How to Move a Piano?

Whether you own a beautiful concert grand piano or an upright piano, such a musical instrument can add a lot of style and elegance to any interior design. But when it comes to moving, pianos are definitely among the more challenging items in a household to transport, given their size, awkward shape, and bulkiness. As professional movers, we know how to make the moving process quick and problem-free, and we’d like to share this knowledge with you!

Can I move a piano by myself?

The short answer is yes. It’s possible to move an upright piano or a grand piano without involving a professional mover company in the process. However, you can’t do it on your own, especially if you need to move the piano downstairs to reach the removal van. It’s simply impossible for a single person to carry something as heavy as a piano upstairs or down the stairs. That’s why, in order to avoid the risk of damages and injuries, you should always have at least 2 or 3 more people with you to move the piano.

We strongly recommend using a professional removals company like W&W Movers to help you transport the piano safely. It’s an easy way to save time and make sure your instrument gets to its new location in perfect condition. However, if you decide to do it yourself, below are some handy tips for moving a piano.

What equipment do you need to move a piano?

• Work gloves
• Piano shoes/piano slippers
• Moving blankets/moving pads
• Stretch wrap
• Piano dolly/piano board
• Piano dolly straps/piano board straps

How to move a piano and secure it for transport

Moving a grand piano

1. Remove the lid, pedals, lyre and music rack. Carefully wrap each element with moving pads or blankets.
2. Remove the piano lid hinges. It is an essential step because if these hinges are not removed, they can cause major damage to the instrument when it’s placed on the piano board.
3. Keep all loose parts in one place, e.g., in a ‘parts box’ or secured with stretch wrap. Make sure to label the elements and the box properly.
4. Place the piano board (a padded piece of equipment used specifically for moving grand pianos, including concert and baby grand pianos) next to the long side of the grand piano and set a clean pad/blanket on top of the board.
5. Get two of your helpers to hold the weight of the piano and remove the front left leg. Then tilt and lower the instrument onto the piano board and make sure it’s positioned securely.
6. Remove the remaining piano legs and wrap them all in blankets or pads.
7. Wrap the entire piano body in clean pads and keep them in place with a layer of stretch wrap.
8. Now that your grand piano is prepared for transport, you need to secure it to the piano board with logistic straps.

Moving an upright piano

1. Put the keyboard cover down and lock it. If the lid cannot be locked, secure it with tape to stop it from opening during transport.
2. Wrap the entire body of your upright piano with moving pads or blankets. You can use tape or stretch wrap to keep them in place.
3. Set the piano dolly (a type of trolley used to transport upright pianos) in the correct position, lift the piano together with your helpers and place it carefully on the dolly. To make this task easier, get one more person to guide your movements and let you know when the instrument is in the right place to be set down safely.
4. Use the straps to secure the piano to the dolly.

How to transport a piano

1. Clear out the entire path from the room where your piano is to the moving van to remove any possible obstacles.
2. In case of snow or gravel, plywood or a van walk-board can be used to assist in rolling the piano to the van. To minimise the risk of damage, it’s best to load the piano into the van straight away and not leave it outside for too long, especially in bad weather.
3. If you are lucky, you will have a lift gate van available to get your instrument inside easily. Otherwise, it will need to be pushed up the walk-board, and, as you can imagine, this is not an easy task and requires the strength of more than one person.
4. Once the piano is inside, use tie down straps to prevent it from moving during transport.
5. On arrival at the other end, clear and pad all hallway floors as you wheel the piano to its final destination and reverse the process. You are now ready to ‘make music’!

Useful tips for moving a piano

• What is the easiest way to move a piano? Getting your piano to its new location will be much easier if you use the right equipment. However, you can avoid the hassle of moving a piano yourself altogether and hire a professional moving company to do the job. Experienced movers know how to transport a piano quickly and safely and have all the necessary tools and tricks at their disposal.
• Do I need to remove any parts before moving my piano? Yes, all the moving elements, pedals, and, if possible, legs should be removed and moved separately. This is an important step that protects both the removed parts and the entire piano body from damage.
• Can a piano be laid down to move? If you secure or remove all the moving parts, you can safely lay down your piano without damaging it. Sometimes, e.g., when moving a concert grand piano, it may be necessary to position the instrument on its side just to fit it through the door.

Remember, pianos are extremely heavy, and you need to know what you are doing to transport them safely. Leave it to professionals and callW&W Movers to book a piano move! We will choose the right moving method and equipment for your piano and ensure it reaches its destination on time and in perfect condition!