Embarking on the journey of moving a piano solo is no small feat, but as the saying goes, the most remarkable achievements often come from the most challenging tasks.
We don’t want to pry, but as a moving company with over 14 years of moving specialty items like grand and baby grand pianos, we’re naturally curious whenever people want to move such an item by themselves.
Pianos are fragile and difficult to move, so hiring professional movers is a good idea.
However, this article will show you how to do it safely, minimizing the risk of injury on a moving day and the potential damage to the piano or your property.
What You’ll Need to Move a Piano Alone?
You can move a piano cheaply, but you will need help lifting the item onto and off the dolly. We suggest 3-5 people, depending on the piano size, because two people could leave you vulnerable during the most pivotal moments of moving your piano.
You will also need the following supplies:
- Measuring tape
- Paper or smart device to record measurements
- Moving blankets
- Packing foam
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Dolly or hand truck
- Moving straps
- Work gloves
- Microfibre cloth
Step-by-Step Process for a DIY Piano Move
Once you have the team and the tools, it’s time to measure the piano and pathway, put it on a dolly, and load it into the truck.
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Measure the piano.
Measure and record your piano’s height, width, and depth, always using the widest points of each angle to ensure it can comfortably fit through each entryway, stairwell, and hall it encounters on its journey.
Standard measurements for popular piano types
| Piano type | Standard dimensions |
|---|---|
| Standard Upright Piano | 58 inches in width x 48 to 60 inches in height x 24 inches in depth |
| Spinets | 38 inches x 58 inches wide |
| Console Pianos | 40 – 43 inches x 58 inches wide |
| Studio Pianos | 45 – 48 inches x 58 inches wide |
| The Petit Grand | 4 feet, 5 inches – 4 feet, 10 inches |
| The Baby Grand | 4 feet, 11 inches – 5 feet, 6 inches in height |
| The Medium Grand | 5 feet 7 inches |
| The Parlor Grand | 5 feet 9 inches – 6 feet 1 inch high |
| The Ballroom Grand | 6 feet 2 inches – 6 feet 7 inches high |
| The Concert Grand | 9 feet high |
- Measure the pathways the piano has to travel through.
Map out your moving path from the piano’s current location to its following intended location. Write down measurements for door entryways, hallways, stairwell widths, and any other obstacles your piano will pass through on the way to its new location.
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Protect the piano.
Use the items from the packing supplies list to wrap each side and corner of the piano for ultimate protection from nicks, scratches, scuffs, and more while in transit.
Watch how Let’s Get Moving has mastered packing a piano before a move.
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Clear all obstructions and open all of the doors.
Before moving anything, perform a final walkthrough of the path you will take from the piano’s current position to the truck.
Move any obstructions, open all doors as wide as they go, and secure them in the open position. Ensure the ramp is braced against the truck and the door to the vehicle is open. Now you are ready to move the piano.
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Lift the piano.
Use 3-4 people to lift the piano onto and off the dolly. Your team members should wear safety gloves to protect their hands and allow them to retain a firm grip on the piano as you maneuver it into place.
Moving straps can be a helpful tool for lifting, although some people may not need them depending on the size of the piano, the size of the moving team, and the type of dolly or hand truck you are using.
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Secure the piano on the dolly.
Use the moving straps to secure the piano to the dolly so you can focus more on navigating the piano along its path without worrying it will topple from its vehicle.
Ratchet straps are easy to handle because they allow you to tighten them using a cranking motion on the buckle.
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Move the piano by truck.
Position the truck’s rear as near as possible to the doorway from which the piano will exit. Similarly, at the next location, park the truck by backing it toward the most convenient entrance to minimize the distance needed to move the piano to its new spot.
Move the piano onto the truck first if you have other items, like mattresses, more miniature furniture, and boxes. Secure the piano upright to the side of the truck using ratchet straps across at least two points of the piano.
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Unload the piano
Follow the loading procedure above in reverse as you insecure the piano from the truck and roll it down the ramp and into its new home.
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Reassemble the piano
If your piano didn’t require disassembly, you could skip ahead and dust it with a microfiber cloth.
Piano keys can shift while in transit, which means pianos may need retuning once they arrive in their new home.
Why It’s a Good Idea to Hire Local Movers to Move Your Piano?
Now that you see what goes into moving a piano alone, you can make a better decision about how to move a piano, whether by yourself or with the help of professional movers.
If you have any doubts about safely moving your instrument from point A to point B, we recommend calling a local moving company.
The cost of movers is far less than the damage you can create by dropping the piano on a hardwood floor, your foot, or hearing it crash in the back of the truck because it wasn’t adequately secured.
With Let’s Get Moving, you get experienced movers, the right size of the truck, your chosen moving day, disassembly and reassembly included, and coverage for property damage.
FAQ
Can I move a piano by myself?
You can move your piano yourself instead of hiring movers but you would still need help because pianos, even the most miniature models, are very heavy and awkward and require at least 3 to 5 people to lift at once, depending on the size of the piano and the spaces you are moving it through.
What’s the easy way to move a piano?
The easy way to move a piano is by hiring movers like Let’s Get Moving, with over 14 years of experience moving specialty items, such as grand, baby grand, upright pianos, drum sets, music schools, entire music production studios, and more. Give us a call for a free quote on piano moving.
How do you move a piano with a dolly?
Moving an upright piano with a dolly is possible, while styles like baby grand and grand pianos would require some disassembly and reassembly.
Which way should a piano be placed in a moving truck?
Pianos should travel upright and be secured with ratchet straps against the back walls or the back corner of the moving truck. An upright piano should have its backside against the truck’s wall. The keys are traced into the vehicle’s center for any grand piano type.
How do I dispose of a piano?
If your piano isn’t in good enough condition to sell, give away, or donate to a local charity, school, or community center.
There are other ways to dispose of your musical instrument, like renting a dumpster or dismantling it and hauling it to the local dump. If you want a straightforward solution, you can use our junk removal services.
How expensive is it to move a piano?
If the piano move is part of a larger residential move, then you are probably paying $139 – $177 per hour to move everything together.
However, if you are moving piano alone, it comes under specialty moving services and you will likely pay a special items rate that is higher than the hourly rate. Expect to pay about $200 – $250 per hour for particular items moving, including billiards and extensive art collections.
How do you move a piano up a staircase?
Use a metal ramp to move a piano up or down stairs. Check the sturdiness of the stairs you’ll be traversing and note any areas that pose a hazard. If these hazards can be fixed or avoided, do so before proceeding.
Secure the piano’s lid, wrap the pedals in foam or bubble wrap, cover the edges and legs of the piano, drape the entire piece with a moving blanket, and secure it with tape.
Use about four people to move the piano, lifting it onto the dolly, pushing it smoothly to the metal ramp and up or down the stairs, and then lifting the piano off the dolly, onto the truck, and eventually into its new home. Remember that moving downstairs is more accessible than moving upstairs against gravity.
What size truck do I need to move a piano?
Moving just a piano requires a moving van, at least a 9’ cargo van, or a 10’ truck. A ten-foot truck or larger will allow additional room for the bench, music stand, or other accessories you’re moving along with your piano.
