If there’s one thing that pretty much every piano has in common, it’s the fact that they’re big, bulky, and challenging to move. For this reason, you might be curious about piano moving costs, especially if you don’t feel like grabbing a few of your buddies and breaking your piano trying to get it into the back of a box truck.
The good news is that we’re here to help. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about piano moving costs. Read on to learn more.
What Is a Piano Moving Cost on Average?
According to several sources, piano moving costs tend to start at around $250, but some of the more challenging pianos to move may cost upwards of $1,000. What’s more, if pianos are antiques or need unique transportation methods, the cost to move a piano can skyrocket well above $1,000. For these reasons, it’s important to understand the factors that impact the cost of moving a piano.
Factors That Influence Piano Moving Cost
Several factors influence how much it costs to move a piano. To ensure that you’re not met with any surprises on moving day, we cover the primary factors that influence the cost below.
1. The Type of Piano
First and foremost, the type of piano you’re moving influences the price. This is because upright pianos tend to be more affordable to move compared to grand pianos.
Upright pianos are more affordable to move because you don’t usually need to disassemble them, and they’re easier for movers to carry. However, grand pianos need to be handled with more care, require specialized packaging, and sometimes have to be completely taken apart.
2. How Far You Need to Move the Piano
The distance you plan on moving the piano also matters. Moving a piano into a house a few blocks away is usually cheaper than moving a piano across the country. A good rule of thumb to follow is that the further the distance, the more it will cost.
You can expect the cost to move a piano locally to be around $1.50 per mile and the cost to move a piano across the country to be around $2 per mile. However, some moving companies will offer better deals per mile if you’re traveling greater distances. While this might not be cheaper than a local move, it’s worth keeping an eye out.
3. The Complexity of the Move
Pianos are hard to move as it is, but if you need to move this piano into tight spaces or up eight flights of stairs, expect the moving company to charge you more. This is because the move is riskier, takes more time, and may require disassembling the piano and assembling it within your new spaces.
In fact, this type of process can require specialized movers or even contractors if doorways need to be extended or if doors need to be removed.
4. The Moving Company
The moving company sets the cost, so you’ll find some variation between moving companies. While it may seem like a good idea to choose the cheapest company you can find, you should be looking for the moving company that offers the most value. After all, the last thing you want is a piano to show up in your home with scratches or damage.
The best interstate moving companies offer great value by taking care of your piano without breaking the bank. Plus, many great moving companies offer insurance options and specialized packaging. If you’re not sure where to start when searching for affordable movers, we recommend checking out this list.
5. Additional Moving Services
Moving a piano is a big job, so we understand if you want some guarantees. This is where additional services come into play, but they’re not free. For example, you may want to add insurance to your piano in the event that it gets damaged.
You may also want to have the moving company wrap the piano for you or take it apart and rebuild it. In both cases, you need a specialized crew that can handle this type of job.
Understanding Piano Moving Costs
Moving a piano isn’t free unless you have a lot of help and a vehicle big enough to transport it yourself. Plus, the cost to move a piano will vary a lot between $250 and $1,000. For this reason, it’s important to understand how much it costs to move a piano and the factors that influence that price.
Fortunately, you should have a good idea of how much it should cost you after reading this article, as we’ve covered the most important factors.