If you’re pricing a move for the heaviest thing in your house, here’s the short answer: piano moving cost runs $150–$1,000 for a local move in the US in 2026, and $350–$1,500 CAD in Canada, depending mostly on whether it’s an upright or a grand and how many stairs stand between the piano and the truck. A local upright move averages about $250 in the US and $350–$800 CAD in Ottawa, Toronto or Vancouver; a grand runs $350–$1,000 USD or $700–$1,500 CAD. Cross-country moves climb to $700–$2,800 USD, and a crane lift where the staircase won’t work adds $500–$2,000.
The surprise for most homeowners isn’t the piano. It’s the access: each flight of stairs adds $40–$130 in the US and up to $300 per flight for a grand in Canada, so two identical pianos in the same city can cost double to move.
Key takeaways
- A local upright piano move averages about $250 in the US (MoveAdvisor, May 2026); most jobs land between $150 and $400.
- A local grand piano move runs $350–$1,000 USD, with baby grands at the low end and concert grands up to $1,500.
- Canadian local rates are higher: $350–$800 CAD for an upright and $700–$1,500 CAD for a grand in Ottawa and Vancouver.
- Stairs are the biggest add-on: $40–$130 per flight in the US, $75–$300 per flight in Canada; a crane is $500–$2,000.
- Budget a tuning 2–4 weeks after the move: $100–$200 in both countries.
Piano Moving Cost by Type and Distance
Specialists quote flat rates, set by piano type and distance. Uprights (spinet, console, studio, full upright) weigh 300–800 lb and roll out on a piano dolly. Grands weigh 500–1,200 lb and come partly apart: legs and pedal lyre off, body tipped onto a padded skid board. That extra crew and time is the whole gap between the two price columns.
| Move | US (USD) | Canada (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Room to room, same home | $150–$350 | — |
| Upright, local | $150–$400 (avg $250) | $350–$800 |
| Baby grand, local | $250–$650 | $450–$900 |
| Grand (6 ft+), local | $350–$1,000 (avg $550) | $700–$1,500 |
| Upright, long distance / interprovincial | $700–$1,200 | $800–$2,500 |
| Grand, long distance / interprovincial | $1,400–$2,800 | $1,800–$4,000 |
| Per flight of stairs | $40–$130 | $75–$300 |
| Crane or hoist (no stair access) | $500–$2,000 | $400–$800+ |
| Tuning after the move | $100–$200 | $100–$175 |
Upright pianos
MoveAdvisor’s May 2026 guide puts a local upright move at $200–$400 with a $250 average, and Fixr ranges it from $150 for a spinet to $350 for a full-height upright. Long distance, expect $700–$1,200: movers price these at roughly $4 per mile on top of a base fee. In Canada, Parkview Moving in Ottawa quotes $350–$500 for a ground-floor-to-ground-floor upright, Toronto’s High Stream Moving lists a $390 flat rate for a standard upright, and Vancouver’s Anytime Moving runs $500–$800.
Grand and baby grand pianos
A baby grand (under 5 ft 6 in) moves locally for $250–$650 in the US according to HomeGuide, and a full grand for $350–$1,000, with MoveAdvisor’s average at $550. Cross-country, a grand runs $1,400–$2,800 because it usually needs a $1,000–$1,600 crate. Ottawa rates are $500–$750 for a baby grand and $700–$1,200 for a 6 ft-plus grand, disassembly and reassembly included; Vancouver quotes $900–$1,500 CAD for either.
What Changes the Price
- Stairs. The biggest add-on: $40–$130 per flight in the US, or $7–$15 per step. Ottawa movers add $75–$150 per flight for an upright and $150–$300 for a grand. A turn in the staircase costs extra again, so a walk-up in Chicago or Boston can add more than the base move.
- No stair access. A crane or hoist through a window runs $500–$2,000 in the US and $400–$800 and up in Canada, after an on-site assessment.
- Elevators and long carries. A booked service elevator cuts the price; gravel, grass or a steep driveway between the door and the truck adds $40–$240.
- Distance. Local quotes barely change across town. Interprovincial is another tier: Ottawa to Toronto for an upright is $800–$1,400; Ottawa to Calgary or Vancouver is $1,800–$3,500.
- Timing. Rush jobs add $300–$700; a no-show or late cancellation costs $100–$400. One Toronto specialist says its busy season runs November to April, so an early-fall booking is often cheaper.
- Insurance. Most specialists include coverage up to about $5,000; extra coverage is $15–$20 per $1,000 of value.
General Movers, a Specialist, or DIY?
If the piano is part of a full household move, ask the moving company whether it carries a piano skid board and locking belt, and how many pianos it moved last month. Fixr’s data puts a general mover at $550–$2,000 for a piano against $700–$2,500 for a specialist: a real premium, but small next to a cracked soundboard. Our long-distance moving cost guide shows how full-service quotes are built, and the Canadian movers cost guide has local hourly rates for comparison.
A grand always gets a specialist; the disassembly is the job. A spinet on a ground floor with two strong friends and a rented dolly is doable, but anything heavier isn’t: uprights are top-heavy by design, grand legs snap under sideways load, and the strings hold 15,000–30,000 lb of tension. Floor and door-frame damage from a slipped upright routinely costs more than the $250 move you were trying to save. And a piano nobody wants needs a removal quote instead: $50–$350, or see our junk removal cost guide.
How to Hire a Piano Mover
- Describe the access, not just the piano. Type, height or length, every flight of stairs at both ends, turns, doorway widths and the walk to the truck. That’s what a flat-rate quote is built on.
- Ask what’s included. Blanket wrapping, floor protection, disassembly and reassembly for a grand, and transit insurance should be standard, not add-ons.
- Get the stairs and crane fees in writing before moving day.
- Check identity, not just reviews. Pros on Masters’ Guild are identity-verified with government ID and a live selfie check, and payment is held until the job is done. Find a special-item mover near you, or post the job for pros in Ottawa and 160+ other cities.
- Book the tuning for 2–4 weeks later. Every piano drifts after a move; tuning it the same day won’t hold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to move an upright piano?
About $150–$400 for a local move in the US in 2026, with a $250 average, and $350–$800 CAD in Canadian cities. Add $40–$130 per flight of stairs in the US and $75–$150 per flight in Canada.
How much does it cost to move a grand piano?
A local grand piano move runs $350–$1,000 in the US and $700–$1,500 CAD in Canada, including leg and pedal disassembly. Cross-country, budget $1,400–$2,800 USD or $1,800–$4,000 CAD.
Do I need to tune a piano after moving it?
Yes. Transport vibration plus the new room’s humidity pull it out of tune. Wait 2–4 weeks so it acclimates, then pay $100–$200 for a tuning; a piano that was overdue before the move may need two.
Can regular movers move a piano?
Small uprights on a ground floor, sometimes. Ask whether they carry a piano skid board and locking belt and how often they move pianos. Grands, stairs and anything valuable are specialist work.
Ready to get it moved without the guesswork? Post your piano move as a quest with your budget and stair details and get offers from verified local pros. Posting is free, and payment is only released when the piano is in place. Get quotes on MastersGuild.
