To get rid of an old piano in Collin County, first decide if anyone will play it. If so, sell or give it away and let a piano mover handle it. If not, city bulk pickup won't take it because of weight limits, so a heavy-item removal crew carries it out, priced by trailer space.
Is the piano moving or leaving for good?
That's the first question, because they're two different jobs. A piano mover's job is to deliver the instrument in playable condition.
A removal's job is to get it out of your house without damaging the walls, floors or people on the way. If the piano has a future, pay for moving. If it doesn't, you don't need handling meant to protect the instrument.
Either way, the path out of the house is the same. So the prep work below helps no matter who shows up.
Does an old piano have any value?
Sometimes, but don't assume it does. Condition, brand, age and whether it still holds a tune all matter.
A piano technician is the right person to tell you. A tuning visit costs far less than moving an instrument nobody wants.
Signs it's near the end: cracked or loose tuning pins, many sticking keys, a cracked soundboard, or water damage. If a technician says it can't hold a tune, plan on removal.
How do you sell or give away a piano?
Free or low-price listings are the usual route. Be upfront in the post about the last tuning, any sticking keys, and the floor it's on.
Schools, churches and community groups sometimes take pianos, but call first. Many have limited space, and the person taking it usually has to arrange the move.
Our guide to donating furniture in Collin County covers what to ask before you promise anyone a pickup.
- Include the type: spinet, console, studio upright or grand.
- List the number of steps between the piano and the driveway.
- Add clear photos of the keys, the cabinet and the inside if you can.
- Set a deadline, so the listing doesn't sit for months.
Why won't the city pick it up?
Weight. City bulk programs cap how heavy a single item can be, and a piano is far past every one of them.
Allen's bulk item page says items must weigh less than 150 lb. Frisco's bulk trash page caps items at 50 lb and 6 ft in any direction.
Melissa's bulk items page excludes items over 150 lb, and so does Princeton's residential trash page. The Collin County bulk pickup rules guide lists limits for other cities.
What makes a piano hard to move?
A piano has a heavy cast-iron plate inside, and the weight isn't spread evenly. Uprights are top-heavy and tip easily once they're off balance.
The small casters on the bottom aren't built for rolling across a room. They can gouge wood floors and catch on rug edges.
Stairs are where people get hurt. Never try a flight with too few people, or without a plan for who's below the piano.
If you're moving it yourself, what do you need?
It can be done, but it's not a two-person job. Gather the gear and the help before anyone lifts.
- Enough strong helpers, more than two, with one person calling the moves.
- A heavy-duty piano or appliance dolly rated for the load.
- Lifting straps and moving blankets to wrap the cabinet.
- Plywood or hardboard sheets to protect floors along the route.
- Tape to keep the lid and fallboard closed while it moves.
- A truck or trailer with a ramp, plus tie-down straps for the ride.
- Gloves and closed-toe shoes for everyone.
What should you do before anyone moves it?
Prep is the same for a DIY move, a piano mover or a removal crew. Ten minutes of it saves a lot of trouble.
- Clear the path from the piano to the door, including rugs, plants and side tables.
- Take pictures and mirrors off the walls along the stairs and hallway.
- Measure every doorway and turn on the route.
- Count the steps to the driveway, including porch steps and thresholds.
- Empty the bench and the piano itself. Old sheet music and keepsakes hide inside.
- Move vehicles so a truck or trailer can back up close.
- Keep kids and pets in another room while it moves.
Can you take a piano apart?
For an unwanted piano, it's possible, but it's slow and messy. The strings and the iron plate are under real tension.
Cutting strings or prying the plate without knowing how can send parts flying. It's not a job to improvise.
If you're not sure, move it whole. A good crew can usually get an upright out in one piece.
When should you have it removed?
Hire it out when the piano is upstairs, behind tight turns, or you don't have the people or the dolly. It also makes sense when it's one item in a bigger estate cleanout.
Pianos and organs are on the list for our heavy-item removal service, along with hot tubs, trampolines and gun safes. They get straps, a plan and a second person on the stairs.
Send a photo and tell us the type, the floor and the steps to the driveway. Pricing goes by trailer space, from $189, and we confirm a firm quote before loading.