Piano Moving Services

Pianos are heavy, structurally complex, and sentimental in a way that most furniture is not. Moving one without damaging it requires the right equipment, the right technique, and people who have done it enough times to know where things go wrong. At Little Guys Movers, piano moving is not something we figured out on the fly. It is something we have been doing since 1992.

Whether you have a spinet that needs to go up a flight of stairs or a nine-foot concert grand that needs to be craned through a second-story window, we have the equipment and the experience to get it there safely.

Upright Piano Moving: Spinets, Consoles, Studios, and Full Uprights

Upright pianos look manageable until you try to move one. A full upright can weigh anywhere from 500 to 1,000 pounds, and the weight is distributed unevenly in a way that makes them awkward to balance through doorways and down stairs. The finish is easily scratched. The legs are a common failure point if the instrument is not properly supported during a move.

We use piano boards and professional dollies specifically designed for upright instruments. The piano is padded and wrapped before it moves. Stair carries are handled with a dedicated crew and proper technique, not muscle and hope. And the instrument is positioned in the new space before we leave, not left in a doorway for you to figure out.

Grand and Baby Grand Piano Moving

Grand pianos require disassembly before they can be moved. The lid, music desk, pedal lyre, and legs all come off. The case is set on its side on a specialized piano board and padded thoroughly before transit. At the destination, everything is reassembled and the instrument is placed and leveled in the new space.

This process is more involved than most people realize, and doing it wrong can damage the instrument’s structural integrity, its finish, or both. We have moved grand pianos of every size, from petite baby grands to full nine-foot concert grands. The size changes. The process does not.

If your grand piano requires hoisting through a window or balcony due to staircase or doorway restrictions, we assess the situation in advance and coordinate the right equipment so that is handled before moving day, not during it.

Piano Moving Equipment: What Specialist Movers Use

Moving a piano safely largely depends on having the right tools. Improvising with moving blankets and furniture dollies is how pianos get scratched, dropped, and structurally damaged. We use equipment built specifically for piano moving:

• Four-wheel piano dollies rated for the weight of the specific instrument
• Piano boards for grand piano disassembly and transit
• Padded wrapping and strap systems designed to protect the finish
• Stair-climbing equipment for multi-floor carries
• Lifting straps and rigging equipment for window hoists when required

None of this is standard moving equipment. It is specialist equipment, and it is part of what you are paying for when you hire a crew that knows how to use it.

Long Distance Piano Moving

We move pianos on long-distance jobs the same way we move them locally. The instrument is properly prepared at origin, loaded last and secured in the truck so it cannot shift during transit, and unloaded carefully at the destination. The same crew handles pickup and delivery, so there is no handoff where something gets mishandled between teams.

If you are moving your piano as part of a larger household move, it travels on the same truck as the rest of your belongings. If you need to move just the piano without the rest of the household, we can accommodate that as a standalone piano-only move, depending on your location and destination.

Piano Tuning After a Move

Even a well-executed piano move will require tuning afterward. Changes in temperature, humidity, and the vibration of transit affect the instrument’s tuning regardless of how carefully it is moved. This is normal and expected, and it is not a sign that anything went wrong during the move.

We recommend scheduling a tuning appointment two to four weeks after the piano is in its new location. This gives the instrument time to acclimate to the new space’s humidity and temperature before tuning is completed. Tuning too soon after a move may require a second appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to move a piano?

Piano moving costs depend on the type of piano (upright, baby grand, or concert grand), the distance of the move, staircase requirements, and whether any special equipment like a window hoist is needed. We build a quote around your specific instrument and situation. Contact your nearest Little Guys location for a free estimate.

Do I need special movers to move a piano?

Yes. Pianos require specialist equipment, specific technique, and experience that general moving crews do not have. Attempting to move a piano with standard furniture dollies and moving blankets is how instruments get damaged. Our crews use piano-specific equipment and have moved uprights, baby grands, and concert grands of all sizes.

Can movers move a piano up or down stairs?

Yes. Stair carries are something we handle regularly for both upright and grand pianos. Upright pianos can typically be carried on a piano board with a dedicated crew. Grand pianos require disassembly before a stair carry. If your staircase configuration makes a conventional carry impossible, we assess hoisting options in advance so the right equipment is on site on moving day.

Does a piano need to be tuned after moving?

Yes. Even a careful, well-executed move affects a piano’s tuning due to changes in temperature, humidity, and transit vibration. This is normal and expected. We recommend waiting two to four weeks after the move for the instrument to acclimate to its new environment before scheduling a tuning appointment.

Can you move just a piano without the rest of my household?

In many cases, yes. Standalone piano moves are something we accommodate depending on your location, destination, and scheduling. Contact your nearest Little Guys location to discuss the specifics of your situation and what a piano-only move would involve.

Get a Free Piano Moving Quote

Tell us what type of piano you have, where it is going, and any access considerations we should know about. We will put together a quote and walk you through exactly what the move involves.