates.
Cost to Move a Piano Yourself
Push friendship to the max and ask your most loyal friends to help move your piano. But, make sure the entire group is physically prepared and has the right tools needed to get the job done. Your toolkit should begin with the two most important pieces of equipment: a dolly and hump strap. Also, start thinking of a very generous thank you gift for your fellow piano movers.
Depending on if you have a vertical or grand piano, you’ll need other specific tools to move the piano and avoid damage, not to mention back injuries.
Vertical Piano Moving Tools
| Tool | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dolly | $125 – $200 |
| Hump Strap | $25 |
| Locking Belt | $25 |
Grand Piano Moving Tools
| Tool | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dolly | $125 – $200 |
| Hump Strap | $25 |
| Locking Belt | $25 |
| Skid Board | $125 |
| Hoist and Crane | $750 – $2,000 |
Packing Supplies
| Tool | Cost |
|---|---|
| Protective Pads and Blankets | $30 – $35 |
| Packing Tape | $3 per roll |
After all of the strenuous lifting and carrying, you’ll still need transportation. If you don’t own or can’t borrow a large enough vehicle, you’ll have to rent a truck or van. A rental truck for a local move starts at $20.00 per day plus an additional $1.10 per mile driven.
How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano by Style?
Pianos come in different sizes based on their style, and these dimensions help to calculate costs when hiring professional movers. Grands are longer and likely have to be partially disassembled, while verticals are top-heavy, which can lead to damaged feet (piano feet, that is!) during the move if you’re not careful.
Vertical Pianos
The cost to move a vertical piano is $150 to $300 for a local move and $500 to $800 for long distance. Dismantling is not usually needed, which helps to keep costs lower.
Spinet: less than 40 inches
Console: 40–44 inches
Studio: 44–47 inches tall
Upright: more than 47 inches tall
Grand Pianos
The cost to move a grand piano is between $250 to $650 locally and $1,000 to $2,000 for a long-distance move. For the safest and most secure results, dismantling is necessary.
Petite: 4'5" to 4'10"
Baby: 4'11" to 5'6"
Medium: 5'7"
Parlor: 5'9" to 6'1"
Semi-Concert/Ballroom: 6'2" to 7”
Concert: Over 7” long, averaging 9”
What Factors Influence the Cost to Move a Piano?
The distance of your move and your piano’s style are only two of the many factors that calculate the cost to move your piano. Pricing is subjective to your needs and physical location.
Obstacles: Stairs, Steps, and Corners
Moving a piano requires a great deal of effort and skill to avoid damage. Adding obstacles like stairs increases moving fees. The cost of going up steps is $5 to $10 per step or $40 to $100 per staircase. Some moving companies will also charge additional costs for other hindrances like tight corners, narrow doorways, and awkward pathways into your home.
Dismantling and Crating Services
Grand pianos need some dismantling before crating and shipping. The dismantling price is $100, and crating adds about $800 more but increases to $1,200 if you prefer heated crating. Usually, movers wrap verticals in moving blankets to ship.
Insurance
Insurance is typically free for a piano valued at $5,000 or less. But if your piano is worth more than $5,000, the movers will charge $10 to $15 for every additional $1,000 value.
Miscellaneous Costs
Depending on your circumstances, you might end up paying additional costs for miscellaneous items. For instance, if you need climate-controlled storage for your piano, you can expect to pay $50 to $75 per month. Other miscellaneous costs might include rush and rescheduling fees, piano tuning, and the cost to move related items, like a piano bench.
| Miscellaneous Tasks | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Rush and Rescheduling Fees | $300 for a local move and $400 – $700 for long-distance |
| Piano Tuning | (likely necessary after jostling) $100 – $150 |
| Related Items Like a Seating Bench | $20 per item or $1 per pound |
| Climate-Controlled Storage | $50 – $75 per month |
How Is Piano Shipping Cost Calculated?
The piano's size, type, and weight affect shipping costs, as does the distance the instrument must travel. For example, lightweight upright pianos that you can easily roll out the door usually cost less to move and ship than heavy grand pianos that require multiple professionals and specialized equipment to move.
Additionally, if you're moving a piano across the country, you can expect to pay more than if you're moving it down the block. It typically costs $1.50 to $2.50 per mile to move a piano locally, and $2.50 to $10 per mile for a long-distance move. That said, some companies offer flat-rate shipping for long-distance moves, which might be more cost effective depending on how far you are from your final destination.
FAQs
Why should I pick a professional moving company to move my piano?
Simply put, you should choose professional piano movers because they have more experience. They also have the proper tools and a trained crew to avoid damage. Remember, pianos weigh from 900 to 1,300 pounds, an awkward, tough haul for anyone, especially for an inexperienced group of friends you’ve plied with pizza and beer to help.
What should I consider when choosing a company to move my piano?
When choosing a piano moving company near you, always research whether the company has appropriate insurance to handle any type of accident, from injuries to scratches in the piano’s finish.
The moving company should have three types of insurance: worker’s, property, and piano. Inspect your contract or bill of lading to understand who will handle the piano (and their training) and the repair and reimbursement policies.
Does moving a piano get it out of tune?
Yes, moving a piano often causes it to become out of tune, even if you're not moving the piano very far. One reason is that any temperature and humidity changes can affect a piano's tuning. Additionally, the bumps and jolts from a moving truck usually push a piano out of tune.
However, don't jump right to tuning it once the piano gets to your new home. Instead, it's best to wait at least two weeks for the instrument to acclimate to its new environment. After a couple weeks, you'll get an idea of what the piano will really sound like in its new home, at which point you can call a piano technician to get it properly tuned.
Can regular movers move a piano?
It's typically best to hire movers who specialize in moving pianos because moving them often requires specific equipment and finesse, especially when it comes to grand pianos. However, some standard moving companies have experienced piano movers on their team, so it never hurts to call a company and ask about their piano moving expertise.
How do movers protect pianos from damage?
Qualified piano movers will take several steps to protect your piano from damage during the move. First, they'll wrap the piano to protect its finish. Ideally, they'll wrap the piano in a specialized blanket that features a soft, padded interior and a tougher exterior.
After wrapping your piano, the movers will securely strap it to a dolly for safe transport to and from the moving truck. Once the piano is in the truck, movers might put the piano on a piece of plywood to help level it during the move, depending on the truck bed. They will then strap it in place so it doesn't shift around during the drive to your final destination.
