How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano?

In this guide

Cost To Move Piano By Distance

The most common project when moving a piano is to move it from one house to a different one in the same town or to a different state or city, which has an average cost of $1,000. One of the things that most affects the cost to move a piano is the distance it needs to be moved. The equipment and transportation means that will be used will often depend on this, so moving companies ask for this information first along with information about the size and model of your instrument, as well as the timing of the moving (whether it’s urgent or not).

Piano Room to Room Moving

The simplest move is of course from one room to another, and it typically costs between $150 and $350, depending on the size and type of piano, as well as the area or rooms being dealt with. However, this doesn’t mean that it will be cheap. Pianos are still relatively large instruments and can’t simply be dismantled, which means they have to be moved as they are, in one piece.

Cost to Move a Piano Across Town

The cost to move a piano locally usually ranges between $350 and $1,000 depending on the exact distance and model you have. To move the piano across town, movers will need to secure it first. If it’s not handled properly, the inside parts can break and the surface can get damaged, so the moving company will probably come with a truck to ensure the instrument is moved properly.

Cross Country Piano Moving Cost

The price to move a piano to another state can start at $700 if you’re moving it to a neighboring state, but can go as high as $2,500 for more distant states (as long as there is no overseas travel). Regardless if your piano needs to be moved across one state or several, the moving company will have to take into consideration the added cost of gas, hiring a driver, vehicle amortization, and travel costs. In addition to this, proper care will require wrapping the instrument in protective pads to ensure no damage is done to the surface.

International Piano Shipping Cost

The price to move a piano to another country ranges between $700 and $3,500 depending on the distance of the country and the model you’re moving. Similar to cross-country piano moving, international shipping will also require the moving company to take into consideration the additional costs that come with moving an instrument to a different country. The piano will need to be specially wrapped in protective pads and placed in the transport vehicle to ensure the instrument will be moved safely.

Shipping Piano Overseas Cost

The overall cost to move a piano overseas can range from $2,000 to $5,000, or even higher if the model you have is from a luxury brand or a collectible. When you’re shipping a piano overseas, in addition to wrapping it in pads and securing it to a board, it will be bolted to a platform so it doesn't move around. Any empty space in the platform will be filled out with a stiff material that will ensure the piano will not shift during transit. Then, the crate where the instrument is packed will be closed and labeled accordingly so it can be moved safely using multiple means of transportation.

In addition to this, special documentation may be required to be able to move an instrument to a specific country. The special attention and tools required to handle the instrument are the main reasons why the price to move it to another country overseas is higher.

Average Cost to Move a Piano By Type

Typically, movers will ask you for the type of piano you want to transport. This is one of the main factors that impacts the overall cost as the weight and height vary by model, which means that the transportation approach will be different as well. The two main types are upright (vertical) and grand (horizontal) pianos, with each having several models under them. The common rates movers charge for short-distance moves are as follows:

Upright Piano Moving Cost

The overall cost to move an upright piano ranges between $150 and $350 for local moves, but can go up to $1,000 for longer distances. Upright models are also known as vertical pianos and are relatively easier to move than grand ones. Because they are cheaper and smaller than grand pianos, they are more commonly found in homes across the US. There are four basic types of upright piano models: spinet upright, console upright, studio upright, and standard upright. Each varies in size and moving cost:

Grand Piano Moving Cost

There are six grand piano models, of varying sizes, which is one of the main factors affecting the overall moving cost. You can expect to pay as low as $200 to $1,500 for local moving, but the total cost can go as high as $3,000 or more for international moving of a concert grand piano. Grand pianos are also referred to as horizontal. They are used more by professionals due to the better clarity of sound and responsive action. Because of this, it takes more than two movers to transport it safely, which is one reason why the moving costs are higher than moving an upright one.

Piano Moving Cost By Size

As the most common model found in homes across the US is an upright, the average cost of moving a 3-foot piano is between $150 and $350. Movers will usually ask for the size of your instrument to determine the tools, number of workers, and equipment needed to get the job done. Each model has a different size, ranging from 3 feet for a small upright to around 9 feet when it comes to a concert grand. Small models are easier to move as they often don’t require taking out any parts, but bigger ones sometimes have to be partially dismantled to fit through doors and stairways. Typically, the cost to move different sizes locally within your town is the following:

Professional Piano Movers Cost

For any moving project, 2-5 workers may be needed depending on the weight and size of the instrument. Movers either charge by the hour (with a three-hour minimum in most cases) or give a fixed rate. The typical hourly rate ranges between $10 and $20 per hour for each person, while fixed rates are generally between $150 and $1,000 for a short distance move, and $700 to $2,500 for long distance moves. These costs usually include both tools and labor costs. So, the average cost of $1,000 to move a grand piano in another state or city would include around $600 in labor costs and $400 additional costs for tools and materials.

When transporting a grand piano long distances, movers may need to partially take it apart and reassemble it at the new location. Dismantling the parts costs around $100, while securely crating the instrument can cost anywhere between $800 for basic crating and $1,200 for heat-treated crating that keeps the instrument in the appropriate climate during transportation.

In addition to these costs, transporting pianos long distances also requires companies to calculate time spent on the road and fuel. Typically, the piano transport cost with these additions increases for around $150 to $200 for moves that are under 1,000 miles in distance, but can go over $250 for moving distances over 1,000 miles.

While moving an instrument may seem like a simple task at first glance, it’s actually a complicated process that requires proper training and tools. This is why professional movers include the cost for using dismantling tools, specially-equipped trucks, ramps, moving dollies, skid boards, locking belts, and moving pads and blankets. Depending on the type of piano you have, movers may use additional tools and equipment. This is because small instruments are usually transported in one piece, while other, bigger models sometimes have to be transported in several pieces.

If you have an upright piano, movers will place pads on the sides of the instrument to ensure it won’t get damaged when they manipulate it. Then they will place it on a dolly and transport it to wherever it needs to be transported. On the other hand, if you want to move a bigger model, the movers may remove the legs, the music rack, and pedal box so they can be moved separately. Then, they will place the instrument onto a skid board and load it into the crate and then the truck.

Before you ship the piano, remember to close and lock the lid to protect the keys and cover the instrument with covers, pads, or blankets to protect the surface of it. To ensure that the cover won’t fall off during transport, you can secure it with tape.

Piano Moving Cost Factors

Moving prices often depend on the type, size, make, and model of the instrument, which is why movers often ask for this information first. They use it to calculate the total costs of moving the instrument and estimate the labor and tools required for the job, so make sure to specify the type and model correctly. When you measure your piano, tell them the size measuring from the floor to the lid for an upright model and from one end of the keyboard to the bow for a grand.

When moving the piano, some obstacles add to the difficulty of transportation in and out of a house, which greatly increases the total costs. For example, if your piano is located on the second floor of your house, be prepared to pay an additional $5-$10 per step or $40-$100 for every flight of stairs. In addition to this, every stairway turn can set you back by another $75, while other obstacles like difficult terrain (dirt, gravel, or trees in the moving path) and narrow spaces can also increase the overall cost by as much as $200.

If you live in a small town or area, chances are that there are not too many professional piano moving companies in your area, so you should plan your move in advance to be able to find a company for the right price. Rush jobs can increase your final costs by as much as $300 for short-distance moves and up to $700 for long-distance moves.

Piano Moving Equipment

While you can move a piano on your own, there is some equipment used to transport it safely which you don’t necessarily have. Transporting it on your own can damage the instrument, which is definitely something you want to avoid. Professionals have the required equipment to do the moving properly, such as special straps to which pianos are attached, and dollies which are used to move the skid board.

Besides this basic equipment, professional movers may also come with specially-equipped trucks with ramps, hydraulic lifts, and several rings and clips to secure the instrument properly during transport. This heavier equipment may be used to transport heavier or larger models, or in situations when there are obstacles on the way where the piano needs to be moved.

Packing Tape for Moving

Once the parts of the piano are placed into special covers and protective cases, each separate part will be once again secured with packing tape. This is done to ensure it won’t open during transport and to prevent theft of some parts. Packing tape is one of the cheapest pieces of moving equipment and can be found in most retail stores for a cost of around $2 to $4.

Piano Moving Strap

Moving straps are one of the basic pieces of equipment moving companies and workers use when transporting large instruments. As their name suggests, they are straps that are placed underneath the piano and used by workers to lift and guide it from one place to another manually. Each strap type supports different carrying weights, with the cost ranging from $15 to $40.

Hump Straps for Moving

Unlike traditional moving straps, hump straps feature a harness worn around the carrier’s shoulders. They facilitate the transportation of the instrument as they spread out the weight to the mover’s upper body instead of having to carry it using only their hands, which is the case with regular straps. The typical cost of hump straps for moving starts at $18 for some basic models, but can go as high as $150 for modern versions with back support features.

Piano Moving Pads

The moving pad or moving cover is used to protect the instrument during transportation and prevent any damage to the surface. It’s placed on the large upper surface of the instrument before dismantling any removable parts to ensure it will be protected from the very beginning of the moving process. The cost of a pad can range between $35 for basic covers and $355 for waterproof grand piano covers.

Piano Moving Ramp

Once the piano is secured, placed on a board, and then on a dolly, it needs to be placed in the truck. A ramp is often used to roll the dolly from the ground into the back of the truck. While a basic ramp starts at $75, these may not be as secure and won’t support the weight of a grand model like some other, heavy-duty ramps. Because of this, you or your moving company may opt for a more expensive version, the cost of which can go up to $1,000 for a heavy-duty aluminum ramp.

Piano Moving Dolly

Once the piano is secured with pads and strapped onto the board, it needs to be moved to the van, truck, or other vehicle with which it will be moved. Because pianos are pretty heavy, they are placed onto dollies–platforms with wheels that are used to transport large, heavy objects from one place to another. Traditional dollies are 2-wheeled or 4-wheeled, but there are some newer models with automatic stair climbing mechanisms. Their cost can range between $80 and $260 for basic models, with the new technology models costing as high as $2,600.

Piano Board Price

A skid board is a padded platform where the instrument is placed to ensure it won’t move during transportation. The board is made of solid hardwood with a padded surface with metal brackets on both sides which are used to strap the piano tightly. The cost of the board depends on its size, with costs starting at $150 for 4-foot boards and going up to $575 for 9-foot skid boards.

Piano Lift Cost

Piano lifts are hydraulic machines used to lift instruments and heavier items from the ground and place them on a higher area (typically a van or a truck) without having to manually lift them or push a dolly up a ramp. Lifts are the most expensive pieces of equipment used by moving companies when transporting a piano. Their cost can start at $2,000 and go as high as $4,800 depending on the model and brand.

Piano Removalists Cost

The total cost you will need to pay to have the piano removed from your home can range between $150 to $1,000 depending on the size of the instrument, the design of your home (how easy it is to move the instrument out of it), and the equipment that will be used by the movers (whether a lift, crane, or ramps will be needed or not).

Piano removalists are movers who are trained to properly remove a piano from a home and transport it safely to another location. They have knowledge and experience working with relocations and use the proper equipment to ensure the instrument is moved safely to the designated location.

Smaller instruments are typically transported in one piece when they are just going down the street, but bigger pianos and those traveling further often need to be partially taken apart so they can be safely moved without damage. To remove a bigger and heavier model, more than two workers will have to be used. They will start by taking off the legs and wnce this is done they will push the instrument onto its side and secure it on a skid board, after which it can be placed on a dolly for easy travel out the front door.

If there are stairs along the way, they will either use straps to transport it manually, or use automated dollies designed for moving larger instruments and furniture down the stairs. When the model you have doesn’t fit through your doors or the staircase, movers can even use a crane to get it out through the windows. All of this adds to the overall piano removal cost you will have to pay in the end.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Piano Storage

If your new home does not have enough space to accommodate a piano or the room where it will be located is not finished yet, you would need to find a temporary storage location. To ensure that the instrument is kept properly, you can arrange for it to be stored in a climate-controlled facility for $50-$75 per month. The facility will keep the temperature and humidity at an ideal level to ensure the instrument is maintained well and in the right conditions.

Piano Crane

Sometimes, piano moving conditions are not ideal. The piano may not fit through the doors or down the stairs, which means that it would have to be lifted and moved out of the property through the windows. This would require using a special crane. Hiring this specialized service can cost around $750 to $2,000.

Piano Moving Insurance

Most companies offer free insurance if the model you’re moving costs less than $5,000. This insurance typically includes protection against any damage done to the covers and surface, transportation guarantee, and the movers in case something happens to them during the process. If the cost of the instrument is higher than $5,000, you may want to purchase extra insurance which typically costs between $15 to $20 for every $1,000 worth of piano value.

Piano Tuning After Moving

You may need to retune the piano for a cost of $150-$500 after moving to account for climate and humidity changes. High humidity can cause the wood to swell and expand, pulling the strings tight and creating sharper notes. On the other hand, if you move to a low-humidity area, the strings may go flat or form splits, causing buzzing. However, don’t tune your instrument immediately, but rather give it time to adjust to the humidity in the new place first.