How to Move a Grand Piano

Both grand and baby grand pianos are very large and expensive instruments that can easily weigh up to 1,200 pounds, making them difficult items to move without professional help. Any accidents that happen while moving a grand piano can injure yourself and others while also causing damage to your home.

With these factors in mind, we strongly recommend that you leave moving a grand piano or baby grand piano to the professionals. Piano moving can be found through Moving Help®, but if you are determined on doing it yourself, below you will find the steps to safely move a grand piano and baby grand piano.

Set Up a Moving Team

Start gathering friends and family who are able to help with your move as soon as you know your moving date. Due to the size and weight of these instruments it is best to have at least four people (including yourself) on hand to move a piano.

Buy the Right Supplies

To properly move a grand piano or baby grand piano you will need to have various sized screw drivers to disassemble parts of the piano. You'll need moving pads to cushion and protect the piano, stretch wrap to secure the moving pads, moving straps to allow proper handling of the piano. It also helps to have a piano skid to safely transport your piano from your home to your moving truck.

Prepping Your Piano

First, remove the lid of the piano and all pedals. Next, detach the leg left of the keyboard, this will allow your team to tip your piano on its side, be sure to have first laid down moving pads. Once on its side you can remove the piano’s remaining legs. You can now cover any exposed parts of the instrument with moving pads and then firmly secure the cushioning with stretch wrap.

Secure the Piano and Begin Moving

Once your piano is properly covered, lift the body onto the piano skid or four-wheel dolly. Next, secure the piano to the skid using ratchet straps, then wheel the piano out of your home and onto your truck. Be sure to have someone at both ends of your piano skid or four-wheel dolly guiding the piano. We also recommend having either one or two helpers giving directions, clearing a path, and acting as a spotter for the sides of the piano.

Once on the truck, lift the body of the piano off of the skid and push it up against one of the truck’s walls. Finally, secure the body by using rachet straps to tie it to the slats found on the walls of the truck. Wrap any items you detached in moving pads, and stretch wrap as well, and place them in the truck.

If at any point during your move you feel overwhelmed or unsafe, visit Moving Help® to reserve experienced piano movers.