Piano Care & Ownership: Weight, Cost, Tuning & Moving
A practical reference for anyone who owns a piano or is thinking about buying one — what it weighs, what it costs, how often to tune it, and how to move and protect it.
A piano is one of the largest, heaviest, and most valuable things most people will ever keep in their home — and unlike a digital keyboard, an acoustic instrument is a living object made of wood, felt, and roughly 20 tons of string tension that needs ongoing care. This guide answers the questions every owner eventually asks: how heavy is it, what is it worth, how often does it need tuning, what does tuning cost, how do you move it without damaging it, and how do you protect it from the climate in your room. If you are still deciding what to buy, start with our digital vs. acoustic comparison and our guide to the best beginner keyboards.
How much does a piano weigh?
Piano weight ranges enormously — from a portable digital that one person can carry to a concert grand that takes a crew of movers. The bulk of an acoustic piano's weight comes from its cast iron plate (also called the harp or frame), which alone can weigh over 45 kg (100 lbs) on an upright and well over 90 kg (200 lbs) on a grand. The plate has to be that heavy to withstand the combined tension of all the strings — about 18–20 tons on a full-size piano. The rest of the weight is the solid wood case, soundboard, and action.
How much does a piano cost?
New acoustic pianos span a huge range depending on size, build quality, and brand reputation. Digital pianos with fully weighted keys are far cheaper and need no tuning, which is why many beginners start there. The prices below are general ranges from public market data up to mid-2025 — actual figures vary by region, dealer, and the specific model.
Buying used: what to check
A decent used upright can be a genuine bargain at $500–$3,000 — but a cheap piano with hidden problems can cost more to repair than it is worth. Before buying any used acoustic instrument, have a qualified technician inspect:
- Tuning pins: they should be tight in the pinblock. Loose pins mean the piano won't hold a tune and may need a costly pinblock or restringing job.
- Soundboard: small age cracks are common and often harmless, but a separated or buzzing soundboard is a serious defect.
- Hammers: deep string grooves and hard, flattened felt indicate heavy wear; reshaping or replacement is expensive.
- Keys: check for level keys, no sticking, and even response across the keyboard.
- Action: the mechanism should feel even and responsive; sluggish or noisy action points to regulation or repair work.
How often should a piano be tuned?
The standard recommendation for a piano in regular use is twice a year — typically once in the fall and once in the spring, after the big humidity swings that come with turning the heating on and off. Strings drift out of tune mainly because the soundboard expands and contracts with seasonal moisture changes, not because of how much you play.
- Brand-new pianos: tune 3–4 times in the first year. New strings stretch and settle, so they fall out of pitch faster until they stabilize.
- Concert and performance pianos: tuned before every performance, sometimes daily.
- Pianos played heavily (teaching studios, practice rooms): three to four times a year keeps them stable.
Signs it needs tuning: the piano sounds “off” or sour compared with a reference pitch, octaves or unisons beat or waver, or chords that used to sound clean now sound muddy. If you have a tuner app or another tuned instrument handy, play an A above middle C and compare — a noticeable drift from A440 means it's time. Our virtual piano gives you an in-tune reference to check single notes against.
How much does piano tuning cost?
A routine tuning in the United States averages $100–$200, with prices varying by region and the technician's experience. The biggest variable is how far out of tune the piano has drifted.
A piano that has gone years without tuning often needs a pitch raise first — a coarse pass to bring overall tension back up to standard pitch — before a fine tuning will hold. That extra work adds $50–$150. Keeping to a regular schedule is cheaper in the long run because it avoids pitch raises entirely.
How to move a piano safely
Pianos are heavy, top-heavy, and full of fragile internal parts, which makes them genuinely dangerous to move and easy to damage. For grands — and for any move that involves stairs, doorways, or a vehicle — hire professional piano movers. The only move most owners should attempt themselves is rolling an upright a short distance on a level floor in the same room.
When to hire professionals vs. DIY
- Almost always hire pros for grand pianos, any move with stairs, and any move between buildings or homes. Grands must be partially disassembled and tipped onto a padded board (skid).
- DIY is reasonable only for repositioning an upright within the same room on a flat surface — and even then, use two or more people and never tilt it.
What professional movers do
- Wrap the instrument in moving blankets / padding and secure it with straps.
- Use a piano dolly for uprights so the weight rolls rather than being carried.
- For grands, remove the lid and legs, lay the body on a padded skid board, then strap it upright on the dolly.
- Carry specialized insurance — if something goes wrong, the instrument is covered.
Typical moving costs
- Local upright move: roughly $150–$300.
- Local grand move: roughly $350–$600.
- Long-distance moves: considerably more, priced by distance, weight, and access (stairs, tight doorways, and elevators all add cost).
Piano humidity & climate control
A piano is mostly wood, and wood swells and shrinks with moisture. Keeping the environment stable is the single most important thing you can do to protect the instrument and help it hold a tune. The ideal range is a relative humidity of about 42–45% with a steady temperature around 65–75°F (18–24°C). What harms a piano is not a particular number so much as large, rapid swings.
- Too dry: the soundboard can shrink and crack, glue joints loosen, and the piano goes flat. Winter heating is the usual culprit.
- Too humid: wood swells, keys and action parts stick or feel sluggish, and felt and strings can corrode or grow mold over time.
For valuable instruments, an installed humidity-control system such as a Dampp-Chaser (the Piano Life Saver system) or Steinway's factory climate-control option regulates moisture inside the piano automatically and is well worth the investment. A simple room humidifier or dehumidifier plus a hygrometer is a budget-friendly alternative for most home pianos.