What does piano tuning cost?
A standard piano tuning in the United States generally falls somewhere in the range of about $100 to $200, with most single visits landing near the middle of that band. Rural areas trend lower, major metros trend higher, and any piano that has been neglected for years costs more than a piano tuned last spring.
That range is a starting point, not a quote. Below is what actually moves the number, so you can read an estimate and know whether it is fair.
What a standard tuning includes
A standard visit means the technician brings all 200-plus strings back to correct pitch relative to one another and to concert pitch (A440). On a piano that is already close to pitch, that is roughly one to two hours of work.
- —Tuning every note across the full compass of the instrument
- —A quick check of tuning stability and pin tightness
- —A basic listen for buzzes, sticking keys, and pedal problems
- —A recommendation on when the piano should be seen next
What makes the price go up
Most surprises on an invoice come from one of a handful of causes, and a good technician will flag them before starting rather than after.
- —Pitch raise: a piano left untuned for several years drops well below A440. It has to be pulled up in a rough pass first, then tuned properly. That is effectively two tunings in one visit, and it is usually billed as an additional charge.
- —Travel: instruments outside a technician's normal service radius may carry a trip fee.
- —Repairs and regulation: sticking keys, broken strings, worn hammers, and pedal work are separate from tuning and priced separately.
- —Instrument type: a large concert grand takes longer than a small spinet.
- —First visit on an unknown piano: assessing an instrument nobody has documented takes extra time.
Why the cheapest quote is not always the cheapest outcome
Tuning is skilled labor on a machine holding roughly 18 to 20 tons of string tension. A tuning set carelessly, or forced onto a piano that needed a pitch raise first, will drift within weeks — so you pay again sooner. Ask whether the technician tunes to A440, how long the visit is expected to take, and what happens if the piano will not hold.
Getting a real number for your piano
Patrick Sr. has tuned, repaired, and rebuilt pianos for over forty years, and Highland Piano Studios serves Alcoa, Maryville, Knoxville, and the wider Blount County area from our workshop at 642 W Hunt Rd, Alcoa, TN. Tell us the make, the size, and roughly when it was last tuned, and we will give you a straight quote before we drive out.
Common questions
How much does it cost to tune a piano?
Most standard piano tunings in the US fall in the range of roughly $100 to $200 per visit. Pianos that have gone several years without service usually need a pitch raise first, which adds to the cost of that visit.
What is a pitch raise and why does it cost extra?
When a piano sits untuned for years, overall string tension drops and the whole instrument falls below standard pitch. Bringing it back requires a fast rough pass to lift the tension, then a second full tuning once the piano settles. It is roughly double the work of a normal tuning, so it is normally billed separately.
Does a new piano need tuning?
Yes. New pianos and newly moved pianos settle as their strings stretch and they acclimate to the room, so they typically need tuning more often during the first year.
Is tuning included when I buy a piano from you?
Ask us — instruments we sell are prepared in our own workshop, and we will tell you exactly what is covered before you buy.