Your Guide to Safely Moving a Piano

Whether you're relocating an upright piano to a new home or transporting a grand piano across town, the weight and delicate internal components of moving a piano demand a strategic approach. Read our guide to help you prepare a piano for moving, step-by-step instructions for different piano types, when to hire professionals, and what piano moving costs typically look like.

Understanding Piano Types & Weight

Understanding your piano's type and weight also helps you assess the risk to floors, doorways, and staircases during the move. Piano weight varies significantly by type, which directly impacts the equipment you'll need and the complexity of the move. Here are the average weights for the most common piano types:

• Upright pianos: Typically weigh between 500 and 800 pounds, depending on their size and age

• Spinet pianos: Can weigh anywhere from 200 to 400 pounds

• Console pianos: Typically weigh between 350 and 450 pounds

• Studio pianos: Can weigh between 400 and 500 pounds

• Professional uprights: Can weigh up to 800 pounds

• Grand pianos: Typically range from 500 pounds for a baby grand to over 1,200 pounds for a concert grand

The size and weight of your piano will determine whether you can realistically handle a DIY move or if professional movers are necessary. Keep in mind that older homes with narrow hallways or steep stairs may require professional equipment like piano boards and skid plates to navigate safely.

Can You Move a Piano By Yourself?

Moving a piano yourself is possible in some situations, but it's not without risk. The primary factors to consider include the type of piano, the distance of your move, the layout of your home, and the number of capable helpers you have available.

When moving short distances with small upright pianos—like within the same building or to a nearby location—a team of four to six strong adults with the right equipment can usually handle the move. However, even small moves carry risks of injury to movers and damage to the piano, walls, and floors. Grand pianos, due to their horizontal shape and weight distribution, are significantly more challenging and generally require professional expertise.

If your move involves stairs, long distances, tight doorways, or valuable or antique pianos, hiring professional piano movers is strongly recommended. The cost of professional movers is often less than the potential cost of repairs to a damaged piano or medical bills from moving injuries.

Piano Moving Equipment & Supplies

Attempting a DIY piano move without the proper equipment is dangerous and can lead to serious damage. At minimum, you'll need specialized moving equipment designed to handle heavy, awkwardly shaped loads. Essential equipment for a DIY piano move includes:

• Heavy-duty piano dolly: Rated for at least 1,000 pounds

• Moving straps or lifting straps: To distribute weight safely

• Thick moving blankets: To protect the piano's finish

• Packing tape: To secure blankets

• Work gloves: For grip and hand protection

• Piano board or piano skid: A large, padded board designed to transport grand pianos horizontally

If stairs are involved, consider renting or purchasing a stair-climbing dolly or hiring professionals with hydraulic lift equipment. Standard moving dollies are not sufficient for pianos and can fail under the weight, leading to catastrophic accidents.

How to Prepare Your Piano for Moving

Preparation is critical to a successful piano move. Taking the time to properly secure and protect your piano can prevent costly damage during transport. Keep these tips in mind as you prepare your piano for transport:

• Close and lock the keyboard lid to prevent keys from shifting or breaking during the move.

• Remove any music stands, lamps, or decorative items from the top of the piano.

• For upright pianos, lock or tape the piano's lid closed to keep internal components secure.

• If your piano has removable legs (common on some grand pianos), check whether they can be safely removed to reduce height and make transport easier.

• Wrap the entire piano in thick moving blankets, securing them with packing tape or moving straps.

• Pay special attention to corners and edges, which are most vulnerable to damage. For grand pianos, protect the pedal assembly and legs with additional padding.

• Take photographs of your piano before wrapping it, which can be helpful for insurance purposes if damage occurs.

• Measure doorways, hallways, and staircases along your planned route to ensure the piano will fit.

• Clear the path of obstacles, secure pets in another room, and lay down protective flooring (like cardboard or moving pads) to prevent damage to floors.

Step-by-Step: How to Move an Upright Piano

Upright pianos are the most common type for DIY moves, but they still require careful handling and teamwork. Follow these steps to move an upright piano safely:

1. Gather a team of at least four strong adults—more if the piano is over 500 pounds or if stairs are involved.

2. Position the piano dolly against the back of the piano

3. Carefully tilt the piano backward onto the dolly while your team supports the weight.

4. Secure the piano to the dolly with moving straps, ensuring it's stable and won't tip during transport.

5. When moving the piano, one person should guide from the front while others push from behind. Move slowly and communicate constantly, especially when navigating doorways or turns.

6. If you encounter stairs, take extra caution—descending stairs with a piano on a dolly is particularly hazardous and may require professional equipment like a stair-climbing dolly or hydraulic lift.

7. Once the piano is loaded into the moving truck, position it against a wall and secure it with straps to prevent shifting during transport.

8. Avoid stacking items on top of the piano or placing heavy objects against it.

Step-by-Step: How to Move a Grand Piano

Grand pianos are significantly more complex to move due to their horizontal shape, weight distribution, and delicate internal mechanisms. For most grand piano moves, professional movers are the safest choice. However, if you're determined to move a grand piano yourself, extreme caution is required. To safely move a grand piano, follow these steps:

1. Remove the piano's legs. This requires careful support of the piano's body to prevent it from falling.

2. Position the piano board or skid under the piano before removing the legs, then lower the piano onto the board.

3. Secure the piano to the board with heavy-duty straps, ensuring it's completely stable.

4. Transport the piano on the board using a team of at least six people—grand pianos are extremely heavy and awkward to maneuver. The board allows the piano to be moved horizontally, but it requires significant coordination to navigate doorways and turns.

5. Once the piano is in the moving truck, secure it upright against a wall if space allows, or keep it flat on the board with heavy padding underneath.

When to Hire Professional Piano Movers

While DIY moves are possible for some upright pianos, there are situations where professional movers are essential. Recognizing when to hire professionals can save you from costly mistakes and serious injuries.

Hire professional piano movers if...

• Your move involves stairs, tight spaces, narrow doorways, or sharp turns

• You're moving a grand, antique, or high-value piano long-distance

• You want to avoid incorrectly disassembling or reassembling your piano

Professional movers also carry liability insurance, which protects you in the event of damage to your piano or home during the move. Most DIY moves are not covered by homeowner's insurance, meaning you'd be responsible for any repair costs out of pocket.

How Much Does It Cost to Move a Piano?

Understanding piano moving costs can help you budget for the move and decide whether a DIY approach or professional movers make the most sense for your situation.

Local Piano Moving Costs

For local moves—typically within 50 miles—professional piano moving services generally range from $150 to $650, depending on the type of piano and the complexity of the move. Upright pianos on the same floor typically cost between $150 and $350, while grand pianos start around $250 and can reach $650 or more for larger concert grands.

Stair surcharges can add significantly to the total cost. Professional movers typically charge between $40 and $100 per flight of stairs, with the rate depending on the piano's weight and the complexity of the staircase. If your move involves multiple flights or narrow staircases, expect costs to climb accordingly.

Long-Distance Piano Moving Costs

Long-distance piano moves—over 100 miles or across state lines—are significantly more expensive, typically ranging from $500 to $2,500 or more. Costs depend on the distance, piano type, and whether the piano requires crating for protection during transport.

Crating is a specialized service where the piano is enclosed in a custom-built wooden crate for maximum protection during long-haul moves. This adds several hundred dollars to the total cost but is often necessary for high-value or antique pianos. Long-distance moves may also involve coordination between multiple moving companies, which can add to the complexity and cost.

Piano Moving Cost Factors to Consider

Several factors influence the final cost of a professional piano move, including:

• The type and size of the piano

• The distance of the move (local vs. long-distance)

• The number of stairs or flights involved

• Access challenges like narrow doorways or sharp turns

• The need for crating or special packing

• Insurance coverage

• Whether the move occurs during peak moving seasons, like summer months

When requesting quotes from piano movers, be as detailed as possible about the specifics of your move. Providing accurate information about stairs, tight spaces, and the type of piano ensures you receive an accurate estimate and helps movers prepare the right equipment.

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Moving soon? Find additional relocation guides on the Extra Space Storage moving hub! And if you need a secure place to store your piano during a move or home renovation, we offer climate-controlled storage units at convenient locations nationwide. Find a climate-controlled unit near you!