Piano Removal Cost
Piano removal runs $250–$600 for an upright and $400–$1,200+ for a grand. It's one of the few items where DIY is genuinely a bad idea — pianos are heavy, top-heavy and unforgiving. The uncomfortable truth most owners discover: almost no used piano is worth anything, and giving one away is harder than selling one.
What it costs
| Piano type | Weight | Removal cost |
|---|---|---|
| Spinet / console upright | 300–400 lbs | $250–$450 |
| Studio upright | 400–600 lbs | $300–$550 |
| Full upright | 500–800 lbs | $350–$600 |
| Baby grand | 500–700 lbs | $400–$800 |
| Grand | 700–1,200 lbs | $600–$1,200 |
| Concert grand | 1,200+ lbs | $1,000–$2,000+ |
What pushes it up
- Stairs — typically $40–$100 per flight, and the biggest single variable
- Tight turns and narrow hallways — sometimes requiring the legs to come off
- Upper floors with no lift
- Grands — legs and lyre must be removed and the case tipped onto a skid board
- Basements — usually the most expensive scenario
The hard truth about value
Most owners are surprised by this, so it's worth saying plainly: the used piano market has largely collapsed. Free pianos are widely available in most cities, which means an average used upright has essentially no resale value — and often negative value once you account for moving it.
Pianos that do hold value:
- Steinway, Bösendorfer, Mason & Hamlin and a few other premium makers, particularly grands
- Recently rebuilt instruments with documentation
- Pianos in genuinely excellent condition, regularly tuned and maintained
Pianos that generally don't:
- Spinets and small consoles of any brand
- Anything with a cracked soundboard or loose tuning pins
- Anything that's been in a damp basement or an unheated space
- Most instruments over about 60 years old that haven't been rebuilt
Before assuming either way, get a piano technician to look at it. An assessment costs $50–$150 and either confirms it's worth restoring or saves you from spending $2,000 rebuilding something worth $500.
Free routes worth trying first
Give it away — but expect it to be hard
Listing a free piano sounds easy and usually isn't, because the recipient still faces a $300+ moving bill. To improve the odds:
- Be specific about condition — when it was last tuned, any known faults, whether all keys work
- Photograph the access route, not just the piano
- Say clearly that they arrange moving
- Offer to contribute toward the move if you'd otherwise pay for removal — it costs you less and dramatically widens the field
Schools, churches and community groups
Worth asking, though be realistic: most already have pianos, and many have been offered several. Smaller churches, community centres, care homes and youth groups are more likely than schools.
Piano technicians and rebuilders
Some will take instruments worth restoring, occasionally collecting free. Others buy pianos for parts — actions, keys, hardware and cast-iron plates all have onward uses.
Why not to move it yourself
A piano is not simply heavy — it's heavy, top-heavy, and its weight is unevenly distributed. Uprights tip forward with very little provocation, and the momentum of 500 lbs is not something two people can arrest.
Piano moving injuries are frequently serious: crushed hands and feet, back injuries, and stair-related incidents. Professional piano movers use skid boards, purpose-built dollies, straps and a trained technique — and they carry insurance for exactly this reason.
If you're determined to move one across a single flat floor, use a proper piano dolly, keep it upright, and use four people. Do not attempt stairs.
Scrapping a piano
If it's genuinely worthless and nobody wants it, dismantling for disposal is possible and, for some people, worth it:
- The cast-iron plate is the valuable part — 200–400 lbs of iron, worth something at a scrap yard
- Strings are high-tensile steel — scrap
- Copper-wound bass strings are worth slightly more
- The case and soundboard are wood — general waste or firewood if untreated
- Ivory keys on pre-1970s pianos — note that trade in ivory is heavily restricted, so these generally cannot be sold
Release the string tension safely. A piano's strings collectively carry roughly 18–20 tons of tension. Cutting them carelessly is genuinely dangerous. Detune them gradually with a tuning lever, or have a technician do it before you take anything apart.
Realistically, dismantling takes a full day and yields perhaps $30–$80 in scrap. It's a reasonable option if you have the tools and the time, and a poor use of a weekend otherwise.
Common questions
Is my old piano worth anything?
Probably not, unless it's a premium brand or recently rebuilt. Free pianos are abundant in most cities. A technician's assessment for $50–$150 gives you a definite answer.
Will anyone take a free piano?
Sometimes, but it's harder than it sounds because the recipient still pays to move it. Offering to contribute toward the move substantially improves the odds.
Can I put a piano in a dumpster?
Only dismantled, and check with the rental company — the weight of a cast-iron plate can exceed what their truck can lift.
How much does it cost to move a piano rather than dispose of it?
Moving is usually similar or slightly more than removal — $250–$800 locally depending on type and access. Long-distance is considerably more.
What about digital pianos and keyboards?
Completely different — they're electronics. See our electronics disposal guide. Most are light enough for one person and have modest resale value.
Related
Prices are typical US ranges for 2026 and vary considerably by metro, piano type and access. Piano moving carries genuine injury risk — this page is general guidance, not instruction to attempt it yourself. Restrictions on ivory trade vary by jurisdiction. Last verified August 2026.