How To Move a Piano: The Right and Secure Way

When you think of a piano, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is its 88 keys. But beneath the surface lies an intricate assembly of no less than 10,000 pieces — each with its role in keeping this delicate instrument playable and sounding great. 

Of course, with such precise craftsmanship, it’s probably best left up to professionals when the time to move your delicate piano comes. Stylin’ Moves specialises in Perth piano removals, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions you might have.

If DIY transport sounds like something you want to try, preparing ahead and securing help can make all the difference between success and disaster.

Moving a piano is no small task, so how do you decide when hiring a professional is best? We provide tips for addressing this problem, plus essential information on potential costs and safety basics if you opt for doing it yourself.

Checklist Before Moving a Piano 

Guidance for piano moving will ensure the highest efficiency for yourself and the professional piano moving company. Follow this checklist for a more effective, safer and quick piano move:

Consider Piano Transport Options

There are two primary choices in considering how to move a piano. First, you could hire professional piano movers or attempt to move the instrument yourself. 

Which one should you pick? Well, that comes down to what kind of effort you’re willing to put in. Would you instead take on the piano’s moving personally, or is it more straightforward and economical for you to hire a company specialising in this relocation? 

Either way, carefully considering which approach is best should help create a smooth transition and ensure that the piano is securely moved.

Identify What Kind of Piano You are Moving

It is sometimes necessary to disassemble a piano before relocating it. Therefore, precise information on the model is critical when properly taking apart and reassembling the instrument. 

It can be challenging due to how different each make and model of the piano can be. However, building manual books with instructions specific to a particular type can prove helpful in accurately deconstructing the unit. 

Ensuring that there is documentation of instructions or pictures during this process helps not only create less stress during the assembly. It can also help clear up any confusion that may arise during the future moving and adjustment reads that a piano will inevitably have. 

Knowing the intricate details about your model is essential for the piano’s safety and longevity when settling into its new home.

Do Not Disassemble

Suppose you have a grand piano in Perth. In that case, you can achieve optimal transporting affordability by having the piano movers disassemble the lid, lyre, and legs.

On the other hand, if your instrument is an upright piano, it may be advantageous for the movement of the casters to be removed to balance it on its transportation dolly effectively. Make sure you declutter before moving to have a smooth relocation experience.

Cleaning these casters before removal will help them come off as more manageable and makes this tedious process more straightforward for the movers.

Wrap Your Piano With Blankets

To ensure that the delicate finish on these instruments remains unscathed. We recommend covering them with protective non-slip blankets. It will add a layer of protection against any minor scratches or damage.

To help protect your piano’s glossy finish, use a padded cushion when moving it around. Forgoing the extra precaution can lead to costly refinishing later on. However, no need to worry about covering up — most professional movers will provide that service for you.

Inquire About The Equipment Your Movers Will Use

Confirming that the removal company owns the right piano-moving equipment necessary for shifting your precious grand or upright is essential. Make sure there’s a dependable, weighty dolly and piano board to move your instrument quickly, remaining unburdened by its bulk.

Furthermore, look into whether they can provide ramps, slings, and specialised shifting pads. Additionally, inquire about their selection of essential piano skids to maintain secure control of your piano’s cargo mid-transit.

The Best Possible Piano Removal Strategy

Before the big day arrives, take proactive steps to eliminate possible difficulties. Following these steps for a much smoother piano transportation experience and avoid unneeded complications on your moving day:

DIY Moving Tips

• Gather as many extra hands as to lend a helping hand.
• Moving a piano will require quite a bit of assistance. The weight of even the smallest upright piano is too heavy for one person to manage, and at least three people are required to move it to its destination without injuring themselves or irreparably damaging the instrument. 
• Accurately measuring doorways, staircases, and hallways is crucial in moving a piano. 
• To successfully move your piano, begin by ensuring the pathways are free of obstructions. Next, assess both locations, and examine and guarantee each step is suitable for its size/weight before transporting it. Once confirmed, follow this route while relocating.
• Measure your new space.
• Before you welcome your piano into its new home, ensure it has plenty of room to move. Measure the area, as well as doorways and stairwells along the way.
• Ensure that you have the right tools.
• When moving a piano, the essentials are dollies, harnesses, and padding. Depending on your specific instrument’s weight and size, you may require additional equipment to ensure its safe delivery.

Steps on Moving an Upright and Grand Piano

Moving a piano is no small feat. For the most successful local furniture relocation, you must have your supplies ready before you begin. Follow these steps to ensure that both an upright and grand piano make their journey safely.

How To Move an Upright Piano

1. Protect your piano keys and pedals from any unwanted damage. Cover them thoughtfully with bubble wrap for added assurance. Wrap the keys tightly and securely to protect them against tweaks or sudden movement. Make sure the bubble wrap gently covers the pedal arms to guard against significant and minor accidents. This simple addition of a protective layer can ensure that your piano stays safe and untouched. 
2. Close the piano lid, ensuring it clicks securely into place. To protect the surface, wrap it with a foam packing sheet or soft towel for additional cushioning. Finally, secure the covering with quality packing tape around each corner to secure the protection.
3. Secure your piano with tape and moving blankets. Make sure that the blankets drape over the front, back, as well as on its sides. Get it packed properly to avoid any damage during transport. We advise securing tape to ensure that everything stays in place.
4. Do one final check to keep your items secure by utilising moving or ratchet straps to fasten the blankets. It will ensure that nothing moves during transit and that all your items arrive safely and undamaged. Ratchet straps can be tightened more efficiently and offer increased control over the tension level.
5. Equip your team with the tools and personnel to lift heavy furniture. Position two people on either side of the instrument while a third person can slide in a dolly for added stability.
6. Guide the delicate piano through your home with care, taking extra time and caution when passing through doorways or navigating tight corners to ensure a safe move.
7. Load the piano onto the truck with caution. Secure it in place by crisscrossing robust ratchet straps. 
8. To ensure safe and controlled handling, have at least one person in front of the piano when it is unloaded from the truck. This number may be higher depending on how much a piano weighs, so you should consider additional resources. 

How To Move a Grand Piano

Moving a grand piano in Perth requires unique steps that exceed those for standard piano moves. In addition, every aspect requires extra diligence and consideration due to the sheer size and delicate nature of such a large item.

1. Before you start your move, be sure to protect the furniture adequately. Wrap one of your trusty moving blankets around your bench securely using quality packing tape. Wrapping each corner of the blanket over each leg on the bench reduces the risk of scratches during transport. 
2. Start preparing for the big move by removing the music rack. It is the piece that securely holds your sheet music in place. Take extra precautions and wrap it with a separate blanket before securing it with tape.
3. Secure your lid with moving blankets to ensure it won’t slip off. Wrap the blanket tightly around it and tape it in three spots across its width for optimal coverage.
4. Before tackling a piano move, ensure you have the proper tools. Use a screwdriver to take out each leg and assemble your team for support to tilt it on its side without any accidents safely.
5. To protect the grand piano from dust and debris, drape carefully wrapped blankets around its body before securing them with tape in several places.
6. Secure your piano while moving with a protective plastic wrap. It will help keep the blankets securely in place throughout transport.
7. With extra care and help from your team, carefully tilt the piano back and seamlessly slide its board underneath. Securely position it on the helpful platform for even more safety assurance.
8. Our experts manoeuvre the piano carefully, with two people holding it firmly on either side as they escort it through the house and onto its designated moving truck.
9. For hauling pianos, ratchet straps are an indispensable tool. These straps are ideally suited to keeping them tightly secured.
10. Carefully wrap each piano leg in a moving blanket, place all screws into a bag and secure it to one of the legs for safe transportation.
11. Grab the legs, music rack, and piano bench. Carefully carry them out to the moving truck. It’s time to get them safely loaded up so they can journey to the new location.
12. When unloading a grand piano, it’s essential to have people in place on all four sides. Think about the size and weight of the instrument. You may need more than one person in front of it to ensure that it rolls securely from the truck down the ramp.

Should You Move Your Piano?

Are you having second thoughts about whether or not moving a piano would be the best solution for your current needs? Finding a new home for your piano may be beneficial if you feel it needs to be more utilised and have yet to find that ideal spot. Are you weighing your options? 

Here are some options you may consider:

Sell online

If you want to get rid of an old piano and make a little extra money, consider listing it for sale on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. 

To save yourself the headache of extensive delivery costs and logistics associated with transporting a large piece of furniture, ensure your advertisement explicitly notes that it is up to the interested party to come to pick it up. 

Doing this could save you both time and money. After all, the sole reason why you’re selling it is that you’re avoiding the hassle and cost of moving your piano.

Let your family, friends, and neighbours know

Ready to part ways with your piano? Let family, friends, and neighbours know you’re looking for a new home for it, or give the gift of music away! Either way, remember everyone will have to move it themselves.

Resell

You’ll benefit from their transportation team and a convenience factor by selling your piano back to the store you purchased from. Of course, it won’t be for an optimal price, but it’s still worth considering.

Donate

If you have a free piano to donate, there’s likely an organisation out there looking for it.

The challenge may lie in finding one that can arrange transportation or cover the cost of removing a piano from its current home.

What You Should NOT Do When Moving Your Piano

Pianos are incredibly heavy, which is essential to remember when you need to move them. But putting the piano on a weight scale to gauge how much it weighs isn’t an option. So, how do you calculate the exact weight of a piano?

A piano’s weight largely depends on its model. For example, a grand piano in Perth can weigh anywhere between 227 kg and 635 kg. Upright pianos often measure less than 122 cm in height and weigh less than 136 kg. 

Approximate weight of upright pianos:

Upright Piano Brand	Approximate Weight
Young Chang 121	225 kg
Steinway & Sons Model 1098	219 kg
Bösendorfer 130	265 kg
Yamaha P22	223 kg
Kawai K300	225 kg
Baldwin BH-122	247 kg
Steinway & Sons Model K-52	274 kg

Some larger upright models may weigh up to 363 kg. Grand pianos measuring over 48 inches are typically the heaviest instruments, weighing from 227 kg to 363 kg on average.

Approximate weight of grand pianos:

Grand and Baby Grand Piano Brand	Approximate Weight
Steinway Model S	245 kg
Mason & Hamlin CC	365 kg
Young Chang Y185	604 kg
Mason & Hamlin Artist Grand Piano BB	497 kg
Yamaha C3 Studio	320 kg
Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano	450 kg
Steinway & Sons Model B	347 kg

Don’t Cut Back on Assistance

From the bulky upright piano to just a little support needed for lifting, be generous with your assistance. 

No matter how small, transporting it between homes will require at least three people. That said, don’t let the weight fool you. Dropping a piano can be catastrophic and seriously destructive, so remember to stay cautious and accept help.

Don’t Lift The Piano Without The Right Equipment

There is no DIY solution for safely lifting a piano.

To protect both you and the piano, the proper equipment is necessary. Start with the obvious: a four-wheel piano dolly is a must for successfully moving your instrument. Secondly, custom-made padding can help keep your furnishings unscathed and provide protection during transport. 

And finally, secure the movable stage setup with well-adjusted piano straps — technical finesse is critical here. Make sure they are sufficiently tight yet not restrictive.

Don’t Rely on The Casters

While the casters on your piano may help you move it sporadically. They are not typically designed for long-distance moves. That’s because repeated use of the rollers can lead to deterioration over time. 

For example, suppose the rollers become stuck along the way. In that case, the uneasy movement might follow using excessive force, which can cause ruined carpets, scratches, and scrapes on the floor.

Don’t Move Too Quickly

Piano transporting is a challenging feat. Haste does not make these operations any easier — on the contrary. It is vital to exercise caution when dealing with such huge items. 

Meriting multiple people due to their weight and size, you sure want to avoid any errors interrupting the move. Mistakes resulting from too swift of a process can easily lead to collateral damages such as injuries, splitting up of floorings, denting the walls, and more!

Make a Professional Choice

Moving your piano is no small feat. So don’t try it yourself — plenty of professional Perth piano movers are just a few clicks away. Finding the right moving company for your short-distance move to move your belongings, including delicate items such as a piano, doesn’t have to be complicated. 

Make your piano move a breeze with our professional moving services. Our years of expertise have made navigation through the intimidating task of transferring piano removals in Perth easy, equipping us as highly qualified movers to transition your precious items seamlessly. With the professional knowledge of all tips and tricks for efficient movement, we ensure you can relax during this challenging process.

Stylin’ Moves is perfect for your local Perth furniture and piano move. We have an extensive network of highly qualified, certified, and insured employees, so you can rest assured that your items will be safe. Get a quote today!