How much does it cost to move a piano?
There is no price list. The price is set once the piano and the route have been seen, and you get it in writing before agreeing anything. A small upright on a ground floor and a grand going up a flight of stairs are not the same job.
Why no two piano moves cost the same
- The piano itselfUpright or grand, and how big it is.
- Steps and stairsInside and outside, at both addresses.
- Doors and turnsEvery doorway and corner between the piano and the street.
- The walk to the vanHow far the van can stand from each door.
- DistanceRound the corner, or across Great Britain.
- Alone or with a house moveA piano can travel on its own or with everything else.
What is the average weight of a piano? Over 200kg for a Yamaha upright
No single figure fits every piano, so go by the maker's specification for yours. Yamaha lists its U1 upright at 228kg and the taller U3 at 246kg.
- 25kg. The heaviest figure in HSE's lifting guidelines, for a man lifting close to the body between knuckle and elbow height.
- 228kg. Yamaha U1 upright, 121cm tall.
- 246kg. Yamaha U3 upright, 131cm tall.
- 261kg. Yamaha GB1K baby grand, 151cm deep.
How much does a 5 ft baby grand piano weigh?
Yamaha's GB1K baby grand is 151cm (5ft) deep and weighs 261kg, by Yamaha's own figures. Know the make and model? Give them when you ring.
How it works
Ring, show the route, and get the price in writing
The piano and its route are seen before any price is given.
- Upright or grand?
- Survey of the route
- Piano named on quote
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Say upright or grand
Give both postcodes, say whether the piano is an upright or a grand, and leave a phone number.
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Trace the route to the van
In person or by video, from where the piano stands to where a van can park, every step on the way.
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Look for the piano by name on the quote
It should name the piano, both addresses and the date. Agree it, or ask about anything missing.
Can I move a piano myself? Not by lifting it
Not safely by lifting it. The heaviest figure in HSE's lifting guidelines is 25kg, and HSE says even its guidelines are not safe limits. A 228kg upright is more than nine times that figure.
How many people are needed to move a piano?
There is no set number. HSE's workplace guide says a lift done by a team needs a more detailed assessment than its basic guidelines, so the count depends on the piano and the route. Show the surveyor the whole route, and the written quote reflects it.
How do you move a piano up the stairs?
Measure the route first. Note each doorway, each turn and each landing at both homes, and show them to the surveyor before a date is fixed.
- The piano's own size. Height, width and depth, from the maker's figures if you have them.
- The doorway out of the room. Its width, and the space to turn beyond it.
- The landing. Room to turn at the top of the stairs.
- The stairs. Their width, and any bend part way down.
- The front door and step. Width, and how many steps outside.
- The path to the van. How far, and whether it is level.
Going into a flat? Ask the managing agent whether the lift can be booked, and how big it is. Flats are common in parts of Poole: in Canford Cliffs ward, about three households in five live in a flat, purpose-built or converted (Census 2021). The flat moves guide covers stairs and parking at a block.
What not to do when moving a piano?
Don't try to lift it yourself, and don't leave any part of the route off the survey.
- Lift it with friendsEven the lightest piano above is far past HSE's one-person figure.
- Leave it off the surveyA piano mentioned on the day is not on the written quote.
- Guess the new home's routeMeasure the doors and stairs there too, before the date is fixed.
- Forget the outsideSteps, gates and the path to the street count as much as the stairs.
Questions
Is a grand taken too, and can it leave Dorset?
Rather ring?
Is a grand piano taken as well as an upright?
Yes. Upright and grand pianos are both taken, on their own or as part of a house move.
Can a piano go to a new home outside Dorset?
Yes. Piano moves run to or from anywhere in Great Britain, quoted in writing after the survey.
Can other furniture be taken apart on the same move?
Yes. Furniture can be taken apart and put back together. Say which pieces at the survey, so the quote covers them.
Sources for this page, read in November 2026:
- Yamaha UK: U series upright pianos, specifications
- Yamaha UK: GB1K grand piano, specifications
- Health and Safety Executive: Manual handling at work, a brief guide (INDG143, revision 4)
- Office for National Statistics: Census 2021, accommodation type by ward (TS044)
Got a piano to move?
Say it is a piano when you ring or send the form, and the removals team arranges a look at it and its route.