How To Move A Piano
How to Move a Piano
Though it’s not recommended to move a piano on your own, it is possible with time and plenty of commitment and care. Here’s how to make a plan to move a piano on your own without a professional moving team.
Step 1: Gather Equipment and Assistance
Moving a piano is a complicated process that requires prior planning. Be sure to gather the following components before attempting to move a piano.
Assistance
The first thing you need to consider when moving a piano is help. Every piano needs at least two people to relocate it across a room or house, let alone into a moving trailer or vehicle. Grab a friend (or two, if you’re moving a grand piano) so that they can help you make a tough job possible and slightly less cumbersome.
Piano dollies
Piano dollies are triangular wheeled moving aids that you’ve probably seen or used before to move other pieces of furniture. Each one has three wheels, one in each corner, and you’ll need at least four of these essential pieces of equipment.
There is another form of piano dolly that is rectangular and has four wheels. This type of dolly is much bigger, and you only need one to move a piano. It has rubber across its wooden supports to not scratch the piano. Both of these types of piano dollies work fine for moving an upright piano.
Piano skid board
If you’re moving a grand piano, which is significantly larger than an upright piano, this is a buffer between the instrument and the dolly, making moving the awkwardly shaped instrument easier. A piano skid board is simply a piece of plywood covered in padding, whether that be foam, rubber, or velvet. You strap the grand piano’s body to this skid board and then place the board on top of the larger rectangular piano dolly.
Ratchet straps or hump straps
Now that you’ve acquired the wheels and the platforms with which to move your piano and your extra sets of hands, you need straps to attach the upright or grand piano to the moving apparatuses. Ratchet straps are great because you can adjust the tightness, and none of that adjustment is based on individual strength or stamina—the straps do all the work for you. If you’re using a piano skid board or one of the larger piano dollies, ratchet straps are perfect.
Another type of strap you can use is called a hump strap. This can be used to hoist the piano onto the dollies you’re using. Hump straps essentially extend your arms’ reach—wrap them around your wrists, and they go under whatever furniture you’re moving, in this case, your piano. You can slip the hump straps under the wheels of the piano, and you and a friend can lift together to place the instrument on top of its dolly.
Pads or blankets
You definitely cannot forget the pads or blankets when moving a piano. Pianos have a shiny varnish on their exteriors—and the last thing you want to do is scratch up the finish during the move. Pianos also have delicate external pieces, like the keys and pedals, which must be padded to protect them during a move. Place moving pads or blankets between the straps and your piano and between the dollies so that nothing jostles or scratches the instrument during movement.
Self-protection in the form of a shoulder harness or lifting belt
If you wear a shoulder harness or a lifting belt, these items can help protect you from straining yourself when lifting heavy objects, especially if you don’t do this very often. These personal protective measures are not essential, but they may be a good idea to consider, especially because a grand piano can weigh upwards of 500 or 600 pounds, with the largest being double that weight.
Tape
Tape is the unsung hero of the entire piano-moving experience. How will you secure the padding over the keys and pedals? How will you ensure the triangular piano dollies stay secure during the move? How will you stick the padding to any protruding parts of the instrument? Tape is your essential friend. Make sure not to stick the tape directly onto the piano’s surface—the adhesive may affect the finish or leave a residue. You can wrap the tape around whatever padding you’re using.
Step 2: Measure Your New Space and Your Piano
Firstly, you need to measure how large the intended space for your piano is in your new place. Choose the room you want to place your piano in, and then get the room’s dimensions. You also need to measure your piano’s height, width, and length. You can then determine if the piano will fit where you want it to go or if you have to choose another area/room.
Step 3: Map Out and Clear the Path
Plan exactly how you’ll move your piano well before you begin the moving process to avoid damage or injuries. Once you know which room you’re setting it up in, make sure that the pathway from the entrance to the destination is completely clear of all items and that the footpath is maneuverable (minimal stairs, no sharp turns, or dangerous corners). Also, make sure that the origin point’s footpath is completely clear to the vehicle you’re placing the piano into. A thorough plan is a safe plan.
Step 4: Move the Piano
There are two main types of household pianos: upright and grand. If you’re moving an upright piano, first tape up all the external pieces we’ve mentioned, like keys, pedals, and corners, with padding. Then, use hump straps and your friends to lift the piano onto the piano dolly or dollies. Once the piano is taped or strapped to the dollies, you can slowly push it up a ramp into the moving vehicle, where you can further strap it down and pad it to avoid damage during the move.
If you’re moving a larger piano like a baby grand, you need to add a few extra steps for this process. Firstly, put the lid down and ensure that the strap is closed tight. You can then remove the piano’s legs and pedals. Since these are loose pieces, you can wrap them in padding or blankets and box them up.
Now, pad and tape up the same external pieces, including the lid. Tilt the piano (with your helpers) onto the piano skid board. You can then either lift the board and the baby grand onto a truck or load that onto a piano dolly to slowly and carefully roll it into the moving vehicle. Of course, the piano will then require reassembly at your destination.
Step 5: Load and Secure the Piano
There are several ways you can load your instrument into its vehicle for relocation. You can strap it to a piano skid board and carefully lift that into the vehicle. You can also use dollies to roll your piano into the vehicle. If you use dollies, remove the piano from the dollies after loading it onto the vehicle. Pad the surface the piano is resting on and secure the piano from sliding around during transport. Make sure nothing will move or slide or bump against anything else.
Step 6: Retune the Piano After Arrival
Many people may not think of this at first, but it’s always a great idea to get your piano retuned after a move. All the lifting, driving, and potential jostling affects the strings and sound. However, don’t be in a hurry to do this. Experts say you should wait three weeks to even a month before you retune after a move. This is to give time for the piano strings to settle. They need to adjust to temperature, humidity, and other environmental variations in your new home before undergoing tuning (otherwise, the strings can snap).
Extra Tips for Moving a Piano
Keeping these tips in mind can keep you from making regrettable choices when moving your piano without hiring a mover. Use the following tips for an easier piano moving process.
Find as Many Helpers as Possible
At least two people are needed to move a piano, an extremely heavy object (500 to 800 pounds most of the time, sometimes lighter or heavier). Two should be enough to move an upright piano, but for baby grands, three people would be best, especially if a moving vehicle is involved. You and your helpers can disassemble the legs and pedals and then pad the piano together. The team effort makes the whole process faster and more enjoyable.
Do Not Try to Move a Piano Without Moving Aids
The aids mentioned in our list aren’t optional. The only option was to use a shoulder harness or lifting belt for yourself—all the materials to be used on the piano are necessary to preserve the health and safety of you and your helpers and the condition of the piano. If you try to move a piano without aids, the weight and cumbersome nature of the instrument can cause multiple injuries, ranging from hernias to muscle strains and sprains. Don’t take the risk—find helpers to safely move your piano.
Take Your Time
Moving a piano is not a race. Pianos are internally delicate and should be treated as such. The last thing you want is to bang your piano around on walls or floors or cause injury to anyone. Slowly and carefully move the piano through each step, communicating openly with your helpers, as this can avoid both instrumental and human casualties.
If Your Piano Has Casters, Pretend It Doesn’t
Although you can use your piano’s casters to move it short distances (a few feet or yards), that’s all they should be used for. Do not rely on your piano’s wheels for moves longer than that or even for moves across carpet. Casters can be extremely weak and are the first moving parts on pianos to break. They can also get stuck, which can then scratch your hardwood floors. Just use piano dollies to move your piano; it’s always a safer bet than the casters your piano came with.
Our Recommended Piano Movers
While it’s possible to move a piano on your own with the help of a few friends, it’s always better and safer to leave this task to the professionals. The following moving companies are reputable and well-versed in the piano moving process and can help you get your instrument to your destination quickly.
American Van Lines
If you’re looking for the highest-quality team to move your piano, we recommend working with American Van Lines (AVL). AVL has made a name for themselves in the full-service moving industry thanks to their commitment to their employees’ ongoing education. They hire each of the employees they send out on jobs instead of using third-party labor. This allows AVL to strictly control the training and best practices of the movers assigned to your home. They even employ certified piano movers to ensure your instrument arrives without damage.
Best Moving Add-ons
- Local, Long-Distance & International Moves
- Direct Carrier to All 48 Continental US States
- Storage Options Available

JK Moving Services
Like American Van Lines, JK Moving Services is a strong choice for piano moving, thanks to their commitment to ensuring that their employees never cut corners on your move. JK Moving Services has already completed thousands of successful moves by using their unique multi-step piano moving process to minimize the possibility of damage. Each of JK Moving Services’ team members has passed a background check and a drug test and completed extensive training to make sure you’re receiving the best service quality possible.
In addition to their strong team, JK Moving Services also offers several additional features with its moves to take some of the stress off your shoulders. JK Moving offers 24/7 customer service assistance if you run into trouble with your movers, and they also provide GPS tracking that allows you to see where your shipment is in real-time. Finally, JK offers financing options with as little as 0% APR for select moves with qualifying credit. This can be a major bonus if you’re worried about the cost of moving a piano with a team and you’re considering doing it on your own to save money.
Best Insurance Options
- Local, Interstate, Local, & International Moving
- 24/7 Customer Support & Great Mobile App
- Low-Interest Financing Available

uShip
uShip is a unique marketplace-like platform that allows you to connect with a number of local moving teams offering piano moving services without going through the hassle of collecting a quote individually from each company. uShip allows you to find a mover for your piano in three easy steps.
- Step 1—Create a shipping listing: uShip’s marketplace connects moving teams and homeowners. Create a listing for your piano, and be sure to include dimensions, the make and model of the piano, weight, your location, your destination, and a few photos.
- Step 2—Review your quotes: After creating your listing, local moving companies will review it and submit offers as they compete for your business. This ensures that you can compare multiple options before you book your move. Each moving company has its own carrier profile, which you can use to view previous customer reviews and ask any questions you might have about your move and your quoted rate.
- Step 3—Book your move: After you find a moving team with a price point and reputation that you’re comfortable with, book your move through uShip. Your movers will arrive at your home on your scheduled moving date and begin the process of moving your piano.
uShip’s unique platform provides you with more direct control over the price you pay for services. It’s also an ideal solution to help you save money if you’re only moving a piano.
Best for Single-Item Shipping
- Provides Shipping Services for Furniture, Cars, Boats, etc.
- Easy Mobile App for Tracking
- Ships for Residential and Commercial Moving

The Key to the Perfect Piano Move
It’s always recommended that you work with a professional piano moving team to avoid damage to your instrument and injury. However, finding the right piano movers doesn’t need to be expensive when you take some time to plan out your move. We recommend getting a quote from each of our recommended service providers to ensure that you’re not overpaying for your service. Just a few minutes online can save you hundreds of dollars by the time you sit down to play your piano in your new home.
Piano Moving FAQ
How do you move a piano without a mover?
You need the equipment mentioned above, and it’s always best to have one friend help, at the very least (it’s better if you have two). Just acquire the requisite moving materials, helping hands, and plan thoroughly, and you can definitely move your piano yourself.
How do you move a piano across a room?
If your piano does have casters, moving a short distance across the room could be possible, although it’s best not to depend too much on these wobbly wheels. Always have at least one other person to help you control the piano’s movement path. Casters may be enough, but if your piano has no wheels or the wheels have jammed, you can place the piano legs onto the small triangular dollies we mentioned above and scoot the piano across the room.
Alternatively, you can tip the piano on its side and use the padding and securing methods we mentioned earlier and place the piano on a rectangular piano dolly. Then when you get the piano across the room, slowly and mindfully tip the piano back up, and there you go.
Does moving a piano put it out of tune?
Yes. It is recommended to wait three to four weeks before you try to retune it, though, as tightening or loosening the strings right after moving can cause the strings to snap. The piano needs time to adjust to new temperatures and environmental factors in your new home before you tune it, and it will inevitably need to be retuned after a move.
Is it OK to lay a piano on its back?
It’s not recommended to put a piano on its back. The best way to move an upright piano is to keep it in its upright position and secure it to the side of the vehicle, using cushioning between the surfaces. The best way to move a grand piano is on its side. Placing a piano on its back will probably not cause long-term damage, but it can put the piano in a position to acquire damage, like if it’s dropped or roughly jostled.