How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano?

Quick answer: Moving an upright piano in York costs a fixed £160 Monday to Thursday, £195 on a Friday or Saturday, and £225 on Sundays and bank holidays with us, for two trained movers. Stairs, tight access and longer distances are priced before the day, so you know the full cost before we arrive.

Piano moving costs more than moving a wardrobe or a sofa, and most people only find out why when they start ringing round. An upright piano usually weighs somewhere between 150kg and 300kg, carries most of that weight high up, and has a cast iron frame and soundboard that don't take kindly to knocks. Get it wrong and you damage the piano, the doorframe, the stairs or someone's back.

This guide explains what you'll actually pay to move an upright piano in and around York, what pushes the price up, and the simple things that keep it down. The prices are our own, the same ones on our upright piano removals in York page, not national averages pulled from elsewhere.

Upright piano moves in the York area are a fixed price for two movers. The only thing that changes the standard price is the day of the week:

That price covers the two movers, the van, protecting and strapping the piano, and placing it in the room you choose at the other end. There's no hourly clock running.

Weekends cost more simply because that's when most people want to move. If your dates are flexible, a Monday to Thursday booking is the cheapest way to move a piano with us.

Piano removal is priced separately from ordinary furniture for three reasons.

• The weight sits in the wrong place. An upright is top-heavy. On a step or a slope it wants to tip, so it needs two people controlling it the whole time, never one person and a sack truck.
• It's easy to damage. The case marks easily, the legs and castors aren't built to take the piano's weight over bumps, and a hard knock can upset the action inside.
• It damages what it touches. Doorframes, newel posts, laminate and fresh plaster all suffer if a piano is dragged or swung. Protecting the route is part of the job.

That's also why the cheapest offer you find can turn out to be the expensive one. If a piano is dropped, the repair bill dwarfs anything you saved on the move.

The fixed prices above cover a normal upright piano move around York: ground floor or a few steps, a clear route to the van and a local destination. These are the things we ask about before we confirm your price.

Stairs and steps

A piano on the ground floor is straightforward. A piano upstairs, in a basement or behind a long flight of garden steps takes more time and more care. Tell us how many steps there are and whether the stairs turn.

Tight access

York has plenty of narrow terraced hallways, tight turns at the foot of the stairs and front doors that open straight onto the pavement. Measure the narrowest doorway and the hallway if you can. A photo of the route out saves a lot of guesswork.

Parking and distance to the van

The closer we can park, the quicker and safer the move. If the van has to stop well away from the door, the piano has further to travel on wheels. In residents' parking zones you'll need to arrange a parking suspension with City of York Council yourself, so it's worth doing early.

Distance between the two addresses

Moves within York and the surrounding area are covered by the standard price. We also move upright pianos further afield across mainland UK, and those are quoted on the mileage and time involved.

Moving the piano with the rest of your home

If the piano is going along with the rest of your furniture, mention it when you ask for a quote. We'll plan the crew and the van around it as part of your house removal, rather than treating it as a separate trip.

• Pick a weekday. Monday to Thursday is our lowest fixed price.
• Clear the route. Move shoes, rugs, pictures and hall furniture out of the way before we arrive.
• Sort the parking. Book any parking suspension early so the van can stop right outside.
• Send photos. Pictures of the piano, the stairs and the doorways let us give you an accurate fixed price first time.
• Clear the top of the piano. Music, ornaments and photo frames should travel separately in a box.

Two trained movers arrive with the right equipment. The piano is wrapped in blankets and travels on proper equipment rather than being dragged on its castors. In the van it's strapped upright so it can't tip or slide on the way.

At the other end it goes exactly where you want it, not left in the hallway. Give it a few weeks to settle into the temperature of its new room, then book a tuner. Moving nearly always knocks a piano slightly out of tune, and tuning it straight away usually means paying twice.

Every move with us includes £10,000 of Goods in Transit cover as standard. If your piano is worth more than that, for example an antique or a quality modern instrument, tell us when you book and arrange extra cover for the difference. Our guide to what Goods in Transit insurance covers explains how it works and what to ask any removal company before you book.

We move upright pianos only. Grands and baby grands need different equipment and a specialist grand piano mover. If that's what you have, give us a ring and we'll point you in the right direction.

How much does it cost to move a piano in York?

An upright piano move in the York area costs a fixed £160 Monday to Thursday, £195 on a Friday or Saturday and £225 on Sundays and bank holidays, with two movers. Difficult access or a long distance is priced before the day.

Can I move a piano myself to save money?

You can, but it's the job most likely to end in an injury or damage. Unless you have several strong helpers, the right equipment and a level route, the saving rarely justifies the risk.

Do you move pianos up and down stairs?

Yes. Tell us about the stairs when you ask for a quote, including how many steps there are and whether they turn, and we'll price it before the day.

Will my piano need tuning after the move?

Almost always. Wait a few weeks for it to settle into the new room first, then book your tuner.

How far ahead should I book a piano move?

Give us as much notice as you can, especially for a Friday, a Saturday or the end of the month, which are the busiest days for removals.

Want a fixed price for your piano? Ask for your piano moving quote with a photo of the piano and the route out, or call us on 01904 390 906. As a York removal company that has been moving upright pianos since 2008, we'll give you a straight answer and a price that doesn't change on the day. If the piano is part of a bigger move, you can also see our removal prices for full house moves.