How much does piano removal cost?

The price ranges by piano type

Upright pianos

• Ground floor, easy access: $150–$250
• One flight of stairs: $200–$350
• Multiple flights or tight access: $300–$500

Uprights weigh 400–800 lbs depending on size (spinet, console, studio, full upright). They’re top-heavy and require a dolly with proper straps. Stairs are the biggest cost driver because they require extra crew and more careful maneuvering.

Baby grand pianos

• Ground floor, easy access: $300–$450
• Stairs involved: $400–$600+

Baby grands require leg removal and skid board transport — not as straightforward as uprights. We typically send a 3-person crew.

Concert grand and parlor grand

Always quoted on-site. Typically $500–$800+ depending on size and access. Less common in residential settings.

Digital and electronic pianos

$75–$150. Much lighter, much easier. Routed through electronics recycling because of internal circuitry (Illinois bans them from landfills).

What affects the price

• Piano size and weight: spinets and small uprights are easier than full uprights and grands
• Floor level: ground floor is cheapest; basements and second floors add labor
• Stairs: the single biggest cost factor — each flight of stairs adds time and crew
• Doorway and hallway widths: tight access requires more maneuvering, sometimes disassembly
• Exterior access: easy front-door exit is fastest; backyard access through a gate adds time
• Piano condition: a piano that’s been moved recently is easier than one that’s been against a wall for 30 years (might be frozen in place)

Why piano removal costs more than other furniture

A piano is heavier than most large appliances and has a more awkward shape. Special equipment is required: piano dollies, skid boards, stair belts, and the experience to know when each one is right.

Most furniture removal crews aren’t comfortable with pianos. Junk Nurse is — we’ve done it enough times to know which corner of a Victorian staircase will accommodate a console upright and which won’t.

The crew time is also longer. A typical living room of furniture might take 45 minutes to load. A piano alone often takes 30–60 minutes.

What about “just dump the piano”?

Aurora’s regular trash and bulk pickup don’t take pianos. Most transfer stations charge fees per piano due to weight and disposal complexity. The realistic options are:

• Sell or donate (if playable)
• Hire junk removal
• DIY haul to a transfer station (requires a heavy-duty truck and 3–4 people willing to help)

For most homeowners, hiring junk removal is the path of least resistance.

Can you donate the piano instead?

If the piano is playable and in reasonable condition, donation is sometimes an option:

• Local churches and music ministries
• Public schools with music programs
• Community music schools
• Habitat ReStore (some locations)

Honest reality: the donation market for pianos is soft. Most donation centers receive more offers than they can place. Pianos that need tuning or repair are particularly hard to give away.

Junk Nurse routes donatable pianos when we can connect them with recipients. For pianos past saving, the metal plate (200–400 lbs of cast iron) has scrap value, and we route the rest through disposal.

Getting an accurate quote

Three things help us quote your piano removal accurately:

1. Photos of the piano (type, brand, age if known)
2. Photos of the path out (doorway, stairs, exit)
3. Floor level and any access constraints (basement, second floor, backyard)

Text these to (630) 294-1340 for a firm quote, usually within a few hours. The price we quote is the price you pay — no surprises at the curb.

For full details on piano removal, see our piano removal guide.