A Guide to Accepting a Free Piano: What You Need to Know
A Guide to Accepting a Free Piano: What You Need to Know
It happens all the time—you’re scrolling through Facebook Marketplace or chatting with a friend when someone says, “I know someone giving away a piano for free. Do you want it?”
At first, this sounds like a dream come true. Pianos are expensive new, so getting one for free feels like winning the lottery. But before you say yes, it’s crucial to know what you’re signing up for. Free pianos can be a blessing, but they can also become an unexpected (and costly) burden.
Here’s what to watch out for before accepting that “free” piano.
1. Not All Pianos Are Worth Moving
Just because someone’s offering a piano doesn’t mean it’s worth the effort—or the money—to move it. Many free pianos are decades old and haven’t been maintained. A piano sitting in a basement for 40 years can have serious structural or mechanical problems that aren’t obvious to the untrained eye.
Check the brand and age: Older pianos from reputable makers like Steinway, Yamaha, or Kawai might be worth moving if they’ve been maintained.
Beware of spinet pianos: These small upright pianos (popular from the 1930s–1970s) are often offered free, but their design makes them harder to repair and regulate.
2. Moving Isn’t Free
Even if the piano is free, getting it into your home isn’t. Professional piano movers are highly recommended because pianos are heavy, awkward, and fragile. Trying to move it yourself with a few friends can result in damage to the piano, your property, or worse—injury.
Upright pianos can weigh 400–600 lbs.
Grand pianos often exceed 1,000 lbs.
Expect to pay $300–$600 (or more) for a professional move, depending on stairs, distance, and difficulty.
3. Hidden Repairs and Costs
A free piano almost always needs work. Common issues include:
Sticking keys or non-functioning pedals.
Soundboard cracks (can be a deal-breaker).
Pinblock issues, making tuning impossible.
Action parts worn out or brittle from age.
Strings that are rusted or broken.
If the piano hasn’t been tuned in decades, bringing it back to pitch could require a pitch raise, which is more involved than a standard tuning.
In some cases, repairs and restoration can cost more than the piano is worth.
4. Beware of Environmental Damage
Pianos are highly sensitive to humidity and temperature changes. A piano that’s lived in a garage, basement, or storage unit may have suffered irreversible damage from:
Moisture, leading to rusted strings, mold, or swollen wood.
Dryness, causing cracks in the soundboard or bridges.
Mice or insects, which can chew felt and wood components.
5. Does It Fit Your Needs?
A piano isn’t just furniture—it’s a precision instrument. Before taking one, ask yourself:
Will you use it regularly, or will it become a large, unused decoration?
Do you have the space for it? Uprights are deep and tall; grands take up significant floor space.
Are you willing to invest in its upkeep (tuning, regulation, and climate control)?
When to Say Yes to a Free Piano
✅ It’s from a reputable maker.
✅ It has been well cared for and tuned regularly.
✅ It’s structurally sound with no major issues.
✅ You’re prepared to pay for professional moving and tuning.
When to Say No
❌ It’s been stored in poor conditions (garage, basement, outdoors).
❌ It has significant visible damage (soundboard cracks, missing parts).
❌ It’s a spinet or older upright of questionable brand or condition.
❌ The cost of moving and repairs would exceed the value of a newer, used piano.
Call a Piano Technician Before You Commit
Before saying yes, have a professional piano technician inspect the instrument. A technician can evaluate the piano’s condition and help you decide if it’s worth taking—and how much it might cost to get it playing its best.
At Lamplight Piano Service, we provide pre-purchase (or pre-move) piano inspections to save you from unexpected headaches. Let us help you determine whether that “free” piano is truly a gift—or a money pit.
📞 Contact Lamplight Piano Service today to schedule an inspection before you move your piano.