Moving a piano costs $200 to $1,000 in most cases, with an average around $400. An upright usually costs $300 to $600 to move, a baby grand $400 to $800, and a full grand $500 to $1,200. In St Louis, stairs are what push a price up. Older brick homes have steep front steps, narrow staircases, and basements, and each flight typically adds $40 to $100. To get an accurate price, tell the mover the exact type of piano, count every step at both homes, measure the doorways, and choose a valuation level that reflects what the piano is worth, since the basic level in Missouri pays only 60 cents per pound.
Arch Moving offers piano moving as part of our service across the St. Louis area. We are locally owned and operated out of St. Ann, and we move pianos between homes in the city, the county, St. Charles County, and the Metro East. Here is what each type of piano costs to move, what adds to the price in St. Louis homes, and how to get ready.
Cost by Piano Type
Figures from Angi’s piano moving cost guide:
| Piano type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Digital | $200 to $350 |
| Spinet or console | $250 to $450 |
| Upright | $300 to $600 |
| Baby grand | $400 to $800 |
| Grand | $500 to $1,200 |
| Organ | $400 to $900 |
Cost by Weight
| Weight | Movers needed | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Under 400 pounds | 2 | $200 to $400 |
| 400 to 600 pounds | 2 to 3 | $300 to $600 |
| 600 to 900 pounds | 3 to 4 | $500 to $900 |
| Over 900 pounds | 4 or more | $700 to $1,200 |
Piano movers charge about $40 to $100 per hour per mover, usually with a minimum. Many give a flat price once they know the piano and the access.
Extra Charges
| Extra | Typical charge |
|---|---|
| Stairs | $40 to $100 per flight |
| Long carry over 50 feet, crane lift, or window removal | $200 to $1,000 |
| Disassembly of a grand | $50 to $150 |
| Custom crating | $200 to $600 |
| Added insurance | $50 to $300 |
| Long distance | $1.50 to $3 per mile |
What Adds Cost in St. Louis Homes
Front Steps
Many St. Louis brick homes sit above the street with six to twelve concrete steps up to the porch. Count them. They are a flight of stairs as far as a piano is concerned.
Narrow Interior Stairs
Homes in Soulard, Tower Grove, Shaw, and The Hill were built with steep, tight staircases. Two-family flats often have a turn halfway up. An upright going to a second-floor flat is one of the harder moves in the city.
Basements
A piano in a basement rec room has to come up a narrow stair with a low ceiling. Tell the mover if that is where it is.
Large Older Homes
In Clayton, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, and University City, grand pianos are common, and so are long front walks and several steps. Our guide to Clayton moving costs covers how those homes affect the rest of a move.
Apartments and Condos
Check the freight elevator’s size and weight limit. Reserve it, and ask whether the building needs proof of insurance. Our apartment moving tips cover building rules.
Weather
St. Louis summers are humid and winters can be icy. Pianos react to swings in humidity and temperature, and ice on front steps is dangerous with a 500-pound load. Morning moves are best in summer, and steps should be cleared and salted in winter.
Tip: Send the mover three photos: the piano, the stairs it has to travel, and the path from the door to the street. It gets you a firmer price than any description.
Coverage in Missouri
Missouri’s consumer moving guide from MoDOT sets out the valuation options. On an hourly move there are two:
| Option | What it pays |
|---|---|
| Standard valuation | Fair market value of the item |
| Released value | 60 cents per pound |
At released value, the numbers are small:
| Piano | Approximate weight | Released value pays |
|---|---|---|
| Spinet | 350 pounds | $210 |
| Upright | 500 pounds | $300 |
| Baby grand | 600 pounds | $360 |
| Grand | 900 pounds | $540 |
Before the move:
- Find out what the piano is worth. A piano dealer or technician can tell you.
- Ask the mover which valuation level applies and what the alternatives cost.
- Get your choice in writing on the paperwork.
- Check whether your homeowner’s or renter’s policy covers the piano in transit.
- Photograph the piano from every side, including existing marks.
The mover has 30 days to acknowledge a claim and 90 more days to offer a settlement under Missouri’s guidance. Our article on licensed and insured movers explains why this matters.
How Movers Handle a Piano
Uprights
- Close and secure the keyboard lid
- Wrap the piano in moving pads
- Lift it onto a piano dolly or strap it to a board
- Use spotters above and below on stairs
- Strap it upright against the truck wall
Grands
- Remove the lid, music desk, and pedal lyre
- Remove the leg on the straight side and lower the piano onto a padded skid board
- Remove the other legs
- Wrap and strap the body to the board
- Move it on a dolly and reassemble it at the new home
A grand should not be rolled on its own casters. They are meant for small adjustments, and the legs can snap.
How to Prepare
- Measure the piano’s height, width, and depth
- Measure doorways, hallways, and stair turns at both homes
- Count every step, inside and outside
- Clear the route and roll up rugs
- Take everything off the piano and out of the bench
- Decide where the piano will stand in the new home
- Keep children and pets away during the move
Pick an inside wall away from vents, radiators, direct sun, and outside doors.
After the Move
Most pianos need tuning after a move. Wait two to four weeks first so the instrument settles into the new room’s temperature and humidity. If you tune it the next day, you will probably pay to tune it again.
Should You Move It Yourself?
A digital piano, yes. An acoustic piano, no.
An upright weighs 400 to 600 pounds and is top-heavy. On a St. Louis staircase it can get away from untrained helpers in a moment. The usual results are an injured back or foot, a gouged floor, a cracked stair tread, or a damaged piano. Any one of those costs more than the mover would have. If you have a truck and only need trained hands, a labor-only crew is an option.
Tip: If the piano is moving along with the rest of your home, book it with the same company on the same day. One truck and one crew costs less than a separate trip.
Our guide to St. Louis moving costs covers the price of the rest of the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move a piano in St. Louis?
Most piano moves cost $200 to $1,000, with an average around $400. Uprights run $300 to $600 and grands $500 to $1,200.
How much do stairs add?
About $40 to $100 per flight. Front porch steps count.
How much does a piano weigh?
A spinet weighs 300 to 400 pounds, an upright 400 to 600, a baby grand about 600, and a grand 900 pounds or more.
Is my piano covered during the move?
At released value, only 60 cents per pound, which is about $300 for an upright. Ask about standard valuation at fair market value.
Do I need to tune the piano after moving?
Usually. Wait two to four weeks, then book a tuning.
Can you move a piano to a second-floor flat?
Yes, with enough crew and the right equipment. Tell the mover about the stairs and any turns when you ask for the price.
Piano Movers in St. Louis
Arch Moving provides professional piano moving along with local and long-distance moves, packing and unpacking, furniture assembly, labor-only services, and junk removal throughout St. Louis, St. Charles County, and the Metro East. We are locally owned and operated with no franchise fees, giving you direct service from a local team. Call (314) 866-7235 and send us photos of your piano and any stairs or access points. Our St Louis Movers will review the details and provide you with a clear moving price.