How to Move a Piano: Tips from Someone Who Has

Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, moving a piano is one of the most difficult and risky items to relocate during a move. How to move a piano is just as difficult!

And, there’s a reason many people, including myself, have turned to professional piano moving companies for help. As someone who has personally moved my upright piano multiple times (with professional movers), here are my top tips, based on firsthand experience and advice from piano moving specialists.

How Are Pianos Moved?

Pianos are not simply “picked up and carried.” A piano moving service uses a very specific process designed to protect the instrument, the home, and the people moving it.

From my experience watching movers handle my upright piano, the process is much more technical than most people expect.

Step 1: Assess the Piano and Pathway

Before touching the piano, movers evaluate:

• The type of piano (upright vs. grand)

• Weight and dimensions

• Doorways, hallways, and staircases

• Flooring type (hardwood, tile, carpet)

This planning step helps prevent tipping, scratches, and structural damage.

Step 2: Secure and Wrap the Piano

Professional movers wrap the piano in thick moving blankets and secure it with heavy-duty straps. This protects delicate finishes, legs, pedals, and corners during transport.

For grand pianos, the legs and pedals are often carefully removed and packed separately.

Tip: The keyboard lid needs to be secure. Most pianos have a lid lock and key, so that's a good way to secure it. Each time I've moved my piano, this is how I made sure the lid was secured.

Step 3: Use Special Equipment

When moving a piano, professional movers (and those who are going to DIY) typically use:

• A specialty piano dolly or skid board

• Heavy-duty moving straps

• Thick moving blankets

• A lift gate or ramp to move the piano into the truck

• Masonite sheet or other covering

The wheels on the piano are meant only to move it a few inches from the wall to properly position it. They’re not meant to move your piano across a room, and you can damage your floor - particularly a hardwood floor - if you use the piano’s wheels.

Step 4: Controlled Lifting and Transport

Instead of rolling the piano on its built-in wheels (which are only meant for small adjustments), movers lift and stabilize the instrument onto a dolly or board. From there, it is slowly guided through the home and into the moving truck.

If stairs are involved, multiple movers coordinate the lift while keeping the piano balanced and secured.

Step 5: Proper Placement at the New Location

Once delivered, movers carefully place the piano in a stable area away from direct sunlight, vents, and humidity fluctuations. After a move, it’s recommended to let the piano acclimate before tuning to allow internal components to settle.

Because of the weight, precision, and risk involved, this structured process is one of the main reasons professional piano movers are strongly recommended over DIY moving.

Do You Need to Hire Professional Piano Movers?

In my experience, the answer is yes. Why? Most of us do not have the right equipment, manpower, or time to move a piano properly. Also, moving an upright can be a vastly different experience than moving a grand piano. Plus, movers can help prevent potential damage.

Pianos typically require three to four people to move them securely, and moving crews have the team on hand to get the job done.

How Much Do Professional Piano Movers Cost?

The cost of a piano mover is based on a number of factors, including the type of piano, its weight, and the distance moved. Here’s a quick guide to average prices:

• Local Move: May be a flat rate or based on piano type

  • Upright: $150-$500

  • Grand Piano: $350-$900+

• Long-Distance Moves: $1,000-$2,500+

• Stair Fee: Some movers charge an extra fee for extra staircases or stairs that are difficult, steep, or narrow. This can range from $50-$100 per staircase.

The best way to know what a piano mover will cost is to obtain a quote, which can generally be done online. Just send your preferred mover the dimensions, starting location, and final endpoint.

Cost of My Piano Move (October 2025)

I moved my piano across town for $390 (excluding tip). This cost was based on:

• Moving the piano 14 miles

• Moving the piano up five stairs total (down three at the initial location, up two at the final destination)

• Type of piano: 50” tall upright Young Chang model, plus piano bench

Tip on Tipping: For tipping a piano mover, a standard tip ranges between $20-$50 per mover. If the job was extremely difficult, such as moving a piano up and down flights of stairs, the tip should be 20% of the total job. Tips are not mandatory; however, this is a heavy move, and a job well done and damage-free should be rewarded.

Piano Moving & Safety Considerations

Pianos are dangerous to move, and safety was one of the biggest reasons I’ve always hired a piano mover. Even if a piano is securely strapped down, it can tip or roll down a staircase. The weight of the piano is often more than the people moving it, so extreme caution should be taken when moving one. 

How much does a piano actually weigh? 

• Spinet Piano: 200-400 lbs

• Upright Piano: 400-500 lbs

• Classic Full Upright Piano: 500-1,000 lbs

• Baby Grand Piano: 500-650 lbs

• Concert Grand Piano: 500-1,300 lbs

Can You Move a Piano Yourself?

Technically, yes, but it is rarely recommended.

Even a small upright piano can weigh 400+ pounds and requires specialized equipment, multiple movers, and proper technique to avoid injury or damage.

DIY piano moving often leads to:

• Back injuries

• Floor damage

• Dropped or tipped instruments

• Expensive repair costs

In most cases, hiring professional piano movers is safer and more cost-effective than risking damage to both the piano and your home.

Can I Store a Piano in a Storage Unit?

Yes, but climate control is necessary. Pianos are made of wood, felt, and metal components that are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity changes.

Storing a piano in a non-climate-controlled unit can lead to:

• Warping wood

• String tension damage

• Mold or internal moisture issues

An indoor climate-controlled storage unit provides a stable environment, which helps preserve sound quality and structural integrity, especially during long moves, renovations, or temporary housing transitions.

If you need a temporary place to store your piano during a move, a climate-controlled storage unit can help protect it from humidity and temperature shifts.

How Soon Should I Tune a Piano After Moving?

Once your piano is in its new home, you may be tempted to sit down and play. But my piano movers recommended waiting one month before calling in a piano technician to tune it. Why? The piano needs to get acclimated to its new surroundings, temperature, and humidity.

While you can use a tuner 3-5 days after moving, it’s recommended to wait at least a month for the wooden components and the strings inside to settle. This will also ensure that the tuning remains stable.

When moving to a significantly different climate, your piano tuner may recommend waiting up to 8 weeks. 

Moving a Piano Is Not a DIY-Friendly Move

After moving my own upright piano multiple times, one thing has become very clear: moving a piano is less about strength and more about planning, equipment, and experience. Between the weight, delicate internal components, and risk of injury or damage, it’s one of the few household items where hiring professionals is almost always the safest decision.

Even short-distance moves come with challenges such as stairs, tight hallways, floor protection, and proper lifting techniques. Without the right tools and team, what seems like a simple move can quickly become dangerous and expensive if the piano, the home, or the movers are injured or damaged.

If your move involves temporary housing, renovations, downsizing, or a delayed move-in timeline, planning ahead for safe placement or climate-controlled storage is just as important as the move itself. Pianos are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, and proper storage can help protect their sound quality and structural integrity during transitions.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to move the piano. The piano needs to be moved safely to preserve it in the long term. With the right movers, proper equipment, and a stable environment after the move, your piano can continue to perform and last for decades, even after multiple relocations.

After moving my own piano multiple times, I can confidently say it's one move where planning, patience, and professional help truly make all the difference.