Moving a Piano in Melbourne: Upright vs Grand, Cost & Safety
By Move Near Me team ·
Short answer: Moving an upright piano with us costs our hourly rate for the crew and truck (minimum 2 hours plus a 30-minute call-out) plus a $150 piano fee. On a weekday with no stairs, that’s at least $412.50 + GST. Stairs, long carries and difficult parking are added on top. Grand pianos are always quoted by hand after we look at the route.
Pianos are valuable, heavy and delicate. Moving one safely takes the right crew, the right equipment and a clear route.
Upright vs grand
| Piano type | Rough weight | How we price it |
|---|---|---|
| Upright | About 150–300 kg, depending on size and age | Hourly labour + $150 piano fee + any access fees |
| Grand (baby grand to concert grand) | About 230 kg for a small grand to 450 kg or more for a concert grand | Quoted by hand |
Weights are rough general ranges. Your piano’s maker and model will give a better figure.
Upright pianos have the strings and frame standing vertically. They’re compact for their weight and can usually be moved upright on a piano trolley.
Grand pianos have a horizontal frame and a curved case. They usually have their legs and pedal lyre removed and travel on their side on a piano board, which takes more people, more equipment and more planning.
How a piano move is priced
Hourly jobs are billed from when the crew arrives at the first address until the piano is unloaded, plus a fixed 30-minute call-out, all at the team rate. The minimum is 2 hours plus the call-out.
| Item | Cost (ex GST) |
|---|---|
| Team rate: 2 movers + 4.5 t truck | $105/hour |
| Saturday / Sunday / public holiday surcharge | +$10 / +$20 / +$35 per hour (for the whole team) |
| Upright piano fee | $150, on top of the labour |
| Stairs | $30 per flight, at each address |
| Long carry (more than 25 m from truck to door) | $30 per address |
| Lift booking | $20 per address |
| Difficult parking (no legal parking near the door) | $25 per address |
| Grand piano | Quoted by hand |
The smallest possible upright piano move (weekday, no stairs, minimum time) is 2.5 hours × $105 = $262.50 labour, plus the $150 piano fee: $412.50 + GST ($453.75 inc GST). Full rates are on our pricing page.
Worked example: upright piano from an upstairs room
An upright piano on the first floor of a Richmond terrace (2 flights of stairs) going to a ground-floor house a few suburbs away, on a weekday. Our quote form estimates 2.5–3.5 billable hours including the call-out. Say it takes the minimum, 2.5 hours.
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Movers and truck (incl. call-out) | 2.5 hrs × $105 | $262.50 |
| Stairs at pickup | 2 × $30 | $60.00 |
| Upright piano fee | 1 × $150 | $150.00 |
| Subtotal (ex GST) | $472.50 | |
| GST (10%) | $47.25 | |
| Total | $519.75 |
The form’s range for this move is $472.50–$577.50 + GST. On a Saturday the team rate is $115/hour, so the same 2.5 hours would cost $25 more ($497.50 + GST).
Before the move: checklist
- Measure doorways, hallways and stairs: width, height and any tight turns
- Check the route from the piano to the truck, and from the truck to its new spot
- Clear the path: move rugs, furniture and anything fragile
- Check the lift if either address is an apartment: measure the door and car, and book it
- Take photos of the piano before the move
- Arrange access: parking for the truck, keys, loading dock times
- Tell us the piano type (upright or grand) and roughly how big it is when you ask for a quote
How pianos are moved
Upright pianos:
- The lid is closed and secured, and the piano is wrapped in furniture blankets
- It’s lifted onto a piano trolley or dolly, keeping it upright
- It’s rolled through the house, and carried or walked down stairs by the crew
- It’s strapped upright against the wall of the truck so it can’t move in transit
Grand pianos:
- The lid is closed and the legs, lyre and music desk are removed
- The body is wrapped and placed on its side on a padded piano board
- It’s strapped to the board, moved to the truck and secured
- At the new home it’s reassembled in place
Route checks
| Route factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Doorway and hallway width | The piano has to fit through with room for the crew’s hands and the trolley |
| Stair width and turns | Pianos are rigid; tight turns at the top or bottom of stairs can make a route impossible |
| Number of flights | More stairs means more time and a $30 fee per flight |
| Lift size | Many apartment lifts are too small for a grand piano; measure before moving day |
| Distance from truck to door | A long carry adds time and a $30 fee |
If the normal route won’t work, a specialist may suggest another option, such as lifting the piano through a window or over a balcony with special equipment. That’s rare, needs a site visit and is priced separately by the specialist.
When to use a specialist piano mover
We move most upright pianos. Some moves are better with a specialist piano mover:
- Grand pianos with a difficult route
- Antique or very valuable pianos that need conservation-level handling
- Moves that need lifting equipment, for example through a window
- Long-term storage or crating
We’ll look at the route when you ask for a quote and tell you honestly if a specialist is the better choice.
Before and after the move
Before:
- If you have a performance or exam coming up, plan the move so there’s time for the piano to settle and be tuned afterwards
- Close and lock the lid if it has a lock, and remove anything sitting on top of the piano
After:
- Pianos often go out of tune after a move because of the movement and changes in temperature and humidity
- Let the piano settle in its new room for a while before tuning; your piano tuner can advise how long
- A tuner will quote for the tuning. We don’t tune pianos
- Keep the piano away from heaters, air-conditioning vents and direct sun
Insurance
Transit insurance for the value of your goods is not included in our rates. If you’d like it, tick the insurance box in the quote form and we’ll arrange a quote, or check whether your home and contents policy covers goods in transit. For a valuable piano, check before moving day.
Can I move a piano myself?
We don’t recommend it. Pianos are:
- Heavy: easily enough to injure people if it slips on stairs
- Delicate inside: the action (keys, hammers, dampers) can be damaged by knocks and drops
- Top-heavy and awkward: tilting an upright the wrong way can tip it
A professional crew has the trolley, straps and blankets, and knows how to manage stairs and tight turns.
Getting a quote
Get a free quote and choose piano removal, or see our piano removals service. Tell us:
- Piano type (upright or grand) and rough size
- Stairs, lifts and steps at both addresses
- Where the truck can park at each end
- Any tight spaces or obstacles on the route
We’ll confirm whether we can move it safely and confirm the price before moving day.
FAQ
Q: How much does it cost to move an upright piano in Melbourne? With us, it’s the hourly rate for the crew and truck ($105/hour on a weekday, minimum 2 hours plus a 30-minute call-out) plus a $150 piano fee, plus any stairs or access fees. The minimum is $412.50 + GST on a weekday with no stairs. Grand pianos are quoted by hand.
Q: Is the $150 the whole price? No. The $150 is a piano fee on top of the hourly labour. It covers the extra equipment and care a piano needs.
Q: Can a piano go in a lift? Many upright pianos fit in a standard apartment lift, but grand pianos often don’t. Measure the lift door and car and tell us the sizes when you book.
Q: What if the piano doesn’t fit through the door or up the stairs? Tell us early. Sometimes taking a door off its hinges is enough. If the piano would need to go through a window or over a balcony, that needs a specialist with lifting equipment, and they’ll quote for it after a site visit.
Q: Do I need to tune the piano after moving? Usually, yes. Let it settle first, then book a piano tuner. The tuner will quote for the job.
Q: What if the piano is damaged during the move? Note any damage on the day if you can, and tell us in writing within 7 days with photos. We’ll work with you to repair, replace or fairly compensate for damage we caused. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law still apply.
Moving a piano? Get a free quote and we’ll check the route and confirm the price.