Find top rated piano movers in your area

Clients tip piano movers between 10% and 25%of the total cost split between the workers. If your pros have done an exceptional job, you can go beyond 25% and give what you feel they deserve for a job well done.

Pianos require special movers because they’re delicate instruments. Hiring piano movers who can transport it properly will prevent damage to its over 1,000 moving parts that work together to create a distinct sound. Incorrect handling and storage can lead to permanent damage to your prized possession, so don't take risks when moving your instrument.

Movers protect pianos from damage with a combination of protective padding, dismantling, and packing techniques. Most fully assembled pianos—especially grand ones—won't fit in standard doorways. A professional must partially take it apart and roll it away on a dolly. 

Upright versions require less reconfiguration but need protection and special maneuvering to prevent damage to the internal and external parts. Transporting both types requires team lifting and problem-solving around tricky turns and corners.

The move will affect the tuning in a couple of ways. Fluctuations in humidity during travel can affect the instrument, expanding the soundboard and other wooden components. The internal parts may also loosen in transit. Choose a company that uses climate-controlled trucks to minimize the impact humidity can have on your instrument.

You can know what type of piano you need to move by examining its height and dimensions. There are two main types: vertical and grand. If your instrument is vertical, it can be any of these:

• Spinet: Less than 40 inches tall

• Console: 40–44 inches tall

• Studio: 44–47 inches tall

• Upright: Tallest version at over 47 inches tall

Grands have a long, horizontal body that produces a rich, concert-worthy sound. Their horizontal length differentiates them from other types:

• Petite: 4 feet 5 inches–4 feet 10 inches

• Baby: 4 feet 11 inches–5 feet 6 inches

• Medium: 5 feet 7 inches

• Parlor: 5 feet 9 inches–6 feet 1 inch

• Semi-concert/ballroom: 6 feet 2 inches–7 feet

• Concert: Over 7 feet long, averaging 9 feet long; largest category of grands

Measure an upright one from the floor to the lid, and measure a grand from the end of its keys to the longest point on the back end.

Pianos are so heavy because they contain a cast-iron frame, which weighs a lot. This heavy frame is necessary to hold the strings under tight tension inside the piano so the notes stay tuned.