How Much Does A Piano Cost And How To Move Them

Pianos are undoubtedly one of the heavy-weights when it comes to musical instruments

If you are planning to move, it helps to know the exact weight of your piano

An average professional grand piano weighs about 700 lbs

The below table gives a summary over of the weights of all different piano types

TypeWeightLengthWidthVertical Pianos   1

Upright480 – 600 lbs

(181 to 227 kg)  44 – 48 inches58 inchesGrand Pianos   1

Baby540 – 1,100 lbs

(3175 – 544 kg)  9 feetAround 5’Digital Pianos   1

Beginners Electronic Keyboard20 – 40 lbs

Professional Digital Keyboard25 – 60 lbs

Standalone Digital Pianos100 – 300 lbs

Digital Grand Pianos150 – 350 lbs

Read on to learn more about the weight of different pianos and tips for moving pianos

The weight of a piano depends on its type

There are three main piano types: vertical pianos, horizontal pianos, and digital pianos

1 Upright Pianos – 200 to 1,000 lbs

In an upright piano, the strings are strung vertically

This makes the instrument more compact, which allows the piano to be played in a more compact space

Upright pianos are different from grand pianos as they have smaller soundboards and shorter strings

The pianos can weigh from 200 to 1,000 pounds (91 to 545 kg)

2 Grand Pianos – 500 to 1,200 lbs

Grand pianos have a larger horizontal soundboard and longer strings, so they are also called horizontal pianos

Grand pianos weigh anywhere from 500 lbs

3 Digital Pianos – 20 to 350 lbs

Digital pianos play differently from the upright and the grand

Instead of hitting strings, sensors are activated to produce a similar note like that from a grand or upright piano

As mentioned above, the average upright piano weighs between 200 lbs

There are various kinds of upright pianos

Types of Vertical Pianos

1 Upright Pianos

Upright pianos are also called ‘grandma pianos’ because they are one of the originally designed pianos

They measure 50” to 60”, making them the tallest vertical piano

Their width is 58 inches, with enough space to produce rich and deep sounds

Various upright piano brands have slightly different weights, starting from 480 lbs

Moreover, the console piano produces enhanced sounds as the hammers’ upright position is directly over the keys

It is one of the most popular vertical pianos because of how good it sounds

How much does a console piano weigh?

Console pianos can weigh between 350 to 450 lbs

This piano is the smallest of vertical pianos, with around 38 inches in height and 58 inches in width

If you lack space in your house, this can be a perfect piano for you

How much does a spinet piano weigh?

Spinet pianos weigh from 200 to 300 lbs

These pianos are bigger than consoles, measuring 44 to 48 inches in height and 58 inches in width

Studio pianos can weigh from 400 lbs

Grand pianos are the largest and most expensive pianos in the market

There are also different types of grand pianos

Types of Grands Pianos

1 Baby Grands 

These are horizontal pianos usually measuring 4’11” to 5’6” in height

This piano is popular among pianists due to its affordability, superb tonal quality, and simple elegance

It measures 4’5” to 4’10” high and produces clear, crisp notes despite its smaller size

Pianos smaller than 5 feet are considered petite pianos

Also called the ‘living room’ piano, the parlor grand measures 5’9” to 6’1” in height

The parlor grand can weigh from 600 lbs

The ballroom grand piano measures 6’2” to 6’7” in height

It is also called the semi-concert grand as its size is next to the concert grand piano

This grand piano measures 9 feet high, and thus, the largest of all pianos

This piano can weigh from 700 lbs

This piano can weigh from 700 lbs

Types of Digital Pianos

This piano is ideal for kid learners because the keys are light and are completely digital with built-in speakers

This digital piano features semi or fully weighted keys, as metal and wood are incorporated in its material to lend more authenticity to the sound

It weighs heavier at 25 to 60 lbs

3 Standalone Digital Pianos

This piano can be a substitute for the spinet grand piano

Its 88 keys are fully weighted and have a built-in speaker

It can stand alone, weighing 100 lbs

4 Digital Grand Pianos

This piano has 88 keys, fully weighted keys, and a built-in sound system

It has the same features as a mini-grand piano, complete with a piano top and four legs

The sound it produces is more or less comparable to that of grand pianos

Weights of Popular Piano Brands

Steinway and Sons Upright Piano Model 1098 – 480 lbsYamaha P22 Upright Piano – 490 lbsKawai K300 Upright Piano – 500 lbsMason and Hamlin Baby Grand Piano – 1,090 lbsSteinway Model D Concert Grand Piano – 990 lbsYoung Chang Grand Piano Y185 – 671 lbs

We have discussed how much the different pianos weigh; let’s now proceed to some tips for moving your piano from one house to another

Tips for Moving Your Piano

The shoulder belts or harness will allow you to carry the piano without getting injured

2 Move the Piano Slowly

Take your time and move the piano slowly

Avoid sudden movements as accidents can happen that may injure you and damage your piano

Think of the piano as ‘Humpty Dumpty’ that you may never put back together to its original state once you break it

Never move your piano without assistance

It is better to do so than regret later on when your piano gets irreparably damaged

You can move the piano by yourself with the help of some friends, but getting an expert mover to do it would decrease your risk of injury and accidental damage to your piano

In the end, the repair of a damaged piano could put a dent in your wallet

Hence, it is best to use a suitable piano trolley

If you are hiring professional movers, they have all the equipment they need to safely move your piano

5 Bind the Piano Securely

If you’re doing it yourself, take care not to damage the piano when securing the straps

No piano parts should be left hanging as this could bump into something

Remove all the sharp edges along its way and objects that could serve as ‘humps’ This is one crucial precaution to avoid the piano dropping down when accidents happen

Conclusion – How Much Does a Piano Weigh?

The weight of a piano varies based on its type and brand

Typically, an average professional grand piano weighs about 700 lbs

(317 kg), and an average baby grand piano weighs between 500 lbs

(317 kg), and an average baby grand piano weighs between 500 lbs

(544 kg), while an average (upright and vertical) piano weighs between 200 lbs

(544 kg), while an average (upright and vertical) piano weighs between 200 lbs

These are general average weights for the various types of pianos

(545 kg) of piano weight

[Standard, Grand, Baby, Digital]

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Ever wondered how much a piano weighs?

Whether you’re looking to buy a piano or move one out, finding out how much it weighs is key to the whole process

While you might think most pianos weigh the same, the truth is there are many different types of pianos that feature a wide weight range

Some pianos are definitely heavier than others, from full-size grand pianos to keyboards and upright pianos

To help you figure out your piano’s weight, we’ve noted some factors to consider

How Much Does A Standard Upright Piano Weigh?Spinet PianoConsole PianoStudio PianoFull-Size Upright PianoHow Much Does A Grand Piano Weigh?Petite Grand PianoBaby Grand PianosConcert Grand PianosHow Much Do Keyboards Weigh?Digital PianosElectric KeyboardsWhy Are Pianos So Heavy?Conclusion

How Much Does A Standard Upright Piano Weigh?

The standard upright piano is the most common type of piano that you’ll find in many places like churches, schools, and libraries

While smaller than some, an upright piano still weighs quite a bit and is impossible to move entirely on your own

You can expect a standard upright piano to weigh anywhere from 500 to 800 pounds, with the average model weighing around 750 pounds

Since upright pianos don’t take up as much room as other piano models, they’re the most popular type of piano for home use

Still, not all upright pianos weigh the same

Still, not all upright pianos weigh the same

Below, we’ll quickly go through the different types of uprights and how much you can expect them to weigh

Spinet Piano

Spinet Piano

The smallest of all upright pianos, spinet pianos, only measure 36 to 40 inches tall

A standard spinet piano without additional plating or engraving will weigh 200 to 400 pounds

Console Piano

Console Piano

The next size up from a spinet, a console piano is still relatively small compared to other piano models

It stands about 40 to 43 inches high and weighs around 350 to 450 pounds

It’s important to note that even if a piano stands a bit taller, it doesn’t mean it weighs more than a smaller model

For example, a spinet piano with high-quality parts might weigh 50 pounds more than a console piano, even though the console is bigger

Studio Piano

Studio Piano

Studio pianos are the standard-sized piano found in recording studios and music classrooms because of their size and sound

A standard studio piano might weigh anywhere between 400 to 500 pounds, standing at about 44 to 48 inches tall

Full-Size Upright Piano

The largest upright pianos can weigh between 500 to 1,000 pounds, much larger than the smallest versions of the instrument

They’re also the tallest vertical pianos, measuring around 48 to 60 inches in most cases

On the complete opposite end of the piano weight spectrum are full-size grand pianos, the mack-daddies of the piano world

Not only do full-size grand pianos cost a lot of money, but they weigh a ton as well

The average grand piano weighs anywhere between 500 and 1,400 pounds

However, not all grand pianos weigh the same

However, not all grand pianos weigh the same

However, not all grand pianos weigh the same

However, not all grand pianos weigh the same

Below, we’ll go through some of the different types of grand pianos and how much you can expect them to weigh

Petite Grand Piano

The smallest of grand piano sizes, pianos are considered petite grands when they measure less than five feet long

They have a relatively small weight range, with the smallest being about 400 pounds and the largest about 500

Baby Grand Pianos

The second-smallest grand piano size, baby grands are usually about 55 feet long and weigh about 500 to 600 pounds in most cases

This is the most popular type of grand piano because they weigh much less than concert grands but still retain a fantastic tonal quality at a smaller length

Concert Grand Pianos

These are the largest grand pianos available, measuring over 8 feet long and weighing anywhere between 900 and 1,200 pounds

You won’t typically find concert grands outside of concert halls because of their size

If you can’t handle moving a piano that weighs hundreds or even thousands of pounds, you may want to consider a keyboard instead

Keyboards are exceptionally lightweight alternatives to full-size vertical and grand pianos, making them fantastic for students or musicians who move around a lot

Digital Pianos

Also known as keyboards, digital pianos are essentially electric keyboards housed in a light wooden body that mimics a full-size piano

However, they are usually much lighter than a real piano might be

You can expect most digital pianos to weigh just over 100 pounds, making them very portable

Still, they can also go all the way up to 300 pounds, depending on the model

Standard keyboards are much lighter than pianos and digital pianos

You can expect most keyboards to weigh between 20 to 50 pounds, sometimes a bit more

Their weight, size, and portability make them a popular instrument to practice with before investing in a full-size piano

There are some keyboards, though, that weigh more

There are some keyboards, though, that weigh more

Pianos are made from large pieces of timber, one of the heaviest types of wood found in nature

The entire body of any piano are made from timber or similarly heavy wood, making it much heavier than other wood instruments

However, most of any piano’s weight doesn’t come from the wood body but from the cast iron interior

The cast iron harp, the part of the piano that holds all the strings and tiny pieces in place, is entirely cast iron, much heavier than any wood and most commercial metals

The cast iron harp is also home to thousands of metal parts

Even smaller pianos have cast iron, timber, and metal parts, meaning your spinet upright is still going to weigh hundreds of pounds, no matter how small it may be

While some pianos, like spinet or studio pianos, might be a manageable weight, other pianos are anything but

Grand pianos and even baby grand pianos weigh hundreds of pounds, sometimes over a thousand

If you’re planning to move a piano in or out of your residence or workspace, you’ll have to figure out how much it weighs

Hopefully, this guide has given you a good idea of how much your piano weighs and how many people you may need to move it safely and efficiently

Of all the musical instruments in the world, the piano might be one of the heaviest

It’s also one of the largest musical instruments featuring thousands of parts

The average piano weighs between 300 – 500 lbs

Most upright pianos weigh between at least 300 – 500 lbs

Larger upright pianos weigh up to 900 lbs

A baby grand piano weighs between 622 – 690 lbs

A baby grand piano weighs between 622 – 690 lbs

Most 9′ concert grand pianos weigh as much as 990 lbs

Most 9′ concert grand pianos weigh as much as 990 lbs

Most 9′ concert grand pianos weigh as much as 990 lbs

If you’re planning to move a piano, then it’s important to know just how much it weighs

Next, I’ll dive into what key parts contribute to the overall weight of the piano

I’ll also talk about what kind of equipment is needed to move them, and how to determine how much help is needed to move a piano

Interested in quality digital pianos for easy learning?

How Heavy Is A Piano In KG

How Heavy Is A Piano In KG

While most pianos are measured in terms of pounds, it’s important to know the average weight of a piano in kg, especially if you’re using moving equipment that measures differently

A baby grand piano weighs about 282kg

A baby grand piano weighs about 282kg

Pianos between 5’2″ – 5’9″ long weigh 330 – 395 kg

Concert grand pianos 9′ and above average around 480 kg

While these numbers are accurate averages for the weight of common piano types, a lot of it depends on the specific instrument model

For example, a 5’1″ Yamaha baby grand piano will not weigh the same as a Kawai GL-10

Although both pianos are the same size, they are built differently

The type of wood being used, the metal materials, hammers, strings, and other innovative parts have a great deal of effect on the weight

Thankfully, most piano manufacturers list the specs of their instruments on their websites and in brochures

The weight of all the parts in both pounds and kg is listed there as well as the number of total parts

Parts That Contribute To Overall Piano Weight

Every piano is different, but there are some universal acceptions when it comes to weight contribution

Below is a complete list of the heaviest parts of a piano and an explanation of why it contributes so much weight

Piano Casing

The body of the piano is built from many layers of wood

While those layers of wood are thin initially, together they do end up weighing quite a bit

The thickness of the casing has a great deal of impact on the sound the piano makes

Usually, the thicker the case, the more dark and whole the tone of the piano will be

The wood case is a key component of balancing the overall acoustics of the instrument

For upright pianos the casing is vertical, so the taller the piano the bigger the sound will be

That also means much more wood which contributes more weight

The upright piano is unique though as some parts of the wood casing are actually removable

Removing those parts can reduce the overall weight making the piano easier to move

The cast iron plate is one of the heavier parts inside a piano, specifically the grand piano

Cast-iron plates north of 60,000 lbs in tension!

Because of its ability to hold more tension, grand pianos can produce a much bigger sound

Typically the plate weighs around half the weight of the piano itself

Sometimes it can be as much as 70% of the overall weight of the piano

For example, a 600-pound baby grand piano would have a cast iron plate weighing between 300 – 375 lbs

For an 88 key piano, there are approximately 236 strings

Each of those strings carries several hundred pounds in tension, although that doesn’t entirely contribute to the weight of the entire instrument

Most piano strings are made from copper or steel wire

The treble strings measure around 1/30 inch in thickness

Those strings measure around 1/3 inch in thickness

Piano hammers are made up of a combination of wool and other fibers

Each hammer is connected to the piano keys by a wooden lever

Piano Legs

While the casing of the piano is quite heavy on its own, so are the legs themselves

Piano legs come in all shapes, sizes, and thickness levels

Some legs also have metal wheels which are also heavy so that they can support the weight of the entire instrument

It’s customary to remove the legs whenever moving a piano

This not only helps with getting the instrument through a narrow space but also with reducing the overall weight

Piano Lid

If you’ve ever lifted a piano lid before, then chances are you know just how heavy this part can be

The lid of a piano is made up of a solid combination of wood

It’s connected to the piano casing via metal hinges

One reason the lid is so heavy is that it’s designed to protect the inside parts of the piano from damage

Much of that depends on the size of the piano (concert grand vs upright) and how it was manufactured

If you plan to move a piano with a heavy lid, it’s a good idea to leave the lid on the hinges as it’s a difficult procedure to put them back on

Underneath the cast-iron plate is the most delicate part of the piano, the soundboard

The soundboard spans the entire length of the piano, however, it is not very thick

While the soundboard does not add significant weight to a piano, it’s still something to consider

Piano Keys

Piano Keys

There are 88 total keys on a full-size piano

As a whole, those keys add a nice bit of weight to the piano

Most piano keys are made from a combination of solid wood and plastic covering

Vintage pianos use ivory keys which weigh a bit more than today’s plastic keys

The most common reason for needing to know the weight of a piano has to do with moving one

Most professional movers use teams of 2 or 4 people when it comes to moving the instrument

You can expect an upright piano to take at least 2 people to move while a concert grand 6′ and higher might take up to 4 movers

If you plan to move a piano yourself then plan on having a few tools and extra helpers involved

You’ll need to have some tools to remove the legs on the piano as well as someone to lift the instrument up on the back end

It’s important to wrap the piano in plastic and with protective blankets so that it does not get scratched

Because pianos weigh several hundred pounds, it’s not wise to pick one up at any point

Instead, you should use a rolling piano dolly that you can easily slide the instrument onto

Check out this article for more details on how to move a heavy piano

Does Moving A Piano Put It Out Of Tune

After moving a piano, chances are you will need to tune it

Whether it’s a heavy upright or a lightweight grand, pianos will need to undergo a brief acclimation period

Usually, it takes a few weeks for a piano to settle before it can be tuned

Determining The Weight Of Your Piano

If you already own a piano then determining the weight is easy

This information is quite valuable, especially when you’re looking to hire a piano mover

Start off by searching online for the piano model number and year and you’ll find all the information you need

I’m a professional concert pianist and piano instructor

I enjoy blogging about the piano, the art of performance, general music, current events and the latest in music production

There are a number of reasons why you would be curious as to how much a piano weighs

Whatever the reason, I thought it would be wise to give you a breakdown of what the average piano weighs

There are definitely a couple of things to consider with this question, however, I have averaged out 7 upright pianos(new and old), and 7 grand pianos(including baby grands)

Keep in mind that this is only 14 pianos, however, I grabbed all of the major brands and tried to grab new and old models to get the average price

Note: If you came here because you’re curious about moving a piano and wondering if you can do it, the short answer is yes, however there are some precautions to take

In short, the average piano weighs 753 lbs (342 kg)

To get to this number I took 14 popular pianos, both upright and grand, then I proceeded to average them out

Here is a quick table that breaks down the 3 most popular types of pianos and their weights

Type Of PianoAverage WeightUpright300-500 LBSBaby Grand500-650 LBSGrand700-1200 Lbs

Average Weight Of An Upright Piano

To get to the bottom of this, I took 7 examples of upright pianos below

Below are examples of much upright pianos weigh

The average weight of an upright piano: 527 lbs or 239043 kg

You will notice that a lot of people claim that upright pianos weigh around 300 lbs

However, most come in closer to 400 and 500 lbs

If you are attempting to move a piano, the easiest way is to have two people and to use a 4 caster dolly

Average Weight Of A Grand Piano

Grand pianos are typically going to weigh between 500 and 1,500 lbs

Note: Some of these are baby grand pianos, as I wanted to present data that included larger grand pianos and smaller ones as well

Mason & Hamlin Artist Grand Piano BB: 1,090 lbs (4944 kg)Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano: 990 lbs (449 kg)Steinway Model S: 540 lbs (245 kg)Yamaha C3 Studio: 705 lbs (3193 kg)Young Chang Y185: 671 lbs (3044 kg)Mason & Hamlin CC: 1,399 lbs (6346 kg)Steinway & Sons Model B: 760 lbs (3448 kg)

The average weight of a grand piano= 8793 lbs or 3989 kg

It would be safe to say that most grand pianos will be slightly under 1,000 lbs and slightly over 600 lbs on average

879 lbs is a very fair analysis, as I have calculated some of the heaviest and lightest grand pianos

I would not recommend moving a grand piano on your own as they are too expensive

Spinet Piano Weights

Spinet pianos, like the one above typically, weigh between 200-400 lbs (91-181kg)

These are the smallest vertical pianos that are made

How To Move A Piano Without Movers

Should you choose to move your piano, it would be best to get an estimate of its weight by using our chart above

Once you determine the type of piano, you should have a good understanding of exactly what it weighs

When it comes to moving your piano, do the following:

Measure the pianos height and widthMeasure the room that you are placing the piano in to insure it fitsMeasure doorways height and width(There’s nothing more frustrating than moving a piano and finding out it doesn’t fit after an hour of carrying it)Use the chart above to determine weight of pianoUse a dolly when possible(Make sure the dolly can handle the weight of your pianoPlace caster cups where you will be putting the piano down should you have hardwood floorsAlways get more people to help than you think(I recommend 3-4 people for most pianos)Use caution with stairs(try to use elevator)If you are going upstairs, remember it’s dangerous(place more people on the bottom of the piano to push it up the stairs)

*Remember, we are not responsible should you get injured moving your piano or should you damage yourself, others or your piano/property damages

On average, it will cost between $150 at the lowest to upwards of $1,000 depending on how large the piano is and how far you have to move it

It depends on the weight and if you’re going upstairs

Typically, two people can move a heavy piano with a 4 caster dolly pretty easily

I have moved my Story & Clark piano up and down flights of stairs for years with 3 people total

This weighs 505 lbs

This weighs 505 lbs

This weighs 505 lbs

This weighs 505 lbs

This weighs 505 lbs

This weighs 505 lbs

I heavily recommend hiring movers to move your piano if it’s valuable and you’re dealing with stairs

Materials Used Varies The Weight

A lot of the weight in pianos come from the iron cast that is used

Sometimes older uprights are going to be heavier because of the wood used as well

If you’re a pianist or aspiring pianist who doesn’t want to deal with heavy pianos, you can check out the best digital pianos here

Should You Buy A Heavy Piano?

My honest opinion is that you shouldn’t let the weight be a factor in the choice of your piano

If you’re head over heels about a piano, go for it and figure out the rest later

After all, pianos last a lifetime, so don’t worry about having to move a couple of times with them

What Makes Pianos Heavy?

Pianos are heavy because of their overall construction

Pianos are typically constructed with heavy wood, cast iron plate, and the keys and wheels

70% of the piano’s weight comes from the harp (cast iron plate)

I came to the conclusion from my case study that the average piano weighs about 8793 lbs or 3988 kg

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