Piano moving cost
How much does it cost to move a piano?
A local upright starts at £138 including VAT. Below is what a typical job actually comes to, what pushes the figure up, and how to get your own price in a minute.
Piano removal
From
£138
including VAT · local upright move
- Uprights, grands, digital pianos & organs
- Fully insured, in the home and in transit
- House to house, room to room or to a venue
Piano disposal
From
£174
including VAT · collection & recycling
- We collect from wherever the piano stands
- Recycled responsibly, under 1% to landfill
- Handled under a licensed waste carrier
What a piano move typically costs
A piano is priced on the building, not on the instrument. Two identical uprights a mile apart can be a hundred pounds apart, because one sits on a ground floor with the van at the kerb and the other is up a turning staircase on a street with a permit bay. So the figures below are honest starting points for the most common jobs, and nothing more than that.
| Type of job | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Upright, local move, level access at both ends | from £138 |
| Upright, local move, stairs at one end | from £195 |
| Upright, 30 to 60 miles | from £295 |
| Baby grand, local move, level access | from £210 |
| 6 foot or bigger Grand, stairs or a tight carry | from £350 |
| Window or balcony lift | quoted individually |
| Collection and recycling of an unwanted piano | from £174 |
Why this is a guide and not a price list. Stair turns and half-landings, the width of the narrowest doorway, whether a door has to come off its hinges, floor surfaces that need protecting, how far the piano has to be carried to the van, where we can legally park, lift availability in a block of flats, and the mileage between the two addresses all move the figure. Several of them are invisible until somebody looks.
A table cannot account for any of that, and we would rather tell you so than quote low and revise it on the day. Send us the make and size, the two addresses and a photograph of the way in, and you will get a real number, usually the same day.
Prices include VAT. Yorkshire and the immediate surrounding counties; we travel further by arrangement.
What affects the price
The starting prices above cover the most straightforward jobs. From there, a handful of things move the number, and they are all to do with how hard the piano is to reach and how far it is going:
- Steps and stairs. A flat, level carry is quickest. Internal stairs, a first-floor flat or a flight of outside steps take more time, people and care.
- Distance. A move across town is very different from one across the country, so mileage between the two addresses matters.
- The carry and parking. How far the piano has to travel between the door and the van, and whether we can park nearby.
- The instrument. A grand needs partial dismantling and a skid, so it takes more handling than an upright. Our grand piano removals page explains what that involves and why it changes the figure.
- Access that rules out the stairs. Where a piano will not go back the way it came, a window or balcony lift is the answer. That is surveyed and quoted on its own rather than banded.
None of this is hidden. When you send a few details we will explain exactly what is in your quote, so there are no surprises on the day.
Pricing questions
Straight answers on cost
How much does it cost to move a piano?
A local upright move with level access at both ends starts at £138 including VAT. From there the figure is driven by access and distance rather than by the piano itself, so stairs, a long carry, awkward parking or a run across the county all move it. The table above gives the honest bands. Send us the two addresses and we will give you the actual number, usually the same day.
Why is it a "from" price and not a fixed one?
Because no two piano jobs are the same. A straightforward upright with level access at both ends sits near the starting price; stairs, long carries, distance and parking all add to it. Giving you a quick, honest quote for your exact job is more useful than a flat figure that would not hold.
How much more does a grand piano cost to move?
More than an upright, because a grand has to be partly dismantled, laid on a padded skid and reassembled at the other end, which takes longer and needs more hands. Length is the thing that drives it: a baby grand on level access is not far off an upright, a concert instrument up a staircase is a different job altogether.
Do your prices include VAT?
Yes, every price on this page includes VAT, so the figure you see is the figure you pay. If you need a VAT invoice for a business, school or venue, just ask.
What makes a removal cost more?
Mainly access and distance: the number of steps or stairs at each end, how far the piano has to be carried to the van, whether parking is close, and the mileage between the two addresses. Grands take more handling than uprights.
Can I get a price if I have not bought the piano yet?
Yes, and it is worth doing before you commit. If you are bidding on a piano online, paste the listing link into our chat when it asks for the collection address. It will work out the area the piano is coming from and price the move from that, so the removal cost is part of your sums rather than a surprise afterwards.
How do I get an exact price?
Use the quote form and tell us the piano, the two addresses and the access, or call us on 01484 245977. We will come back the same day in most cases.
Get your exact price
A minute to fill in, no obligation, usually answered the same day.