Moving costs compared: upright piano vs grand piano, what changes the price

A grand piano costs more to move than an upright, and the reason is not simply that it is heavier. The two types of instrument require fundamentally different handling approaches, different crew sizes and different amounts of time on the job. Piano moves start from £125. The quickest way to see the fixed price for your specific instrument and addresses is the instant quote at book.pianospeed.com, which asks for the piano type at the first step.

The core difference: one piece versus four

An upright piano travels as a single unit. The crew secures it to a padded skid board, wraps it in fitted transit covers and loads it into the vehicle on that board. Nothing comes apart and nothing needs reassembling at the other end. An upright can be a straightforward job from a preparation standpoint, whatever the challenges at the access points.

A grand piano cannot be moved in one piece. Before the body goes anywhere near the vehicle, the crew removes the three legs and packs each in its own padded bag, takes off the pedal lyre and packs it separately, and secures the lid flat or removes it depending on the instrument. The body then goes onto a padded board on its flat side, so the instrument travels on its side rather than on its legs. At the delivery address, the whole process runs in reverse: body down, board removed, lid reattached, pedal lyre refitted, legs replaced in the correct sequence. That reassembly is precision work on an expensive instrument, not a quick tighten of a few bolts.

That difference in preparation time is one of the clearest reasons a grand move costs more than an upright move, even before crew size or weight enters the calculation.

How crew size changes between upright and grand

Crew numbers are sized to the instrument and the access, not to a one-size-fits-all formula. The difference between upright and grand crew sizes is real and predictable.

• Standard upright: two or three crew depending on access at the collection and delivery addresses
• Baby grand or medium grand: three crew for a straightforward ground-floor move, four where stairs or tight access are involved
• Full concert grand: four crew as a minimum, sometimes more for a difficult site
• Concert grand with a crane or hoist: a specialist operation quoted separately based on the site

More crew means a higher cost per hour and more time spent coordinating on site. The larger the instrument, the more people are needed to hold it safely at the angles required to navigate doors, corridors and stairwells. A baby grand body is roughly 120 to 150 centimetres at its widest point, which is wider than most upright pianos and requires a different approach to every tight turn in the route.

Weight and vehicle space

Piano weights vary considerably within each category, and weight affects both crew handling and vehicle loading.

• Compact upright: 150 to 200 kilograms
• Full-size upright: 200 to 260 kilograms
• Baby grand: 200 to 300 kilograms depending on manufacturer and length
• Full grand: 300 to 500 kilograms
• Concert grand: 480 to 600 kilograms and sometimes beyond

Beyond weight, a grand piano with legs removed takes up more floor space in the vehicle than most uprights. On a shared run where the vehicle carries more than one job, the footprint of a grand reduces the available space. On a solo run, this is less relevant to cost, but vehicle space is always a factor in how a job is priced and routed.

Stair access for upright versus grand

Stair access is chargeable for both upright and grand piano moves, and the charge reflects the actual difficulty of the route. The online quote at book.pianospeed.com asks for the floor level and access details at both addresses and calculates the stair element automatically.

For an upright on a staircase, the crew typically needs three people on a standard straight flight and four where there is a landing turn or the instrument is a heavy full-size model. The upright travels nose-first or in a tilted orientation chosen to match the pitch of the stair.

For a grand on a staircase, the picture is more complex. The legs are already off before the stair section begins, so the body is lower and the centre of gravity is different from an upright. Four crew is the working minimum. The width of the grand body at its broadest point must be checked against the staircase width and the ceiling clearance at any landing before the move begins. Stair rigging is sometimes the right answer rather than a manual carry, particularly for heavier instruments.

If the delivery address has a passenger lift, the relevant question is whether the piano actually fits inside it. Many residential lifts are too shallow or narrow for a full-size upright, and virtually all are too small for a grand body. Provide accurate lift dimensions when you book and the crew can confirm the route.

What stays the same regardless of piano type

Several elements of the job are consistent across upright and grand moves, and are worth stating plainly.

• Transit insurance is included in every move, covering the instrument from the moment loading begins to the moment the crew departs
• Triple-thickness fitted transit covers are used on every instrument, not general furniture blankets
• The price shown in the instant quote at book.pianospeed.com is fixed at booking and does not change on the day provided the access details are accurate
• The skid board used to move the piano is padded and sized to the instrument
• On a grand, individual padded bags are used for each leg, the pedal lyre and the lid board

The quality of the transit cover matters more on a grand than an upright in some respects. A grand body travels on its side, which puts the painted finish in contact with padded surfaces for the entire journey. A fitted cover holds its position at any angle, whereas a loose blanket can shift and concentrate pressure at a corner of the case. At PianoSpeed the transit covers are tailored to piano dimensions, not repurposed from furniture work.

Frequently asked questions

How much more does it cost to move a grand piano than an upright?

There is no single multiplier because the difference depends on the size of the grand, the access at both addresses, and the distance. Piano moves start from £125. The instant quote at book.pianospeed.com gives a fixed price specific to your instrument, your addresses and your preferred date. Entering a baby grand rather than an upright on the same route will show the difference directly.

Does a baby grand cost significantly more to move than a standard upright?

Yes, though the gap is smaller than it is for a full grand or concert grand. The key factors are the disassembly and reassembly time and the larger crew typically needed even for a ground-floor baby grand move. The instant quote reflects all of this based on the details you enter.

Are the crew numbers always higher for a grand?

For a ground-floor move with good access, a baby grand can be moved by three crew in the same way a heavy upright might be. Where stairs are involved or the grand is a large model, four crew becomes the working minimum for safety. The crew size is built into the fixed price you see at booking.

Does reassembly at the delivery address cost extra?

No. For a grand piano move, reassembly of the legs, pedal lyre and lid at the delivery address is part of the move and is included in the price you see at booking.

Is transit insurance the same for a grand as for an upright?

Transit insurance is included in every move. For a high-value grand, particularly a Steinway, Bosendorfer or Fazioli, call 020 7164 0000 before booking to confirm the right level of cover for the declared value of the instrument. The online quote confirms that insurance is included; the phone conversation confirms the specific level is adequate for an instrument above standard value.

Can a concert grand be moved without a crane?

Often yes, depending on the access. Many concert grand moves are manual carries with a large crew. A crane or hoist becomes necessary when the staircase route is not viable and the alternative is an external lift through a window or over a balcony. The site assessment determines which approach applies.

Getting a price for your instrument

Piano moves start from £125. The instant quote at book.pianospeed.com covers uprights, baby grands, full grands and concert grands across London, Greater London, Surrey and the GB mainland, with a Belfast to England lane. Enter the piano type, both addresses, the access at each end and a preferred date. The price is fixed at booking. PianoSpeed London Limited, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ. Call 020 7164 0000. Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 77 reviews.