How Much Does It Cost to Tune a Piano in the UK?

A standard piano tune in the UK typically costs between £50 and £80, with a pitch raise plus fine tune running from around £80 to £130 or more. The exact figure depends on where you are in the country, the condition of the piano and whether the tuner charges a separate callout fee. Anyone who quotes you a flat fee sight unseen without asking about those things is guessing, and a guess can change on the day.

What a standard tune covers

A standard tune is what you book when the piano has been tuned within the last year or two and is not too far below concert pitch. The tuner adjusts each string to bring the instrument into pitch, tests the note against its neighbours, and leaves it settled and ready to play. On a piano in reasonable condition this usually takes an hour to an hour and a half. Most tuners who work across a region charge in the range of £50 to £80 for a routine domestic visit, though prices vary: a tuner in central London or the South East typically charges more than one in a smaller town in the North or Midlands.

When a pitch raise is needed

If the piano has not been tuned for several years, or has been left in a cold or damp space, it may have dropped well below concert pitch. In that case, a single pass of the strings is not enough: the tension in the frame shifts as each string is raised, so the earlier strings drop as the later ones are brought up. The answer is a pitch raise first, which brings the whole instrument closer to pitch in a rough pass, followed by a fine tune. This is two stages of work rather than one, which is why a pitch raise plus fine tune costs more, typically from £80 to £130 or more depending on how far the piano has dropped. Some tuners quote the two stages together; others charge the standard fee for the fine tune and add an extra charge for the pitch raise. Ask before you book so there are no surprises.

Callout and travel charges

Many tuners include travel to your home in their standard fee if you are within their usual area. Others add a callout or mileage supplement for locations further out. When you enquire, tell the tuner your town or postcode so they can give you a firm figure that includes travel. A tuner based nearby is both cheaper and easier to get back quickly if a note slips.

Other factors that affect the cost

Repairs done at the same visit cost extra and are priced separately from the tune itself. Sticking keys, a buzz, a broken string or a loose castor are repair jobs, not tuning, so mention them when you book so the tuner can allow time or let you know whether to plan a second visit. A concert or recital tune, done to a tighter standard or on a concert grand, is usually charged at a higher rate than a domestic tune. For a grand piano there is generally no extra charge simply for it being a grand, though some tuners do price grands differently, so it is worth asking.

How often a piano needs tuning

A piano in regular use should be tuned at least once a year, and twice a year suits most homes where the heating comes on in autumn and goes off in spring. Temperature and humidity swings across the seasons expand and contract the timber frame, which pulls the pitch about. A piano that has been moved always needs a tune after it has settled in its new home. If a piano is tuned regularly, it stays closer to pitch and each tune is quicker and cheaper than letting it slip badly and then needing a pitch raise.

Finding a qualified tuner near you

The best starting point is a tuner who is a member of the Pianoforte Tuners' Association or holds a qualification through the Institute of Musical Instrument Technology, as both signal genuine training. Our piano tuners directory lists qualified tuners by town, drawn from the trade registers, with independent tuners first. Contact them directly; we link straight out to their own websites and take nothing from the booking. For guidance on what to ask before you book, see our guide on how to find a good piano tuner near you.