Moving a piano: costs, risks and when the professional must step in
Prices in this guide are European street prices in euros. UK prices differ – each product page shows live UK offers in pounds.
A piano weighs 200–300 kg, a grand easily double that – and the centre of gravity sits treacherously high and to the back. Hence the clear announcement up front: acoustic pianos are moved by the piano mover, not by the mate with the van.
What the professional costs
A local piano move (ground floor to ground floor) usually runs at €150–300; every floor without a lift costs a surcharge (often €20–40), narrow stairwells, an outside lift or long distances more. Grands start around €400 because legs and lyre are dismantled. Sounds like a lot – but it is cheaper than a single slipped disc or a scratched stairwell, and the professional is insured.
Why “a few strong men” is the most expensive solution
Pianos tip over. The castors on the underside are decoration from another era, not a moving aid. Professionals work with carrying straps, protective blankets and – decisively – with experience of where the weight sits. In DIY moves, straps tear, legs break and door frames splinter; and the helper’s liability insurance usually does not pay (favour-based damage).
Digital piano: this one you may do yourself
Portable digital pianos (11–15 kg) are two-person jobs: power supply off, original box or a blanket, upright only briefly. Cabinet digital pianos (40–60 kg) work with two people and straps – or indeed with the mover, once stairs are involved.
Costs at a glance: the table (2026)
Typical ranges of UK piano movers – regional differences and special cases (very tight period staircases, crane hire) can exceed them:
| Job | Typical cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Upright, local, ground floor to ground floor | £150–£300 | up to ~20 miles, straightforward access (from £120 in London) |
| Surcharge per flight of stairs | £40–£80 | per flight, depending on the staircase |
| Grand piano, local | £300–£600 | legs and lyre dismantled, wrapped in a piano shoe |
| Long distance (200+ miles) | £300–£600 | often cheaper as part-load |
| Grand with difficult access / hoist | £600–£1,200 | quote after photos or a survey |
Sources: 2026 price surveys and movers' price lists; only a written fixed-price quote is binding.
Long distance and part-loads: making the long haul affordable
A lorry rarely drives across the country for one piano. Specialist movers bundle instruments on set routes – the part-load. The price drops noticeably (often 30–50 % below an exclusive run), but you are tied to the route schedule and the instrument travels for a few days. Crucial with part-loads: ask for transit insurance at the instrument's value – statutory carrier liability pays by weight, not by value, and a piano is heavier than it is valuable by that formula. For international moves the same principle applies with per-mile rates; comparing 2–3 quotes pays off especially here.
The risks in detail – and who ends up paying
Tipping: a piano's centre of gravity sits high and towards the back at the cast-iron
plate. On stairs, a tipping piano develops forces nobody can hold – most serious accidents
happen on the last three steps.
Favour damage: if a helping neighbour scratches the stairwell, their personal liability
insurance often does not pay (acts of courtesy are excluded in many policies).
The professional is insured for exactly this – that is the real value behind his price.
Damage to the instrument: torn strings and scratches are annoying but repairable.
A fall onto a corner, however, can crack the pin block or the plate – for an older upright
that is an economic write-off.
Transporting it lying down? Briefly tilted or lying on a padded piano board, an
upright survives the move fine – the action normally takes no damage. What harms it are
impacts and moisture, not the position.
Checklist: the 7 questions for the mover
☐ Is the price a fixed quote after a survey/photos – or an hourly rate?
☐ Are both addresses (floors, lift, staircase) captured in the quote?
☐ Is there transit insurance at the instrument's value? Ask for the sum insured.
☐ Does the firm move pianos regularly (straps, piano board, blankets)?
☐ What does a hoist cost if the staircase fails – included or extra?
☐ With a part-load: how long does it take, and when exactly is delivery?
☐ Is the quote in writing with all items listed?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move a piano?
Locally (ground floor to ground floor) usually £150–£300; each flight of stairs adds £40–£80. Grands start around £300–£600 locally; long distances typically £300–£600 as a part-load. Difficult access with a hoist can reach £600–£1,200.
Can a piano be transported lying down?
Yes – lying on a padded piano board, the action normally takes no damage. Impacts, drops and moisture are what harm a piano, not the position. It still needs a few weeks to settle before tuning.
Can I move a piano myself?
An acoustic piano: no – 200–300 kg, high centre of gravity, usually no insurance cover. A portable digital piano (10–15 kg) is a two-person job; even a cabinet digital (40–60 kg) works with two people and straps.
Does the piano need tuning after the move?
Yes, but not immediately: let it acclimatise for 4–6 weeks at the new location first, otherwise it goes out of tune again straight away and you pay for tuning twice.
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