You have your move planned and a general moving company lined up. Everything is going well — until you remember the piano. Transporting it is a job in its own right, and while your general mover may offer to handle it, that is a risky proposition. A crew that does not specialize in pianos can cause serious injury to themselves or serious damage to your home and your instrument. Hiring a professional piano mover is the safe choice — but what should you expect to pay? Here is how piano moving companies work out their rates.
Flat Rates vs. Hourly Rates
Before a mover quotes a price, they consider several factors, and the final rate may be hourly or flat. An hourly rate covers labor and equipment use for the time the job takes. Most professional piano moving companies prefer a flat or fixed rate, which they base on their experience with similar moves and the variables involved. Either way, the price reflects the same set of considerations.
How a Professional Moves a Piano
The method depends on the piano’s style and size. A baby grand, for example, usually needs some parts taken off before it can be moved safely, while smaller pianos and many uprights can travel in one piece. A professional crew arrives with moving blankets and pads, shrink wrap, locking belts, a skid board, a moving dolly, and a specially equipped truck — plus the tools needed to take a piano apart and put it back together safely when the situation calls for it.
What Goes Into the Final Price
Piano Shape
Grand pianos have a distinctive shape that makes them harder to handle, so they cost more to move. Before quoting, a company will ask for the type, make, model, and size of your piano. That information tells them what equipment and how much labor the job will need, and what the equipment is worth.
Age and Size
The average piano weighs around 750 pounds, and larger models can reach 1,500 pounds. Bigger, heavier pianos need more resources — extra dollies, special boards, and more crew. An upright’s requirements are usually more straightforward. When you talk to a mover, be specific about your piano’s type, size, and age so the quote reflects the real job.
Distance
Distance is a major factor, along with fuel costs. Longer moves may also require a specially equipped truck with hydraulic lifts, ramps, dollies, boards, clips and rings, and moving pads and blankets — all of which protect the piano, your property, and the crew.
Insurance
Professional movers typically include free insurance for pianos valued up to $5,000. For instruments worth more, movers usually charge an additional $10 to $15 per $1,000 of value (based on 2022 average rates).
Obstacles and Access
Anything that makes the job harder affects the price: narrow hallways, tight doorframes, walls, flights of stairs, sharp corners, and the piano’s location within the home. Some movers charge per step when stairs are involved; others charge a fixed rate per staircase. It is worth asking whether your mover charges extra for these obstacles. Some also add fees for dismantling and crating.
Other Costs to Keep in Mind
Knowing what goes into piano moving prices helps you set a realistic budget. Check each factor with the mover you are considering and ask about their standard rate. Keep in mind that a professional mover may charge for additional services — extra fees for rush or rescheduled moves, climate-controlled storage, and piano tuning. Moving related items, such as the piano stool, can also cost extra.
The best way to know exactly what your move will cost is to get a detailed, itemized quote. Piano Moving Craft provides free, transparent estimates with no hidden fees — call (206) 530-6886 and we will price your move based on your piano, your locations, and nothing else.