An upright piano typically weighs between 180 and 320kg. A baby grand starts around 250kg and a full concert grand can exceed 500kg. Those numbers matter less than where the weight sits, which is high, uneven and concentrated at the back. A piano does not behave like a wardrobe of the same weight, and that is why so many are damaged by people who assume it will.
This guide is for owners: what is involved, what to do before and after, and how to tell whether whoever is moving it knows what they are doing.
Why pianos are a specialist job
The weight is in the wrong place
Most of an upright’s mass is in the cast iron frame and the strings, which sit towards the back. Tip one forwards and it will keep going. This is what causes the majority of serious piano accidents, and it happens faster than anyone can react.
The case is structural but fragile
Legs, pedal lyres and music desks are decorative fixings, not handles. Lifting a grand by a leg is the classic way to snap it and damage the case beyond economic repair.
Grands must be dismantled
A grand piano is moved on its side, on a padded piano board, with the legs and lyre removed and the whole instrument strapped and wrapped. This is a skilled procedure, not an improvisation.
It is a genuine injury risk
Crushing injuries from pianos on stairs are well documented, and the general duties around manual handling and load safety are set out by the Health and Safety Executive. Weight alone is not the test. Shape, stability and the route all count.
What a proper piano move involves
- A survey. The instrument is measured, and so is the route: doorways, corners, stair widths, turning circles, thresholds and any level changes.
- The right equipment. Piano boards, skid boards, four wheel dollies, ratchet straps, lifting slings and heavy duty padding.
- Enough people. Uprights typically need three or four; grands need four or more.
- Protection of the route. Floor coverings, door jamb guards and corner protection at both properties.
- Correct securing in the vehicle. Upright, strapped to the vehicle wall, on a level bed, not wedged between boxes.
- Placement, not just delivery. The instrument ends up in the right position in the right room, on levelled castor cups where needed.
Our musical instrument removals service covers pianos, organs, harps, drum kits and orchestral instruments, either as part of a house move or as a standalone job.
What owners should do before the move
- Photograph the instrument from several angles, including any existing marks, and note the make and serial number.
- Check your insurance. High value instruments may need to be declared separately rather than covered under a general contents limit.
- Close and lock the lid and fallboard so keys are protected, and remove sheet music, metronomes and anything on top.
- Measure the destination. Not just the room, but the route into it.
- Do not attempt to dismantle a grand yourself. Leave it to the crew on the day.
- Tell the removal firm at quote stage. A piano discovered on moving morning is a problem. A piano on the survey is simply part of the plan.
Where to put it in the new house
Pianos are sensitive to humidity and temperature swings rather than to movement itself. Choose a position that is:
- Against an internal wall rather than an external one
- Away from radiators, log burners and underfloor heating
- Out of direct sunlight, which bleaches the case and dries the soundboard
- Away from draughty doorways and, ideally, not in a conservatory
These considerations apply doubly to a winter move, where an instrument can go from a heated room to a cold vehicle and back within an hour. Let it acclimatise for several hours before playing it.
Tuning afterwards
Almost every piano needs tuning after a move, though not immediately. Give it two to four weeks to settle into the new room’s humidity, then book a tuner. Tuning it the day after delivery generally means paying twice. The Pianoforte Tuners’ Association maintains a directory of qualified tuners across the UK.
If the piano has been in storage, the same applies on retrieval. Instruments in long term storage benefit from a stable environment, which is worth discussing when you arrange storage.
Frequently asked questions
Can two people move an upright piano?
They should not. Even on a flat, straight route the load is unstable, and on stairs it is genuinely dangerous. Three or four trained people with the correct equipment is the minimum.
Will moving damage my piano?
Properly handled, no. Pianos are built to be robust. The damage we see comes from improper lifting points, unsecured transport and impacts against door frames, all of which are avoidable.
How much does it cost to move a piano?
It depends on the type of instrument, the access at both ends and the distance. An upright on ground floor level at both properties is straightforward. A grand down two flights of stairs is a different job. Our guide to removal costs explains how quotes are built.
Can a piano be stored?
Yes, and it is common during renovations or between properties. Stability of environment matters more than duration, so tell us it is going into storage when you book.
What about digital pianos and keyboards?
Far simpler, but still worth boxing properly. Original packaging if you have it, otherwise a fitted case and proper padding, and never transport one resting on its keys.
Moving an instrument?
Tell us what you have and where it needs to go, and we will survey the route before we quote. Request your free quote or call 0151 343 1264.
