Piano moving: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What piano moving is

Piano moving transports an upright or grand piano with specialized equipment such as skid boards, dollies, straps and ramps, protecting the instrument and the home along the way. The piano is then set in its new place, and tuning is often arranged after it has settled.

Signs you need it

  • You are moving a piano that is too heavy and bulky for the crew you have or for a standard moving team
  • The piano must go through a narrow hallway, a stairwell or an exterior door with little clearance
  • The piano is a grand that must be tilted or disassembled to move safely
  • You want the instrument moved without damage to its finish, keys or internal action
  • You need the piano set in place and checked for stability after the move

What the pro does

  • Inspect the piano and the route, measuring doors, stairs and the floor surface to plan the move
  • Remove the lid, lyre and any detachable parts for grand pianos, and secure the keyboard and pedals
  • Wrap the piano in padding and secure it to a skid board or dolly with straps
  • Move the piano using ramps, stair lowering equipment and a trained crew, keeping an upright piano upright and a grand piano on its side on a padded skid board
  • Set the piano in its new room, level it on the floor and reattach the parts that were removed
  • Recommend a tuning visit once the instrument has settled, and note any damage found during the move

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Type of piano, upright or grand, and its weight and size
  • Number of stairs, the length of the route and any ramp or lift needed
  • Doorway and hallway clearances that may require removing a door or a window
  • Whether the piano must be disassembled or lifted with special equipment
  • Whether the move is across town or across a longer distance with a truck
  • Whether tuning or a re-leveling visit is included after the move

What a written quote should spell out

  • The type and weight class of the piano and the equipment used to move it
  • The route covered, including stairs, ramps and any door removal
  • Whether disassembly and reassembly are included for grand pianos
  • Whether the piano is set in place and leveled, and whether tuning is included
  • Insurance coverage for the piano and the home, and the claim process

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Do you have specialized equipment for pianos, and do your crew members have piano experience
  • Will you measure the route and tell me if a door or window needs to come off
  • How do you protect the finish, the keys and the action during the move
  • Are you insured for damage to the piano specifically
  • Do you set the piano in place and level it on the floor
  • Do you recommend a tuner after the move, and how long should I wait

Red flags

  • A crew with no piano-specific equipment that plans to carry the piano by hand
  • No route measurement, which often leads to damage at a narrow doorway or on a stair
  • A quote that does not mention insurance for the instrument
  • A grand piano moved without the lid and parts removed or secured

What you can do yourself

You can clear the path, remove loose items from the piano top and keep pets and children away from the route. Call a professional for every part of the move itself, since even a small piano can shift and cause injury or damage, and any grand piano that needs disassembly.

Licenses and permits

Piano moving is commonly done by insured moving companies with piano experience. Check with your state or local licensing agency for any business registration that applies to the company you hire, and check any rules for moving a piano in a building you do not own.

Piano moving questions

Should I tune the piano before or after the move?

After. Temperature and humidity changes during the move affect the tuning, so wait until the piano has settled in its new room, usually for a few weeks, before a tuner visits.

Will the piano need to be disassembled?

A grand often needs its lid and legs removed. An upright usually stays together but may need its front panel or a door removed to pass through a narrow space.

Who pays for damage to the piano?

This depends on the company's insurance and claim process. Ask about piano coverage before the move, and photograph the piano from several sides before it is moved.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More moving and junk removal guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request piano moving