How to Move a Piano

If you need to move a piano, hopefully you'll have professional help available. If you decide to ask friends, you will have to give them very clear instructions to avoid inflicting damage to bodies and objects. Here are a few steps to help you move your piano from one location to another.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Work Gloves
• Work Gloves
• Heavy-duty Dollies
• Plastic Covers

Move a Piano Within a Room

1. Make sure the piano you want to move is easily accessible from all sides.

2. Make sure the new location you have have chosen is suitable for the piano. Do not move it into cold drafts or close to heating devices.

3. Lower the lid and lock it before you start moving.

4. Position at least one person on each end of the piano if you are moving an upright piano.

5. Move the piano endways, not sideways.

6. Make sure you do not bend your back when handling the piano to avoid severe back strain or injury. Lift with your knees bent and your back straight.

7. Be certain there are no obstacles in the way the piano is moving.

8. Be careful not to strain the legs of the piano if you have to move it on carpeting or over a threshold.

9. Move the piano slowly and carefully, just a few inches at a time.

10. Put at least three persons around a grand piano, one at each leg.

11. Take enough weight off the casters to make it roll more easily, but do not lift it off the floor.

12. Make sure you lift the casters over bumps in the floor, one leg at a time.

Moving an Upright Piano From Room to Room or House to House

13. Assign a team of four movers and place two at each end of the piano. Let no one other than your assigned movers touch the piano.

14. Make sure none of the movers has a history of back problems.

15. Make sure your helpers are wearing work gloves to protect their hands.

16. Cover the piano with protective plastic if you have to move it outside for transport.

17. Make sure the lid is down and locked.

18. Give your movers very specific instructions on how and where to move the piano safely.

19. Put the piano on a heavy-duty dolly. This will preserve tuning. It will also keep movers from damaging the piano or your home.

20. Remember to lift and roll the piano endways.

21. Keep hold of the handle behind the piano all the time it is rolling.

22. Be careful rolling the dolly over thresholds and door jambs.

23. Make certain that the piano won't tip over by being pushed over any obstacle too fast.

Tips & Warnings

• You should use friends for moving your piano only if you really cannot afford to pay professional movers. Paying a moving company might well be worth the money you might save on paying for damaged pianos and bodies! And don't even think about moving a grand across town, let alone up and down stairs, without professional help!

[walla]

on 2/26/2009 Moving a Yamaha U1 upright (5'x4'x2' dimensions) to an 8th floor apartment tower. Can the piano be turned sideway in order to fit the elevator?The piano definitely needs a tuning because of the move. Is turning the piano sideway going to cause damages?Thanks,Walla.

[Bruteal]

on 6/20/2008 Pianos should not be moved on there back as this can damage the internal workings. They can however be moved on there end. This can be benificial for manouvering around tight starwells or anywhere where there is limited turning space. (Information is for upright pianos only)

[dcionita]

on 1/31/2008 What damage, if any, can be done to an upright piano it is transported flat on its back in the bed of a truck?

[dcionita]

on 1/9/2008 Can an upright piano be moved on it back?

[sqlgeek]

on 4/12/2008 Moving an upright orchestral grand piano from house to house:

What you will need:
1 x Hydraulic Lift Gate Truck ($30 for overnight rental)
2 x 4 wheeled furniture/piano dollies
6 x Moving furniture pads
8 x Medium weight ratcheting straps

1. Lift one end of the piano being sure to use the built in lift points. Place this end on one of the dollies.
2. Lift the other end of the piano using the built in lift points Place this end on the other dolly.
3. Drape the piano with the furniture pads to prevent rubbing and scratching. A felt blanket, that is free of debris, should be used for highly polished pianos.
4. Secure the piano to each dolly strapping completely around and under the dolly so that the strap secures the dolly to the piano.
5. Run a strap across the key lid and down under both dollies. This will secure the lid and the dollies from moving during transport.
6. Piano should be freely movable now over most surfaces. The piano will remain secured this way for the rest of the journey. The rubber or inflated wheels also act as a vibration and shock dampening during transport.
7. Wheel piano to hydraulic lift.
8. Raise lift with one or more persons securing piano on lift. Do NOT leave piano unattended at any time.
9. Wheel piano to the farthest forward part of the truck. Center piano with the back of the piano against the farthest forward wall.
10. Strap piano to walls with 2 straps making certain that forward and side to side motion is COMPLETELY prevented.
11. Reverse procedure for moving piano into new home.