Moving a piano or heavy item in Denver

Published piano and adder prices

Two of the Denver cost pages we track print a piano figure. Both treat it as an add-on to an hourly local move, not a separate service.

The two piano bands overlap from $300 to $640. Neither source says which piano types or access conditions sit at each end, so treat the top of each band as the case with stairs or a difficult turn. Stair and long-carry charges can apply on top: a piano up two flights may carry a stair charge per flight as well.

What sets the price

Colorado law treats these charges as "accessorial services" that the mover must itemize. Colorado law lists packing, unpacking, storage, long carries, stair and elevator carries, hoisting, waiting time, disassembly and reassembly, and packing materials as "accessorial services" that a mover must itemize. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-501, read 2026-10-20.)

1. The itemType, size and weight: an upright is not a grand, and a gun safe varies by model.
2. The pathSteps, landings, turns and door widths at both ends.
3. The distanceFrom the truck to the door. Denver street parking decides this.
4. The equipmentPiano board, stair climber, extra crew, or a hoist.

Parking is the Denver-specific part. If the truck can't stop near the door, every heavy item travels further. Denver requires a permit to park a moving truck or van in the street. Where there are parking meters you file a Parking Meter Request; otherwise a Right-of-Way Street Occupancy request. Street occupancy permits take at least five days to review. (Denver DOTI, read 2026-09-29.)

Item by item: what to ask

What to send the mover before the estimate

• A photo of the item with a tape measure in frame.
• The make and model, or the weight printed on a safe's label or manual.
• Photos of every step, landing and turn on the route, at both addresses.
• Door widths at the narrowest point, with the door open.
• Where the truck can park, and how far that is from the door.
• Whether an elevator is available and its inside size.

A mover that prices a piano without seeing any of this is guessing, and guesses are what move the final bill.

Colorado estimate rules for a heavy item

A Colorado mover must give a written estimate of the total cost, and the basis for it, at least 24 hours before a scheduled move, unless the move is booked less than 24 hours ahead. The mover cannot charge more than 110 percent of the estimate. (4 CCR 723-6-6608, read 2026-09-29.) That cap only helps if the heavy item is on the estimate. If the crew arrives to find a grand piano no one mentioned, the estimate no longer describes the job.

Before work starts the mover must leave a contract that states its PUC permit number, itemizes costs and names at least two accepted forms of payment, and must have you sign a consumer advisement. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-505.) Look for the piano or safe as a named line with its price, not folded into "miscellaneous". Check the mover's permit first with the Colorado mover check.

Protecting a valuable piece

Released value pays by weight, which works badly for a heavy, valuable item. The contract must offer two cargo valuation options: released value, at the lesser of sixty cents per pound per lost or damaged article, or full replacement cost, where you declare the value of the shipment. (4 CCR 723-6-6608.) At 60 cents a pound, a 500-pound piano is covered for $300 under released value, whatever it is worth.

On the day

• Clear the route and protect floors before the crew arrives.
• Empty safes, and remove anything loose from piano benches and cabinets.
• Photograph the item's condition before it moves.
• Have the piano tuned after it has settled in the new room, not on moving day.
• Note any damage on the paperwork before the crew leaves.

Common questions about piano and heavy-item moves