How Much Does A Piano Weigh? In Kgs And Lbs (A Movers Guide)

Pianos come in all shapes and sizes, but they have one thing in common – they are heavy. If you’re thinking about moving a piano, you'd better know how much it weighs. And in this guide, we'll tell you.

First off, if you know the exact model of your piano, you can look up the piano’s exact weight on the manufacturer’s or reseller’s website. Otherwise, follow this guide for the average weights of different pianos.

Average Piano Weights

The average upright/vertical piano weighs anywhere from 200 to 1,000 lbs. or 91 to 545 kg. The average baby grand piano (under 5’ 6”) weighs around 700 lbs. or 317 kg. A full concert grand pianos can weigh up to 1,200 lbs or 544 kg.

These are the average weights for different kinds of pianos, but they have a wide range because there are different lengths and weights of both upright and grand pianos. For a more detailed breakdown, check out the upright and grand piano section below.

Vertical Piano Weights

Vertical pianos have strings placed vertically behind the keys, which means they take up less square footage and are easier to move. These are the most common type of acoustic pianos found in homes, churches, and music schools.

There are many types of vertical pianos and most of them vary by height. The sizes mentioned here are all from the bottom of the piano to the top.

Spinet Piano

Height: 36” – 40” 

Weight: 200 to 400 lbs. or 91-181 kg

Spinet pianos are the smallest vertical piano. Two strong people can move a spinet from room to room.

Console Piano

Height: 40” – 43”

Weight: 350 to 450 lbs. or 159-204 kg

Console pianos are a popular type of vertical piano – somewhere between a spinet and an upright, they are a bit taller than a spinet. They weigh approximately the same as a spinet and can be moved by two strong people.

Studio Piano

Height: 40” – 48”

Weight: 400 to 500 lbs. or 158 to 227 kg

Studio pianos are a bit taller than console pianos and are popular in music schools as they are a good compromise between size and tone. They typically weigh more than console or spinet pianos and require three people to move.

Upright Piano

Height: 48” – 60”

Weight: 500 to 1,000 lbs. or 227 to 454 kg

Upright pianos are the tallest of the vertical pianos and are usually older instruments – often found in churches, grandma’s basement, etc. The weight of these pianos can vary widely because they made these pianos varying heights and use all sorts of woods.

The weight of your upright piano will depend on the make, the size, and the era in which it was built. Either way, you’ll need at least four people to move an upright piano.

Grand Piano Weights

Grand pianos vary in size even more widely than upright pianos – concert grands are almost nine feet long! Note that the size of these pianos is measured from the front of the keyboard to the farthest end of the piano with the lid closed.

Petite/Mini Grand Piano

Length: 4’ 6” – 5’

Weight: 400 to 500 lbs. or 181 to 227 kg

Any grand piano shorter than five feet is considered a petite, small, or miniature grand piano. For a grand piano, they are relatively light, weighing around 400 to 500 lbs. Because of the shape of the piano, you'll require three people to move it. You may also need some knowledge of how the piano is constructed, should you need to remove parts to move it.

Baby Grand Piano

Length: 5’ – 5’ 6”

Weight: 500 to 600 lbs.

Baby grand pianos are a popular choice for grand pianos because their size is reasonable, they sound beautiful and play well, and they are more affordable than full-size grand pianos. These instruments require four people to move, sometimes specialized equipment and knowledge of how to take them apart and put them back together again.

Medium Grand Pianos (Model M)

Length: 5’ 7”

Weight 500 to 600 lbs. or 226 to 272 kg

Medium grand pianos have a full tone but are still small enough to fit in most homes and apartments. These are usually owned by music schools, professionals, and avid piano hobbyists.

These pianos are getting into the size and weight where getting help from a professional is highly recommended. Most of the time medium grands will take at least four people to move and potentially some specialized knowledge and equipment to overcome obstacles in moving.

Living Room Grand Piano

Length: 5’ 10”

Weight: approximately 700 lbs. or 318 kg

These grand pianos are just slightly larger than the medium grand pianos – they have all the technical amenities of concert grand pianos while making better use of space. The moving recommendations are the same – professionals are recommended.

Professional Grand Piano

Length: 6’

Weight: 700 to 800 lbs. or 318 to 362 kg

Anything over six feet leaves the territory of baby grands and enters into the professional territory. They generally require professionals for serious moves.

Recital Grand Piano

Length: 6’ 3” – 6’ 9”

Weight: 750 to 850 lbs. or 340 to 385 kg

Pianos in this range are often called a recital grand or Model A piano. They are often found in university concert halls/recital halls. They are suitable for any professional performance space.

Their size, weight, and cost usually require professional movers for any substantial move.

Ballroom Grand Piano

Length: 7’ – 8’ 6”

Weight: 900 to 1000 lbs. or 408 to 453 kg

Medium to large concert halls and venues often have ballroom grand piano or semi-grand pianos. Recording studios also frequently use these pianos. They range in size by around a foot, but generally anything over seven feet is considered a ballroom grand.

You'll want to enlist the help of professionals to move and maintain pianos of this size.

Concert Grand Pianos

Length: 8’ 11-3/4” and over

Weight: 900 to 1200 lbs. or 408 to 544 kg

The concert grand piano is the pinnacle pianos and are usually only found in professional halls, venues, and studios. Their cost is exorbitant, and they are large and heavy, but they sound incredible.

You need professionals to move pianos of this size.

Electric Pianos

Electric pianos also range in weight, but they are generally lighter and more portable than their acoustic relatives. Part of the advantage in electric pianos is their portability. Here are the different types of electric pianos that exist.

Beginner’s Electric Keyboard

Weight: 20 to 40 lbs. or 9 to 18 kg

These keyboards are usually made of plastic, completely digital, and have unweighted keys. They are designed to be affordable and accessible, to get kids and beginners playing the piano, and part of the advantage is their small size and light weight.

They are easily the lightest piano available, but they sacrifice keys and tone to achieve this. These pianos usually have speakers built-in, as they are designed to be easy for the beginner to use.

Professional Digital Keyboards

Weight: 25 to 60 lbs. or 11 to 27 kg

Professional digital keyboards usually have semi-weighted or fully weighted keys. They weigh a little more than cheap keyboards because they usually incorporate metal and/or wood into their construction.

Pianos in this category include the Nord Electro, Korg SV-1 and the Roland FA-06. While these pianos are quite light, they require a good case if you are hauling them to gigs, which can add up to 30 lbs. to the overall weight.

Digital keyboards like this do not usually have speakers built-in.

Professional Stage Pianos

Weight 40 to 120 lbs. or 18 to 54 kg

These pianos are characterized by 88 keys, as well as a larger, and heavier build. Pianos in this category include the Nord Grand, the Nord Stage, the Roland RD-88, the Yamaha CP88, and the Korg GS188. Professional stage pianos don’t usually come with speakers – they require an amp, headphones, or a DI.

These pianos are often large enough that they require a solid hard-case with wheels. They can weigh over 40 lbs. alone, and the case can double that weight.

Standalone Digital Pianos (Digital Upright Piano)

Weight: 100 to 300 lbs. or 45 to 136 kg

Standalone digital pianos are meant to look like spinet pianos. Pianos in this category include the Yamaha Arius series, the Roland F-140R, and the Roland RP102.

They are approximately the same size as spinet pianos and are designed to replace the small spinet style pianos. They have 88 keys, fully weighted keys, and built-in speakers. They usually have a few tones onboard besides just a grand piano tone.

Digital Grand Pianos

Weight: 150 to 350 lbs.

Digital grand pianos are the grand version of the standalone digital upright piano. They are shaped like a mini-grand piano, have 88 keys, full weight, and high-quality speakers. The top of the piano can be lifted up, just like a proper grand piano.

The appeal is the excellent sound quality, the speakers, and the look of the piano. They are also louder than most digital upright pianos.

Should You Hire Professionals Or Move Your Piano Yourself?

Pianos are difficult items to move. They are heavy, often tall, sometimes long, weirdly shaped, heavy, delicate, and unbalanced. Pianos have over 10,000 moving parts, so moving them is not for the faint of heart.

If you can afford it, you should hire a professional company to move your piano for you. They have specialized equipment, experience with a variety of situations, and they will often insure you piano against damage caused by moving. Plain and simple, this is the best way to move a piano without injuring the instrument or yourself.

But if you decide to do it yourself, here are some tips.

Measure Before You Move

Measure the piano, height, and width. Make sure the piano is going to fit into its new location. Also check to ensure that it will fit through your doorways and into whatever vehicle you are using to move it.

Enlist Help

Even the lightest piano requires two people to move. There are videos online of people moving a piano by themselves – just because it’s possible doesn’t mean it is a good idea. The more help the better. Three to four people are usually recommended for a piano moving job.

Get Some Equipment

Try to find two to three dollies (preferably piano dollies) to make moving the piano easier. You will need straps to make sure it doesn’t move around in the vehicle, and padding or moving blankets to prevent the piano from getting damaged.

You shouldn’t rely too heavily on the wheels (also known as casters) that are attached to some pianos. These are not made to roll long distances or to roll on rough concrete. The small wheels can also jam on carpet and scratch floors. A dolly will serve you better.

Clear Obstacles

Make sure you have a clear path to the door and out to the vehicle. Go over the path and plan with the people you’ve enlisted to help you move.

As you're moving the piano, go slow and make sure nobody is going to injure themselves or harm the instrument.

Load The Piano & Secure It

The piano should be one of the first things in a moving truck. The better it is packed and secured, the safer it will be. Secure the piano with straps and ropes, and stack other larger objects beside it to prevent it from falling down or moving.

Tune The Piano After The Move

You should tune the piano about a month after you move. This gives the piano time to adjust to its new home and humidity, temperature, and light differences that come with moving. Don’t wait too long to tune it, or you risk causing damage to the tuning pegs. 

How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano?

We did a whole guide that covers moving costs and considerations in depth.

Here is the approximate cost of moving various types of pianos:

• Moving an upright piano locally costs between $150 and $400.
• Moving a grand or baby grand piano can cost between $250 and $2,000. The bigger the piano, the more expensive it will be. The more difficult the move (stairs, height, space) the more expensive it will be.
• Moving an upright piano over a long distance will usually cost around $500, but these costs are usually rolled into the cost of moving a bunch of furniture and belongings.
• Moving a grand piano over a long distance will cost over $1,000. You need professionals to move it twice (in and out) and they will often have to dismantle some parts of the piano and pack them as well. Contact your local piano moving company for a quote. It is important to make sure that the company has experience working with pianos, as they are delicate instruments that require more consideration than a simple couch.
• If you have other accessories to move such as your sheet music, piano lamps, bare in mind you'll have to move these separately and don't factor into the above costs.