Moving a piano is one of the hardest jobs in any house move. Even a small upright weighs 200kg or more, and most of that weight sits high in the case. Grands are heavier still and have to come apart before they go anywhere. This guide explains how a piano is moved properly, what can go wrong, and when it is time to call in specialist piano movers.
Why moving a piano is different from other furniture
A piano is not just heavy. It is top heavy, it is fragile in places you cannot see, and it does not like being tipped. Inside an upright, a cast iron plate holds the strings at many tonnes of combined tension. The soundboard is a thin sheet of spruce. The keys and action are a precise mechanism of timber, felt and metal. Knock it hard or tilt it too far and you risk damage that is expensive to repair.
Pianos also have small casters that look like they are for moving. They are not. Many are decorative or worn, and rolling a heavy piano on them can snap a leg, gouge a floor or send the piano over.
Step 1: Measure the route
Before anything moves, measure the whole path from the piano’s current spot to the truck, and from the truck to its new home. That includes:
- the width and height of every doorway, and whether doors can come off their hinges
- hallways, especially any turns into rooms
- stairs: the number of steps, the width, and any landings or bends
- front steps, garden paths, gates and driveways
- where the truck can park, and how far it is to carry
Our guide on what to measure before moving a piano goes into more detail.
Step 2: Secure the piano
Close and lock the lid and fallboard so they cannot swing open. Remove anything loose such as the music desk on a grand, candle holders or ornaments. On a grand, the pedal lyre and legs will come off later, so keep the screws and bolts together in a labelled bag.
Step 3: Wrap it properly
Professional movers wrap pianos in thick, padded moving blankets, secured with tape or straps so they cannot slip. This protects the finish from scuffs and the corners from knocks, and it protects your door frames and walls too.
Step 4: Use the right equipment
This is where most DIY moves go wrong. Pianos should be moved on equipment designed for them:
- Piano trolley or dolly: a heavy duty, padded trolley for uprights on flat ground
- Skid board: a padded board that a grand piano is strapped to on its side
- Ratchet straps: to lock the piano to the trolley or board
- Ramps: for steps, kerbs and loading into the truck
- Stair-rated equipment: for controlling the piano on steps
Read more in our guide to piano moving equipment.
Step 5: Have enough people
An upright on flat ground typically needs at least two experienced movers. Stairs, a heavier pianola or any grand piano usually need three or four. Fewer hands means someone ends up carrying more than they safely can, which is how pianos get dropped and people get hurt.
Step 6: Transport it upright and tied off
In the truck, an upright stays upright against the wall, padded and strapped so it cannot move. A grand stays on its skid board on its side. Nothing else should be stacked against or on top of a piano.
Step 7: Reassemble, position and let it settle
Once inside, a grand’s legs and lyre go back on and the piano is set level. Choose a spot away from direct sunlight, heaters and air conditioning vents. Then let it settle for two to three weeks before booking a tuner.
Can you move a piano yourself?
For a short move across a flat floor, with the right trolley and enough people, it can be done. But once stairs, tight turns, a grand piano or a truck are involved, the risk climbs quickly. Damage to the piano, the house or someone’s back usually costs far more than a professional move. See what goes into the price in our piano moving cost guide.
Related guides: how much a piano weighs, buying a second hand piano in Melbourne and what to do with an old piano.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many people does it take to move a piano?
At least two experienced movers for an upright on flat ground, and three or four for stairs, pianolas or grand pianos.
Can you move a piano on its own wheels?
No. Piano casters are not designed to carry the piano across a room or outside. Use a padded piano trolley or skid board.
Does a piano need tuning after moving?
Usually, yes. Let it settle for two to three weeks in its new room first.
Ready when you are