How Much Does a Piano Weigh? Weights for All Piano Classes & Popular Models


How Much Does a Piano Weigh

A piano is a beautiful instrument, but it would certainly break your bathroom scale.

Lots of people wonder how heavy these behemoths really are.

You probably know they’re heavy, but how heavy is a piano, exactly? How much does a piano weigh?

It’s beneficial to know things like this if you’re planning to transport a piano or you’re an aspiring pianist looking to buy one.

Table of Contents

In this article, I’ll cover the weight of every piano type, including many popular piano models.

Weights of Different Piano Types

The number of piano types in the world is endless, but I’ll cover the most popular ones. How much does a piano weigh?  It depends on the type of piano. Pianos varies in size and weight class. Here are the two main piano types on the market right now.  

  • Upright Pianos
  • Grand Pianos

Within these types, there are several subcategories.  The category of upright pianos includes Spinet, Console, and Studio pianos. Technically, these pianos are classified as “vertical pianos,” but most people call them upright.  

There’s the Petite, Baby, Medium, Professional, Semi-Concert, and Concert Grand Pianos in the Grand Piano category. When you are wondering how heavy is a piano, you will first need to know which type of piano you mean.  I’ll go through the weights of each of these types, starting from smallest to largest.

How Heavy is An Upright Piano?

Below is a list of the different types of upright pianos and their weights.

How Much Does a Spinet Piano Weigh?

Spinets are the smallest of vertical pianos. They are generally 3′ to 3’4″ tall. The Spinet piano weight is typically 200-400 lbs. Because of their small, lightweight nature, Spinets are the easiest type of vertical piano to transport.

Popular Spinet Piano

One of the most popular Spinet pianos types is Baldwin Acrosonic. There are several models in the Acrosonic series, and they all weigh between 300 and 400 lbs.

How Much Does a Console Piano Weigh?

Console pianos are a bit larger than Spinets and weigh 350 to 450 lbs. They’re also slightly taller, measuring 3’4″ to 3’7″.

Popular Console Piano

The Yamaha MX500S is a popular console piano. It’s 3’6″ tall and weighs approximately 410 lbs.

How Much Does a Studio Piano Weigh?

Studio pianos the second heaviest vertical pianos behind Uprights. Studio Pianos weigh around 400-500 lbs and are anywhere from 3’8″ to 4′ tall.

Popular Studio Piano

Undoubtedly, the most famous Studio piano of all time is the Yamaha U1. This piano measures 4′ tall and weighs 502 lbs.

How Much Does an Upright Piano Weigh?

Upright pianos have a much wider weight range than other vertical pianos. These instruments can weigh 500 to 1,000 lbs and be 4′ to 5′ tall. Because of how heavy an upright piano is, if you’re going to move an upright piano, it’s essential to have a moving plan beforehand. A lack of a plan could lead to injury, damage to the piano, and even the piano’s destruction. There have been many piano accidents involving a piano falling off the back of a truck.

Popular Upright Piano

The Yamaha U3 is one of the most popular Upright pianos ever. It’s 52″ tall, with a weight of 517 lbs.

Grand Piano Weight

How much does a grand piano weigh?  Below are the different types of grand pianos and their weights.

How Much Does a Petite Baby Grand Piano Weigh?

Petite Baby Grands are the smallest Grand Piano types. Most of them range from 4’6” to 5’ in length and weigh 400 to 500 lbs. These pianos are ideal for people who have limited house spaces.

Popular Petite Baby Grand Piano

Kimball La Petite is a well-known piano model in this category. It’s 4’6″ in length and weighs right around 400 lbs.

How Much Does a Baby Grand Piano Weigh?

A Baby Grand can weigh anywhere from 500 to 600 lbs and are 5’ to 5’6” long. These are the most sought-after piano type for homeowners. The most popular manufacturer of Baby Grands is Yamaha.

Popular Baby Grand Piano

When searching for a Baby Grand, you’ll likely come across the Yamaha GB1K. It’s 5′ long and weighs 574 lbs.

How Much Does a Medium Grand Piano Weigh?

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A Medium Grand Piano usually weighs around 600 lbs. Most of them are 5’6” to 5’10” long. They produce more sound and have more resonance than a Baby Grand Piano.

Popular Medium Grand Piano

A popular Medium Grand Piano is the Yamaha C2X. It weighs 674 lbs and is 5’8″ long. This model is extra heavy because of its robust frame.

How Much Does a Professional Grand Piano Weigh?

These types of pianos are around 6’ long,  and Professional Grand Pianos weigh about 700 lbs. Owning a piano of this stature means you have plenty of space and a desire for excellent sound quality.

Popular Professional Grand Piano

A widely-known Professional Grand is the Yamaha C3X. It’s 6’1” long with a weight of 704 lbs. If you’re moving a piano this heavy, make sure you take extreme care.

How Much Does a Semi-Concert Grand Piano Weigh?

Places that house Semi-Concert Grand Pianos are usually concert halls and institutions. They weigh between  900 and 1,000 lbs and are 7’ to 8’6” long.

Popular Semi-Concert Grand Piano

The Yamaha CF6 is a renowned Semi-Concert piano that weighs 901 lbs. From back to front, it’s 7′ long.

How Much Does a Concert Grand Piano Weigh?

Concert Grand Pianos are at the top of the food chain when it comes to pianos. They’re massive, weighing 900 to 1,200 lbs and measuring 9’+ long. If you have to deal with moving a piano like this, you’re likely a transportation professional.

Popular Concert Grand Piano

The Steinway Model D is the pinnacle of Concert Grand Pianos. Though it isn’t the most expensive, it’s a favorite among Concert Pianists and music institutions. The Steinway D is 8’11.5″ long and weighs in at 990 lbs. A fun fact about this piano is that it has 45,373 lbs of string tension. That’s over 20 tons of force just within the piano.

Why are Pianos So Heavy?

Pianos are made up of countless heavy materials that account for their big weights. Here are some significant pieces that contribute to their weight:

  • Cast-iron plate
  • Casing
  • Lid
  • Soundboard

The cast-iron plate is the biggest contributor to a piano’s weight. This simple piece can make up 50% to 70% of the entire weight of the piano. On a baby grand piano, it can weigh up to 375 lbs. Heavy cast-iron plates are necessary because they house all of the strings’ tension. On the Steinway D Concert Grand Piano, the cast-iron plate weighs an estimated 600-700 lbs.

The piano case, or body, comprises countless layers of wood. Piano manufacturers tend to use higher-quality wood because of increased resonance. In turn, the piano’s weight increases. A thicker case produces a darker tone and vice versa.

If you’ve ever lifted the lid on a grand piano, you know how heavy it is. Piano lids can be anywhere from 20 to 60 lbs, depending on the size of the instrument. They’re made from solid wood to protect the internal mechanisms of the piano.

Soundboards are wooden pieces that resonate the piano’s sound. Without them, the volume of a piano would be more comparable to a guitar. They aren’t extremely heavy, but they still contribute to the overall weight.

Easy Way to Move a Piano

Believe it or not, there is an easy way to move a piano: Call a professional! These professionals will use a piano dolly and other tools and supplies to safely move your piano.

Piano Craft – How Much Does My Piano Weigh

Conclusion

Acoustic pianos come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have something in common. They’re HEAVY.   If you’re planning to move or transport a piano, it’s helpful to know how heavy it is before anything else. Now you know that if you want to know “How much does a piano weigh,” you will first need to know which type of piano you are referencing.  The heavier it is, the more likely that you will need to work with a professional company to move it.

Maurice

I am intrigued by how music affects the brain. I created this site to share my fascination with music in general and piano keyboards in particular.

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