The Best Way to Move a Heavy Piano

Preparation is key when moving a heavy piano. Begin by gathering your team and the necessary equipment.

Make sure that when planning to transport a piano through doorways and staircases, it is carefully measured for passage. Protect floors as necessary while clearing away furniture that might obstruct its passageway.

Plan Ahead

Pianos are heavy, awkwardly-shaped pieces of equipment which require special training to move. Therefore, at least four strong people should help when moving a grand piano – possibly more depending on its dimensions.

Ask for the help of friends and family, offering to return the favor if possible. Coordinate to make sure everyone is ready on moving day; as well as purchasing supplies – including four-wheel piano dolly with tightened piano straps at appropriate tension.

Plan the path you will follow between your current home and your new one, including all doors and stairs, inspecting for obstructions while laying floor protection to protect floors or carpeting. If taking stairs is part of the journey, consider hiring long-distance movers instead of transporting piano yourself; their expertise will get the job done more quickly and safely, saving both time and money in the process.

Get the Right Equipment

First step to moving a piano: gathering your team. At least four individuals who are physically capable of lifting it without existing injuries should join you, plus heavy-duty straps, a furniture dolly that can carry its weight, and a van or truck suitable for transporting the instrument.

Once your team of helpers is assembled, inspect the path your piano will take to ensure doors are wide open and nothing obstructs its path. Furthermore, lay down floor protection as its weight may damage hardwood or carpeted floors easily.

Specialized moving companies possess all of the equipment required to safely and quickly transport a piano. Their experienced crew knows how to map an efficient pathway while employing techniques that minimize lifting, steep inclines/declines and weight transference during transport. Furthermore, these movers will safeguard floors, walls and belongings from scratches or dents during their move.

Use Straps

Relocating a heavy piano is no simple task, although some brave individuals have tried their hand at doing it themselves. We recommend leaving this task to professionals; one misstep could result in broken back or piano damage – or both!

Make your move safer by hiring at least four people as a team to assist in transporting large items. Each member should be in good health, wearing appropriate attire for their task and have some prior experience in doing so.

Before beginning, have your team set up a ramp along your piano’s path of exit (if necessary) and clear its way to the door of your truck or trailer. When inside, have someone stand behind it and secure it using straps; lifting an instrument while it is suspended is both hazardous to yourself and dangerous for its instrument; whenever possible, keep the piano on plywood or another support surface that can support its weight.

Don’t Forget the Floors

Even the smallest upright pianos can weigh over 1,400 pounds, so having plenty of team members available and using proper equipment are both key in moving them safely and successfully.

Before beginning, ensure your path is free of furniture or decorations that could obstruct the piano’s movement. Additionally, extra carpet or cardboard pads could protect floors from potential damage.

Not excluding stairs from your move is another key consideration. When transporting a heavy piano up stairs, lifting it more than once can be daunting enough – to prevent further damages to the stairs remove the dolly and place cardboard pads beneath each leg to protect the stairs and avoid damaging your stairs further. Measure doorways, staircases and hallways ahead of time so as to determine whether your piano will fit through them; or hire professional long distance movers instead if possible for this move.