How Much Does it Cost to Tune a Piano?

The piano tuner can charge $100-$200 per hour, depending on the skill level and quality of your instrument.

Pianos are fragile instruments requiring constant care to stay tuned up for best sound quality; being composed primarily out of wood, extreme fluctuations in climate can make pianos lose their tuning over time because they swell when it gets warm outside, and contract when there’s cool temperatures inside. Piano technicians are skilled at tuning and repairing pianos to keep them in perfect tune. The cost for a piano tuner can range from $100-$200 per hour depending on the size of your instrument and other factors, but it averages out around that price.

A piano played frequently needs to be tuned every few months, but a lightly-used piano may only need tuning annually. Suppose you’ve invested in a quality instrument for your home (or place of worship or business). In that case, it’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation when it comes to maintenance and professional help from experts.

Tuning a piano is an art that takes years of training. It requires the technician to adjust each string until it vibrates at its perfect pitch, which can be difficult due to how sensitive pianos are and because they have eighty-eight strings! To tune one instrument well enough for musical performance usually takes hours upon hours of work with many different tunings throughout the process; however, skilled technicians spend their time tuning instruments using just two or three pitches per day to make sure all 88 notes sound clear before going on any further. A piano tuner is an expert in making sure that the hammers are hitting the strings just right, and if they’re not, he will take care of it. When tuned properly, a pianist can produce smoother notes while playing on their instrument; however, those same tunes may sound out-of-tune or sour when not tuned correctly. The price for tuning depends largely on what type of piano you own and how well your current one has been maintained, which also significantly affects its tuneability as time goes by, with age taking up most of the slack here too!

Types of Piano Tuning

Piano tuners categorize all customer pianos into four basic categories:

• Regularly Tuned Pianos: Piano owners with regular maintenance schedules have the joy of tuning just once or twice per year. One-third of all pianos are routinely maintained, saving their tuners an average of one to two hours each tuning session.
• Moderately maintained pianos: These pianos are old, and they have not been tuned in a while. Tuners see them about half of the time. The tuner will need to push all of the tuning pins to pressurize the soundboard before doing their work, and it will take about two hours to tune them properly.
• Ignored pianos: This is a job that only the “pros” do. They have to work hard on the piano so that it will play well again. If you have a piano that is over 60 years old, you will need to pay someone to tune it. This is when they change the sound of the piano. Tuning takes 3 hours or more. Nearly 1 out of 6 pianos that tuners see are in this category.
• DOA pianos: Some pianos can be too damaged. If they are, then the tuner cannot fix it. It can be because of water or fire damage, high humidity levels, or just that the piano has been there for a long time and is not taken care of. A small fraction of pianos that technicians see fall into this category. When they do, the tuners will likely not charge for work that they can’t do.

Piano Tuning Estimates

Some piano tuners offer estimates over the phone; others will need to see and hear the piano for themselves before providing one. If your piano can’t be tuned, you might need to get it inspected by a professional. It costs money to get the inspection.

Flat rate vs hourly

For any pianist or tuner, the goal is to make sure that every note sounds as beautiful and pure as possible. Following a thorough tune-up, most piano technicians will work on minor repairs, including unsticking sticky keys and installing new strings; however, these services often come at an extra cost for less expensive professionals.

When it comes time to choose which technician you want to work with your instrument of choice (whether acoustic or electric), there are many factors involved in determining exactly how much they’ll charge: whether their rate is based per hour or flat-rate, what type of tasks they include within those rates/hours if certain more minor repairs are done at no additional cost, etc., but one thing remains clear – choosing someone who has experience tuning all types of Pianos. Tuning a Piano usually costs either an hourly rate, a flat fee, or some combination of both. Some piano tuners will charge a minimum of one hour for their services, and if they complete the job faster than that, they get paid the same flat rate anyway. It is best to ask your prospective technician about a flat rate versus an hourly rate to be certain.

Piano tuners usually charge about $100 per hour. They will charge more for expensive instruments like concert pianos.

Additional services

Many piano tuners also offer piano repair. They can tell you when your piano needs more work. If you think your piano needs more than just tuning, ask the tuner if they also provide repair. Some people who tune pianos also do repairs. There are many different types of services that they offer. The price for these services is different depending on where you live. Here are the average prices for common tuning and repair services in the United States:

• Pitch correction: $60
• Vertical action reconditioning and regulation: $800-$2,500
• Installation of under-covers: $250-$350
• Grand action rebuilding: $5,000-$8,000
• Evaluations: $100-$250
• Climate control installation: $450-$800
• String cover installation: $250-$350
• Tuning: $130
• Grand action reconditioning and regulation: $2,500-$3,500
• Vertical action rebuilding: $4,000
• Soundboard cleaning: $100-$150
• Voicing: $175-$600
• Repairs: $65 per hour

See also: How often to Tune a Piano?

Piano’s Age

Brand new pianos need to be tuned more frequently because they are brand new. The strings are stretching and settling. That is why you should tune it three or four times in its first year. If you have a new piano or move your old one, it is best to wait three months before tuning. This will let the piano adjust to the new environment.

Older pianos may need more work before tuning. That can make the cost higher than for standard tuning. The more out of tune a piano is, the more it will cost to tune.

Piano’s Location

Piano tuning and repairs can cost a different amount depending on where you live. This is because places are different, and so are the costs of living there. Some piano tuners charge extra if you live too far away.

Service Level

Some people who tune pianos, but not all, will only make the strings better. More careful tuners might look at other things such as squeaky pedals or sticky keys. Make sure to tell the tuners if you want them to fix these things because they don’t always fix them for free.

A basic tuning will typically set you back about $250-$350, while a more thorough “spiff job” on an older instrument can cost up to $450-$650.

It can be hard to play an old piano. If you have one, you might need to regulate it. You could pay $200-$600 on average to regulate it.

Registered Piano Technicians

Some piano tuners are Registered Piano Technicians. They must pass a written exam and a field test before they can earn their certification. There are no laws that govern the piano tuning or repair industry. Some people rely on the designation of RPT as a standard. However, not all piano tuners are registered. Some people have a lot of experience, and they can tune pianos just as well. When looking to hire a piano tuner, you should research their background and see if they have experience with your type of piano. You should also check if they have positive reviews from other customers. It is also good to find a piano tuner who has business liability insurance. This will be important if your piano is an expensive piece.

Replacements

Piano strings usually last for about eight years, and sometimes they break during a tuning. The cost of replacement strings might not be included in the price quote or hourly rate. To avoid nasty surprises, be sure to ask what damages are possible and who covers the cost.

Some of the things that might go wrong during a piano tuning include damage to the plate. The piano plate is made of metal. Sometimes these plates can break during a tuning. If you have an old piano, ask the technician if they are responsible for fixing it if the plate breaks.

Strategies to Save Cost

Don’t get a piano tuned unnecessarily! Maintaining your instrument properly and getting it tuned every six months is ideal. Temperature changes and humidities during relocation can unsettle pianos, but if you let your instrument settle in for three months before bringing in a professional tuner, then the need arises.

One way to prevent your piano from going out of tune is to keep it in a dry space: neither too humid (near windows or heating sources) nor too dry. Air conditioners can be a lifesaver during the grimy, humid months of summer. There are many other reasons your piano may go out of tune, and this article covers some of the most common ones.

Taking Care of a Piano

Learn how to reduce the need for tuning and prolong your piano’s life with a few simple steps. Do not place your piano near heaters or air conditioners. Try to put your piano away from doors or windows that you leave open.

Playing piano in a wet or dry environment can cause major problems for your instrument. Place it away from a fireplace and sunlight, too. Strive for a consistent temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 42% relative humidity to keep your piano happy.

Expert Tips

• One way to find the best piano tuner for your instrument is to read reviews of their work and check with other previous customers.
• When looking for a piano tuner, it’s important to find someone who does tuning for both residential settings as well as music institutions. Experts checking the work of these professionals help ensure that you are getting good service for your money.
• Before hiring a piano technician, ask if they also do repairs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you’re looking for the best piano tuner or someone to help regulate your old instrument, it’s crucial to find a technician who is experienced in both residential settings as well as music institutions. Remember that temperature changes can cause pianos to go out of tune, so don’t forget this during relocation! Finally, before hiring a piano tuning professional, ask them if they also do repairs because some technicians only offer one or the other services. All in all, finding reliable professionals with experience is key; without these precautions, there could be costly damages to your prized possession! Reviews are helpful when trying to make an informed decision about which service provider will be right for you and your needs.

See also: How Long After Moving Should You Tune Your Piano?