In this guide
In St Louis, stairs are what push a price up.
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 Weight
| Weight | Movers needed |
|---|---|
| Under 400 pounds | 2 |
| 400 to 600 pounds | 2 to 3 |
| 600 to 900 pounds | 3 to 4 |
| Over 900 pounds | 4 or more |
Arch Moving does not give fixed prices. Charges follow our filed tariff and the hours worked, so share the piano type, its weight and the stairs at both homes when you ask for a quote.
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
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. 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.
Arch Mover 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 more accurate estimate than any description.
How Movers Handle a Piano
Uprights
1
Close and secure the keyboard lid
2
Wrap the piano in moving pads
3
Lift it onto a piano dolly or strap it to a board
4
Use spotters above and below on stairs
5
Strap it upright against the truck wall
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, labor-only movers are an option.
One truck and one movers 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
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 movers 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. Request a free quote 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.
About the author
Hayden Mattingly
Owner, Arch Moving · St. Ann, MO
Hayden Mattingly owns and runs Arch Moving, a locally owned moving company in St. Ann serving St. Louis, St. Charles County and the rest of Missouri. He leads a crew with a combined 20 years in the moving industry, trains movers from within, and oversees residential, commercial, packing and long-distance moves. He writes these guides from what his crews handle on real St. Louis moves.
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What changes the hours
1
How ready the boxes are
2
Stairs and long carries
3
Distance between homes
4
Elevator waits
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