Removal guide

Piano removal: what it costs, how it works, and when to DIY

By Tyler BornsteinJuly 12, 20267 min read
TL;DR

Piano removal runs $130 to $365 depending on the type of piano and how many stairs are involved. An upright on the ground floor is around $130. A grand piano or anything going down two flights of stairs pushes toward $365. Text photos and your town to get a flat price within 24 hours.

Most piano removal quotes start with a long pause on the other end of the phone. Then someone says they need to "send a guy to look at it." Then the number changes three times. We skipped all of that. You text a few photos of the piano and your town, we send back one flat price within 24 hours. No walkthrough, no surprise charges when the crew is already in your living room.

We haul pianos across 16 towns around Billerica, Massachusetts, from Lowell to Concord, Tewksbury to Acton. The crew loads it, hauls it, and sweeps up behind it. If the piano is going down stairs, we add the access fee up front and tell you about it before we book. That is the whole job.

What piano removal actually costs

We price by volume and weight. A piano is heavy. An upright runs 300 to 500 pounds, a grand can hit 1,000 or more. That means the weight multiplier kicks in: 1.2x for heavy items, 1.45x for very heavy. The base price depends on how much space the piano takes in the trailer and whether stairs are involved.

An upright piano on the ground floor with easy truck access is a straightforward job. One to two items in the trailer, heavy weight multiplier. That puts you around $130. A grand piano, or an upright going down a flight of stairs, pushes the number up to $200 to $365 depending on the specifics.

Quotes carry about ±15% until we see the job in person. We say that out loud instead of springing it on you when the truck is already in the driveway.

Piano removal pricing — flat, all-in, no hourly meter
Piano typeFlat price rangeNotes
Upright (ground floor)$130–$200Standard weight, easy access
Upright (stairs involved)$170–$280Add $40/flight for stairs
Spinets and small uprights$130–$170Lighter, less trailer space
Grand or baby grand$250–$365Heavy, may need disassembly
Console or studio piano$150–$250Between upright and grand

Weight and stairs change the number more than anything else

A piano is not a couch. The weight multiplier is the single biggest factor in the price. Standard furniture runs 1.0x, that is your baseline. A 400-pound upright hits 1.2x. A 900-pound grand hits 1.45x. That multiplier applies to the base volume price, and it is why two pianos that look similar on paper can be $100 apart in the quote.

Stairs are the other variable. One flight of stairs adds $40. Two or more adds $80. If the piano is going around a tight corner, down a narrow stairwell, or through a doorway that needs the legs removed, that is "very difficult" access, a $120 add-on. We figure this out from the photos you send, not by showing up and guessing.

A customer in Burlington had a hot tub stuck in the backyard that three other companies said no to. We had it out in 90 minutes. Pianos are the same game. The crew knows how to move heavy, awkward items through tight spaces. The difference is we tell you the number before we start, not after.

Different pianos, different jobs

An upright piano is the most common job we see. They are heavy but predictable: 300 to 500 pounds, standard shape, fits through most doorways if you angle it right. Most upright jobs are ground floor, one to two items in the trailer, done in under an hour.

Grand and baby grand pianos are a different animal. They weigh 500 to 1,000 pounds, the legs usually need to come off, and the lid needs to be secured. These jobs take longer and need more hands. The price reflects that. $250 to $365 is the typical range for a grand piano removal in our service area.

Spinet pianos are the lightest, 200 to 300 pounds. They were built to be small and cheap to make, and they are the easiest to haul. If you have a spinet that has been sitting in the corner for 20 years and nobody plays it anymore, the removal is usually $130 to $170.

Digital pianos and keyboards are just electronics. They go in the trailer with everything else, priced as standard items, no weight multiplier needed.

How piano removal works with us

Text us photos of the piano and tell us your town. We send back one flat price within 24 hours. If you want to book, you pick a 2-hour arrival window — same-day or next-day is common in Billerica and surrounding towns.

The crew shows up in the window, confirms the price matches the photos, and gets to work. Pianos with legs that need removing — that is mostly grands — take a few extra minutes. Everything else is straightforward: load, haul, sweep.

Payment comes after the job, only when you are happy. Cash, check, Venmo, Zelle, or card. No up-front deposit for standard residential work. The crew sweeps up behind them before they ask for the number.

When a single dump run is cheaper than hiring us

If you have a truck that can handle 400 pounds, a friend who can help lift, and a free Saturday morning, a transfer-station run will cost you less than our $130 base price. We will tell you that. We would rather lose the job than charge you for something you could do yourself for less.

The catch is that pianos are awkward and heavy. People get hurt moving pianos down stairs. If there are stairs involved, or if the piano is going through a tight doorway, hiring a crew that does this every week is usually worth the price. But for a ground-floor upright with easy truck access? If you have the means, the dump fee is cheaper.

Where the piano goes after we haul it

Pianos are hard to recycle. The wood, metal strings, and cast-iron harp are technically recyclable, but most facilities do not take assembled pianos. If the piano is in good condition, we try to donate it — churches, community centers, and music schools sometimes take them. If nobody wants it, it goes to the transfer station.

We do not dump pianos on the side of the road. Everything goes to a proper facility. The landfill is the last resort, not the default.

05 — FAQ

Straight
answers.

The questions people ask before they book. Can’t find yours? Text us a photo and ask.

Piano removal in Massachusetts costs $130 to $365 flat, depending on the type of piano and access. An upright on the ground floor is around $130. A grand piano or anything with stairs involved runs $200 to $365. These prices include labor, loading, hauling, and disposal.
Yes. Basement piano removal is a common job. The stairs add $40 for one flight or $80 for two or more. If the stairwell is tight or the piano needs the legs removed to fit, that is "very difficult" access — a $120 add-on. We figure this out from the photos you send.
Yes. Grand and baby grand pianos usually need the legs and pedal lyre removed before they can be moved. The crew handles the disassembly and reassembly is not needed since the piano is being hauled away. This is included in the price.
Upright pianos weigh 300 to 500 pounds. Grand pianos weigh 500 to 1,000 pounds. Spinet pianos are the lightest at 200 to 300 pounds. Weight affects the price through our multiplier — heavier items cost more to move because they take more crew effort and care.
Yes, but it depends on the stairwell. A standard apartment stairwell with room to angle the piano is doable — add $80 for two-plus flights. A narrow walkup with tight turns may require the legs to come off (for grands) or a different approach entirely. Send photos and we will tell you what it will take.
We do not buy pianos. If the piano is in good condition, we try to donate it to local churches, community centers, or music schools. Most pianos we remove are beyond donation — they have been sitting unused for years and need to be hauled away.
If you can move it yourself, the transfer-station dump fee is cheaper than hiring us. You will need a truck that can handle the weight and someone to help lift. For ground-floor pianos with easy access, this is a real option. For anything with stairs, the risk of injury usually outweighs the savings.
Most piano removals are booked within 24 to 48 hours. Same-day is often available in Billerica and surrounding towns. On-site, the crew loads and hauls in 30 to 60 minutes depending on access. Send photos in the morning, have the piano gone by the afternoon.
04 — GET A QUOTE

Send photos.
Get a price.

The fastest way to book us. Upload photos of what needs to go, tell us where, and we'll reply with a flat quote — usually within a few hours.

01Flat, all-in pricing

Labor, loading, hauling, disposal — one number.

02Same-week scheduling

Most jobs booked within 48 hours. Emergencies welcome.

03Locally owned

You're hiring your neighbors. We answer the phone ourselves.

04We donate & recycle

Anything usable goes to local charities & recyclers.

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