How to Move a Piano: From the Old Room to the New Corner
How do you move a piano that weighs a hundred kilos or more, sometimes several hundred, so that it arrives at its new home in one piece and ready to play? The answer starts long before the piano moves, with planning the whole route, from the old room to the new corner.
Inside the piano are more than two hundred strings, pulled to a combined tension of over 20 tons, alongside an action made of thousands of small parts.
In this guide we'll follow the piano through the whole day, step by step: the planning, the wrapping, the stairs and the truck, and the moment it settles into the corner that has been waiting for it.
It all starts with the route
Every good move begins on paper. We measure how wide the doors are, how long the hallway is and how tight each turn in the stairwell is. We count floors, and if there is an elevator, we check its size against the piano's. On the street we look for a place to stop close to the entrance, and sometimes we coordinate with the building committee in advance. And in the new home we measure the corner, so the piano fits it exactly.
Most of this picture can be put together from afar. The type of piano, the current and new addresses, the number of floors at each end, and photos or a video of the way in from the entrance, and we already know how the day will look. When the building calls for a crane, we arrange it in advance, together with where it will stand on the street.
Upright pianos: standing tall
An upright piano makes the whole journey standing up, just as it stands at home. First the entire body is wrapped in thick moving blankets. The movers hold it with straps, move slowly, and at every turn and every step find the angle at which it passes through just right. The padding protects the piano, and also the door frames, walls and floors along the way.
In the truck, the piano is placed against the side wall and strapped to it. That way it stays in place for the whole ride, whether the destination is two streets away or in another city.
Grand pianos: on their side
A grand piano is moved in a completely different way. Its wide shape suits a living room, so for the road it changes position. The movers remove the legs and the pedal lyre and wrap each one separately. The body itself is turned onto its straight side and laid on a padded board. In this position it fits through a regular door, and sometimes even into an elevator.
In the new home the process runs in reverse. The legs and pedals go back on, the body is lifted upright, the blankets come off, and the lid opens again in the corner you chose.
A craft of its own
Even a small upright piano weighs more than a hundred kilos, and a concert grand weighs almost half a ton. The weight comes from solid, strong wood and thick metal that give the piano its strength, the same strength that holds the strings at high tension.
Moving pianos is a craft of its own. Piano movers specialize in this alone and know the special techniques a piano needs along the way. They understand how sensitive it is, and know how to hold it properly, how to wrap it, how to lift it and how to set it down. And when there are floors to climb, they carry it up the stairs safely and wisely, with techniques that protect the piano from the first moment until it stands in its new place.
On moving day
Your part of the preparation is short. Take any pictures, vases and sheet music off the piano, leave a clear path from the door to the new spot, and make sure someone is home to meet us. For us, a move between neighborhoods, a trip up north or down south, or even a move from the living room to another room or to the second floor all get the same care and the same equipment. We also move pianos that weren't bought from us, with exactly the same attention.
Our movers are the most professional, experienced and skilled in the country, at the most fair and affordable prices, so you can be completely at ease. All our piano moves are fully insured from start to finish with the most comprehensive coverage, at no extra cost. More on what the quote includes: How Much Does Piano Moving Cost.
The piano in its new home
A good spot for a piano is against an interior wall, away from direct sunlight, air-conditioning drafts and heaters. The wood in the piano reacts to the new air, so we give it one to two weeks to settle in, and then tune it at your home, anywhere in the country, in a visit that takes two to three and a half hours, depending on the piano. What happens during the tuning itself is explained in How a Piano Is Tuned, and who comes to you with the tools, in What Does a Piano Tuner Do. And until the piano is playing in its new home, we're here for you.
Links: Piano Moving · How Much Does Piano Moving Cost · How a Piano Is Tuned · What Does a Piano Tuner Do · How Much Does Piano Tuning Cost · Maintenance and Humidity
Frequently asked questions
How is a grand piano moved?
The legs and pedals are removed and wrapped separately, and the body travels lying on its straight side. In the new home, the grand stands on its legs again.
Is the move insured?
Yes. All our piano moves are fully insured from start to finish with the most comprehensive coverage, at no extra cost.
What should I send before the move?
Which piano is moving, from where to where, which floor and what kind of elevator, and a few photos of the way in from the entrance.
Can a piano be moved in a building without a freight elevator?
In many cases, yes. Tell us about the building and send photos of the entrance and the stairs, and we'll tell you how it's done.
When should the piano be tuned after a move?
One to two weeks after the piano arrives, at your home.