Figuring out how to get rid of a piano is harder than most people expect. It's not like a couch. A piano is heavy, top-heavy and awkward, and the market for old ones is pretty small. Here's what actually works in South Florida, and what usually doesn't.
Option 1: Sell it
If your piano is a well-known brand and it's been tuned and cared for, you might find a buyer. Try Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor or a local piano shop.
Just keep your expectations real. Many old pianos have little resale value. A lot of uprights and spinets from decades ago sell for very little, or don't sell at all. Humidity is rough on wood and strings, and plenty of people now buy digital keyboards instead. If it hasn't been tuned in years, buyers will notice.
Option 2: Give it away
Listing it for free gets more interest than listing it for sale. The catch is that whoever takes it has to move it. Lots of people say yes, then back out once they find out what moving a piano takes. Be ready for a few no-shows.
Option 3: Donate it
Donating a piano is harder than it sounds. Many charities and thrift stores don't accept pianos at all, and the ones that do are often picky about age and condition. Schools and churches sometimes want one, but they usually can't pick it up. Call around first before you count on it.
Why moving a piano yourself is a bad idea
We'll be honest. Moving a piano is one of the more dangerous DIY jobs out there. Here's why:
- It's heavy. Even small uprights are a lot heavier than they look.
- It's top-heavy. Most of the weight sits high and in the back, so it can tip.
- Stairs are risky. If it gets away from you on a step, someone can get badly hurt.
- It wrecks floors and door frames. Tile, wood floors and walls take a beating.
A piano is the one lift you shouldn't max out on with a couple of friends. If you're set on moving it yourself, use enough people, a proper dolly and straps, and never stand on the downhill side of it.
Option 4: Have it hauled away
If it won't sell and nobody wants it, we'll take it. Our crew handles the lifting, gets it out of the house and loads it into the trailer. If it's not worth keeping whole, we may take it apart to get it out, then sweep up.
When we can, metal parts get recycled. If you've got other stuff going too, like an old bench, couch or dresser, we can take that on the same trip. That's part of our furniture removal service.
What it costs to remove a piano
Pianos are specialty items, so they're priced separately, not by trailer load. The price depends on:
- The size and type of piano
- Stairs, steps or a raised entry
- How far it has to go from the room to the trailer
- Tight doorways, hallways or turns
A spinet in a ground-floor room by the front door is a much easier job than an upright in a second-floor condo. If you're clearing out other items too, our post on junk removal cost shows how load pricing works. You get a written quote on site, and you pay after it's loaded.
Related service: Furniture & Mattress Removal