4 min read

How to Move Your Piano Like a Professional

Andrew Macfarlane
· Updated November 7, 2024
How to Move Your Piano Like a Professional

Moving a Piano? Get the Professionals to help

Low-cost moving services for your prised piano. Door to Door Furniture Delivery. Same Day Mover Services. Fixed Prices.

9.4 · 7,465 reviews
What are you moving?

Moving can be stressful, but moving a piano can be a whole new level of anxiety. Pianos are heavy, fragile, and require special handling to avoid damage. But fear not! With some careful planning and a few simple steps, you can move your piano like a professional.

General Tips For Moving a Piano

  • Measure Twice, Move Once - Before you start, make sure you measure the piano and the doorways, hallways, and staircases it needs to go through. This will help you plan the best route for moving the piano and avoid any surprises along the way.
  • Protect Your Piano - Add padding over the keys before securing the lid. Wrap your piano in blankets or moving pads to protect it from scratches and damage during the move. You can also use specialised piano covers for added protection. Right packaging material is essential.
  • Use Proper Equipment - Moving a piano requires special equipment like a piano board, dolly, moving straps, and furniture blankets. Make sure you have all the necessary equipment before you start moving.
  • Enlist Help - Moving a piano is not a one-person job. Enlist the help of friends or family members to help you move the piano safely and efficiently. Better yet, hire a professional piano mover to do the job for you.

Moving An Upright Piano - Step-by-Step Guide

Moving a Piano

1. Prepare The Piano - Remove any loose or delicate parts, like the music stand or pedals, and wrap them separately. Secure the lid of the piano with tape to prevent it from opening during transport.

2. Tilt And Slide - Tilt the piano onto the dolly and secure it with moving straps. Carefully slide the piano to its destination, making sure to keep it balanced and level.

3. Set It Down - Once you reach the piano's destination, carefully tilt it off the dolly and onto its legs. Remove the moving straps and any wrapping, and reattach any parts you removed.

Moving a Grand Piano - Step-by-Step Instructions

Moving a Grand Piano

Moving a grand piano requires extra attention to detail to ensure its safety. Here are some specific steps to follow:

1. Prepare The Piano - Before moving a grand piano, it's important to remove any fragile or detachable parts such as the lid, music rack, lyre, and legs. Each piece should be carefully wrapped and labelled to ensure easy reassembly.

2. Protect with Blankets - Cover the entire piano with blankets or moving pads to protect it from scratches and damage.

3. Position The Piano Board - Position the piano board at an angle next to the piano and slide it under the piano. The board will provide a stable base for the piano during transport.

4. Tilt And Secure The Piano - Tilt the piano onto its side onto the piano board and secure it with moving straps. Make sure the piano is balanced and level to avoid any damage during transport.

5. Move The Piano - Carefully slide the piano onto the dolly and secure it with moving straps. Use furniture blankets to protect the piano during transport.

6. Reassemble The Piano - Once you reach the piano's destination, reassemble the piano in reverse order. Attach the legs, slide the main body into place, and reattach the music rack and lyre, reattach the lid. Finally, tune the piano as needed.

Beware The Stairs: Advice From Professional Piano Movers

Moving a Piano

Pianos and stairs aren’t friends and if you have a lot of them to climb, it’s even more important to get professional help, says Juan Van Dyk from Juan Van Dyk Transport in Port Elizabeth.

"Pianos are heavy and awkward to move, especially when it comes to stairs. Even a small misstep can cause damage to the piano or injury to the mover.”

Attempting to move a piano down a flight of stairs if you’ve never done it before is not only risky, but it can also be dangerous for you and those helping you. It's easy to lose your footing and drop the piano or injure yourself in the process. Plus, repairing any damage caused by a DIY move can be costly and time-consuming.

That's why it's important to hire professional piano movers who have the knowledge and expertise to handle any moving situation, including stairs. They will take into account the number of stairs, the size and weight of the piano, and any other factors that could affect the move. Just a few of the benefits of hiring professional movers in South Africa.

Need Piano Movers? Find the Right Mover on Wise Move

Moving a piano is a complex and challenging task that requires careful planning, special equipment, and skilled handling. While it is possible to move a piano on your own, hiring professional movers can save you time, stress, and the risk of damage to your instrument.

If you want to ensure your piano is moved safely and efficiently, consider hiring a professional moving company with experience in piano moving. With their help, you can relax and enjoy the music in your new home without worrying about the move.

Moving a Piano? Get the Professionals to help

Low-cost moving services for your prised piano. Door to Door Furniture Delivery. Same Day Mover Services. Fixed Prices.

9.4 · 7,465 reviews
What are you moving?

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R 8,500
Kampersrus AH, Limpopo
Durban North, Athlone
10
AO
Reviewed 22 minutes ago
If I could give 10 out of 5 stars I would. This what you call service!!! Where do I start. My son is based now in Durban having stayed in Hoedspruit and needed to transport some belongings. So we used Wisemove to get a quote. We got a quote from Themba Transport. Some key service points: I was planning to have the products shipped on a Tuesday, he arranged to have it picked up a day earlier. When my initial down payment had issues as I was paying from a EU bank, he insisted to continue and allowed me to work out the issue with my bank. He finally got to the final destination at 1am. Even when I insisted it may be late, he said I made a promise to deliver and I will. During the trip was in constant contact with me and my son. I cannot recommend this mover enough. A1 top class. Thanks a million A O The Netherlands
R 2,850
Pretoria, Derdepoort 326-Jr
Pretoria, Montana
10
Jimmy
Reviewed 26 minutes ago
I am 82 years old and Andre did so much that I was not even tired. He simply took every thing out of my hands and even repeared some faulty articles! For all older people don't look further when you have to move.
R 750
Johannesburg South, Oakdene
Johannesburg South, Ridgeway
10
Gift
Reviewed 3 hours ago
Excellent, No wonder they have such a good rating on Google.
R 1,080
Queen bed, Bar fridge, Small office desk
Cape Town, Western Cape
Cape Town, Western Cape
9.0
Marise
Reviewed 20 hours ago
Timeous, efficient and cost effective. I was quite stressed about moving my items across town but I had nothing to worry about.
R 2,900
Randburg, Ferndale
Johannesburg, Douglasdale
10
Ruth
Reviewed 22 hours ago
Easy to book - very prompt and professional service. I would use them again without hesitation.