How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano? (Upright, Grand, Stairs & Long Distance)
Moving is the hidden line item in every piano sale. Here is what professional piano movers typically charge, what drives the price, and how to avoid paying twice.
By Joey Bouza, Founder, US Piano Connection · Updated August 29, 2026
Whether you're buying a used piano or rehoming one, the move is a real cost — and it's the part most people underestimate. A piano weighs 300 to 1,200 pounds, is worth more than most furniture, and can be ruined by one bad tip on a staircase. The figures below are typical quotes from professional piano movers; they are not measured from this site's listings, and your local quote will vary.
Typical piano moving costs
| Move | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Upright or spinet, local, ground floor to ground floor | $150 – $400 | Same metro area, under ~30 miles |
| Baby grand or grand, local | $300 – $800 | Legs and lyre come off; the piano travels on its side on a skid board |
| Each flight of stairs | +$40 – $100 per flight | Some movers price per step; tight turns cost more |
| Long distance (per-mile or flat) | $700 – $2,500+ | Often combined with other pianos on a route; ask about consolidated shipping |
| Crating for freight | +$300 – $800 | Needed only when a general freight carrier, not a piano mover, is doing the haul |
| Climate-controlled storage | $50 – $100 / month | Rarely worth it for an instrument under $2,000 |
What changes the price
- Type and size: a 9-foot concert grand is a different job from a 40-inch console — more crew, a bigger truck, and legs, lyre and lid that must come off and be wrapped.
- Stairs and access: the single biggest variable. Basements, split-levels, narrow doorways, and elevators all get priced individually. Tell the mover about every step.
- Distance: local moves are flat-rate; over roughly 50 miles most movers switch to a mileage rate or a route-based quote.
- Timing: weekend and same-week moves cost more; movers who run interstate routes can be far cheaper if you're flexible by a week or two.
- Insurance: reputable piano movers carry cargo insurance. Ask for the certificate, and check the declared value covers the piano.
When the move costs more than the piano
This is the most common mistake we see. A free or $300 upright on the other side of town looks like a bargain until you add a $250 move, a $150 tuning after it settles, and the repairs an unknown piano usually needs. Before you commit, run the piano through our value guide — if its brand and age put it near the bottom of the table, the move may cost more than the instrument is worth, and a better piano nearby at $800 is the cheaper choice.
| Type | Median asking | Lowest | Highest | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand | $29,995 | $1,500 | $500,000 | 889 |
| Upright | $4,545 | $100 | $76,005 | 572 |
| Baby grand | $10,000 | $10 | $152,600 | 297 |
| Digital | $3,100 | $400 | $18,650 | 246 |
| Player | $19,920 | $3,999 | $286,999 | 99 |
How to book a piano move
- Get the piano's type, brand, approximate size (height for uprights, length for grands), and a photo of the access at both ends.
- Call two piano-specialist movers. Give them the stairs, doorways, and distance up front; the quote is only accurate if they know.
- Confirm insurance and whether the price includes reassembly of a grand's legs and lyre.
- Schedule the tuning for two to three weeks after the move, once the piano has settled in its new humidity.
- If you're the seller, put "buyer arranges mover" in the listing and let buyers see the access photos — it removes the biggest reason deals fall through.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I move an upright piano myself?
- Two strong people with a piano dolly can move a small upright across a flat floor and into a truck with a liftgate. Stairs, grands, and anything over about 500 pounds should go to professionals — the injury and damage risk isn't worth the $200 saved.
- Do regular movers move pianos?
- Some will, usually with an extra fee and often excluded from their insurance. Ask specifically; many decline or subcontract to a piano mover anyway.
- How much does it cost to move a piano up stairs?
- Expect $40 to $100 extra per flight from most piano movers, more for tight turns or spiral stairs. A basement grand is the most expensive residential move.
- Does a piano need tuning after a move?
- Almost always. Wait two to three weeks for it to settle, then tune. Budget $100 to $200 for a standard tuning.
- How much does it cost to ship a piano across the country?
- Typically $700 to $2,500 with a piano-moving company that runs interstate routes; crated freight through a general carrier can cost more once crating is added.
- Is nationwide delivery available on this site?
- Some dealers offer it — look for the nationwide-delivery badge on the listing, and ask them for a delivered price to your ZIP code.
- Should the buyer or seller pay for moving?
- In private sales the buyer almost always pays and arranges the mover. Dealers may include local delivery in the price; ask.
- How do I protect a piano during a move?
- Hire a piano mover: they use padded skid boards, straps, and a climate-aware truck. If you must move it yourself, lock the lid, wrap it in moving blankets, keep it upright, and never lift by the legs or lyre.
About the author
Joey Bouza — Founder, US Piano Connection
Working musician and founder of Prospects International, the marketing firm behind appointment-based piano sale events across the country.
Prices and counts in our guides come from live listings on this site and are recalculated hourly. Where we quote industry-typical figures (mover quotes, tuning fees, rebuild costs) we say so, and we never publish a number we haven't measured or sourced.