How Much Does it Cost to Move a Piano?

The average cost of moving a piano is $401, however, it can range from $258 to $575. The cheapest one is $150, but they can cost up to $2,000.

Pianos are fragile and large instruments that require professional moving expertise, resulting in hidden moving costs such as seasonal movements, elevator carry charges, access-related charges, fuel fees, equipment rental, and insurance for homeowners.

Factors affecting the piano moving cost

The price of moving a piano is affected by several major factors.

• Size
• Weight and
• Type of piano

The cost of moving heavier and larger pianos is higher because they require more movers with specialized equipment, additional wrapping materials, and even partial disassembly for safe shipment.

Because of its large dimensions and unusual shape, moving a grand piano will cost you more because it is difficult to maneuver around the house on its way to the moving truck.

Move distance

A piano’s transport cost directly depends on how far it must travel to reach its final destination. Whether you need to move your piano across town, to another city or town in the same state, or across several states to another location in the country, the cost varies.

Obstacles on moving day

When moving a piano, stairs are a major issue, and as a result, moving a piano can be expensive. If you need your piano moved up or down stairs, most piano movers will charge you extra. They usually charge $5-10 per step, or $40-$100 per staircase.

Additional moving costs

The following are some of the extra services that will increase the overall moving cost:

• Partial Disassembly – Some pianos need to be partially disassembled in order to be transported out of the house. The cost of removing the piano’s leg, pedal box, and music rack is normally around $100.
• Crating – When moving, you’ll want to make sure that any valuable pianos are well-protected. The best way to ensure the safety of a piano is to transport it in a custom wooden crate. The cost of crating a piano ranges from $800 to $1,000 or more.
• Hoisting – Your piano may need to be hoisted out through a window or balcony with the use of professional hoisting equipment if the hallways, doors, or stairs are too narrow. Expect to pay between $700 and $1,000 for the service.
• Emergency Moving – In most cases, transporting your piano in an emergency will cost you twice as much as a typical move. Expect to pay an extra $300 for a local piano move and $400-$600 for long-distance for a last-minute piano move.
• Insurance – Professional piano movers should provide you with proper insurance up to $5,000. If you want to purchase additional insurance, expect to pay around $15 per $1,000 of value.
• Re-tuning – To avoid the unavoidable vibrations and shocks on the road, your piano will almost always need to be re-tuned following the move. In addition, the different temperature in your new home, particularly the humidity, may cause professional re-tuning. For that post-move piano service, expect to pay between $100 and $150.

Are piano movers worth it?

Moving a piano from one location to another may appear to be costly, but it is well worth the investment. You won’t have to enlist the help of friends, and you won’t have to spend all day transporting the hefty piano. Here are a few reasons why you should contact a professional:

Avoid injury and damage

Pianos are heavy and come in many shapes. They are difficult to transport, especially if stairwells are involved. If you try to move your piano by yourself, you are endangering both the piano and yourself.

You can end up falling down the stairs if the piano slips out of your hands. It’s not impossible to throw out your back if you don’t lift properly.

The weight of some pianos exceeds 1,000 pounds. You might not lift the piano and transfer it properly if you don’t have a team of movers. This has the potential to cause harm or injury.

Proper moving truck

A heavy piano is not suitable for all moving cars. When you engage a professional piano mover, they will use the right truck and equipment to transport your piano. They will protect your piano with padding to guarantee that it is not harmed and that it survives any unexpected road hazards.

Save money

It appears that not hiring a professional piano mover would help you save money. You will, however, have to have the piano tuned if you damage the legs, pins, or strings. When all is said and done, moving the piano yourself may end up costing you more than hiring a professional mover.

Can you move a piano by yourself?

The piano must be covered with blankets, transported using moving straps and a dolly, and several people must assist to ensure the move goes smoothly. Follow these steps for a safe move if you are transporting it yourself:

• It’s important that you are serious about doing it yourself. Don’t forget that when you move a piano, you are risking its safety as well as that of the movers.
• Prepare the necessary equipment, including heavy-duty work gloves, dolly, moving straps, blankets, duct tape, skid board, truck, and 3-6 people.
• Plan a path and take measurements.
• Clear a path

Do moving companies move pianos?

It must be handled with caution and transferred by a professional. The biggest danger is that it will be destroyed because it cannot always be fixed.

Professional piano movers have custom-built equipment, such as piano trolleys, hydraulic tailgates, ramps, and stair-climbing equipment that other firms lack.

Conclusion

Overall, you must consider your own safety, the safety of others, and the safety of your piano.

The transfer of a piano is a delicate yet heavy instrument that requires professional expertise, adding to the hidden moving costs that homeowners confront, which can include seasonal movements, stair carry and access-related charges, fuel expenditures, equipment rental, and insurance. It’s certainly more expensive and you’ll use money you could otherwise use to buy bitcoin cash, but it’s worth the safety of your expensive piano.

If you’re unsure whether it’s worth the money, we recommend hiring specialists to move your piano.