How much to charge for piano tuning
Piano tuning has one pricing problem that decides everything else: a piano that has not been tuned in a decade is a different job, and you usually cannot tell until you are standing in front of it.
Quick answer
UK piano tuning in 2026 typically costs 90 to 120 pounds, with a standard upright often at 80 to 100 and London running 90 to 160. A pitch raise is priced separately because it is genuinely extra work: commonly around 100 pounds where the piano is less than a semitone flat, and 110 to 150 where it is a semitone or more, reaching about 160 in London. Travel beyond your normal area is usually charged on top. The key commercial decision is how you handle a piano that has not been tuned in years, because that is the job most likely to overrun and the one customers least expect to pay extra for.
UK piano tuning rates, 2026
| Service | Typical UK | London |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tuning, upright | 80 to 100 | 90 to 160 |
| Standard tuning, general market | 90 to 120 | 90 to 160 |
| Pitch raise, under a semitone | About 100 | Higher |
| Pitch raise, a semitone or more | 110 to 150 | About 160 |
| Travel beyond local area | Charged on top | Charged on top |
Step-by-step
- 1
Ask when it was last tuned, every single time
One question tells you most of what you need. A piano tuned annually is a predictable hour. A piano untouched for ten years has dropped well below pitch and needs a pitch raise before a tuning will hold, which can double your time on site. Asking at the point of booking is what lets you quote accurately rather than having an awkward conversation in someone's front room.
- 2
Quote the pitch raise as a separate, named service
Customers understand paying more for more work when it has a name and a reason. Explain that a piano significantly below pitch will not hold a standard tuning, so it needs to be brought up first, and that this is priced separately at roughly 100 for a small correction and 110 to 150 for a larger one. Framed that way it reads as expertise, not an upsell.
- 3
Set a travel radius and charge beyond it
Tuning is a fixed-length job with a fixed price, so your day rate is really decided by how far apart your appointments are. Define the area covered by your standard price and charge explicitly outside it.
- 4
Sell the annual rhythm, not the single visit
A piano tuned every year is cheaper for the customer and faster for you, and it turns a one-off into a recurring booking. Tell customers when they are next due before you leave, and follow up when it comes around. A round of regulars is the difference between a viable tuning business and a series of one-off call-outs.
- 5
Price repairs and regulation away from tuning
Sticking keys, broken strings, regulation and voicing are separate skills and separate money. Keeping them off your tuning price avoids the assumption that small fixes are included, and it gives you something to quote for. Otherwise you absorb twenty minutes of unpaid work on every third visit.
Tips & best practices
- Never quote a firm price before asking when the piano was last tuned. It is the only reliable predictor of how long you will be there.
- Explain why a pitch raise is needed rather than just charging for one. Customers accept the cost readily once they understand the tuning would not otherwise hold.
- Book the next appointment before you leave the house. Annual regulars are worth far more than any pricing change you could make.
Common questions
How much does piano tuning cost in the UK?
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Typically 90 to 120 pounds in 2026, with a standard upright often 80 to 100. London ranges from about 90 to 160.
What is a pitch raise and why is it charged separately?
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When a piano has gone a long time without tuning it drops below concert pitch, and a standard tuning will not hold until it is brought back up. That is extra work, commonly around 100 pounds for under a semitone and 110 to 150 for a semitone or more.
Should I charge a call-out fee?
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Most tuners include local travel in the price and charge separately beyond a defined radius. Since tuning is a fixed-price job, unpaid driving comes straight out of your effective hourly rate.
How often should a piano be tuned?
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Annually for most domestic pianos. Saying so, and booking the next visit before you leave, is the simplest way to build a round of repeat customers.
Should repairs be included in the tuning price?
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No. Regulation, voicing and repairs are separate skills with separate pricing. Keeping them off the tuning price prevents the assumption that small fixes come free with every visit.