How much does piano moving cost in Virginia?

Piano moving in Virginia is priced job by job, and the piano and the house usually matter more than the miles. A grand costs more to move than an upright, each flight of stairs adds people and time, and a longer move inside Virginia is priced from the tariff the mover files with DMV. The figure to trust is an itemised written estimate from two or three movers that move pianos regularly, compared on the same details.

Here is what goes into that price, what a Virginia estimate should show, and what each mover will pay if something goes wrong.

What drives the price

The piano. Weight and shape decide the crew and the equipment. Steinway lists its K-52 upright at 650 lbs^[1] and its 6-foot-11 Model B grand at 802 lbs.^[2] Kawai's uprights run from 440 to 683 lbs,^[3] and its grands from 617 lbs for the GL-10 baby grand to 1,280 lbs for the SK-EX concert grand.^[4] A grand also has to be partly taken apart and moved on its side, which takes longer; how movers move a piano safely shows what that involves.

Stairs and access. Every step at either end counts, and so do landings, tight turns, long walks from the truck and steep driveways. On interstate moves, federal rules list piano carrying as an accessorial service, one of the additional services you request or that special circumstances require,^[6] and a flight charge is an additional charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs.^[6] Surprises cost money later, too: if elevators, stairs or parking permits turn out to be needed at the destination and were not foreseen, the mover can bill you for them after 30 days from delivery.^[6] Telling the mover about every step up front is the simplest way to keep the final bill close to the quote.

Distance, and which rules apply. Virginia household goods carriers moving goods less than thirty-one road miles are exempt from the household goods article of the Code, except its section on claims.^[8] Most across-town piano moves fall here, and the price is the one the mover quotes you. For deliveries over 30 miles, Virginia DMV says the carrier must charge the same rates as listed in the tariff it filed with DMV,^[7] and the tariff must include all of the carrier's rates and any rules, policies or guidelines it imposes on customers.^[7] On a longer in-state move, ask which tariff items apply to your piano. Moves that cross a state line, including many Northern Virginia moves into the District or Maryland, are interstate moves, and federal regulations protect consumers of interstate moves.^[6]

Extras. Storage between homes, crating, a hoist for a balcony or window, and a second trip all add to the price. So does a tuning after the move, which is a separate bill from a piano technician.

What a written estimate should show

For a move of 31 road miles or more inside Virginia, the Code sets the form. A written estimate from a Virginia household goods carrier carries the words "ESTIMATED COST OF SERVICES" across the top^[9] and shows the carrier's name, address and phone number.^[9] The estimate may be made only after the estimator inspects the goods or be based on information you give the carrier,^[9] and it covers only the articles and services listed.^[9] A carrier may bind the estimate, so the charges cannot exceed it, except for accessorial tariff charges at the destination that the carrier could not know about until delivery.^[9]

For an interstate move, federal rules require an interstate mover to give you a written estimate of all charges, including accessorial charges, dated and signed by you and the mover,^[6] and a verbal quote is not an official estimate.^[6]

For a short local move, ask for the same things anyway. A useful quote names:

• The piano: upright or grand, brand and model.
• Both addresses, and the stairs and access at each.
• The crew size and what equipment they bring.
• Every charge: the base price, stair or access charges, and any storage, crating or hoisting.
• Whether the price is fixed, and what could be added on the day.
• What the mover pays if the piano is damaged.

What the mover will pay if the piano is damaged

This is the part of the price people skip, and it matters most for a valuable instrument. On interstate moves, the no-cost option, Released Value, limits the mover's liability to no more than 60 cents per pound, per article.^[6] For a 650-pound upright, 650 pounds at 60 cents is $390.^[6][1] Full Value Protection, under which the mover repairs or replaces a damaged article or pays you the cost of doing so, is the default but adds to the cost of the move.^[6]

Inside Virginia, Virginia law says household goods carriers shall not assume any liability in excess of that for which they are legally liable under their lawful bills of lading and published tariffs,^[10] and they may not advertise that "all loads are insured" unless they have filed tariffs assuming complete liability and insurance covering every shipment to its full value.^[10] Ask each mover, in writing, what it pays per pound or per item, and whether your homeowner's or renter's policy covers the piano while it is in a mover's hands.

Budget for the tuning

A piano that has moved will usually need tuning once it has adjusted to its new room. For routine care, Kawai recommends tuning at least twice a year,^[5] so many owners simply make the first regular tuning of the year the one after the move. Ask the technician how long to let the piano settle, and for a price, when you book.

Stop and call a pro if

• The piano would have to go over a balcony, through a window or up a long outdoor staircase. Ask for a specialty quote that includes rigging or a hoist.
• The piano is an antique or is worth far more than ordinary coverage would pay. Get an appraisal and ask the mover about declared value and full coverage before the move.
• A quote is far below the others, has no written estimate, or wants full payment in cash before loading. Keep looking.
• The move crosses a state line. Use a mover with interstate authority; how to check an interstate mover shows where to look.

Getting quotes

For what a general household move costs, see how much local movers cost in Virginia, and for choosing the company, do you need special movers for a piano. Browse more junk removal and moving answers, see specialty item movers, or describe your piano move and get quotes.