Why moving a piano is different from any other move
A piano is not just a heavy piece of furniture. It is a precision musical instrument that combines weight (between 300 pounds upright and 1,200 pounds concert grand), valuable internal mechanisms (strings, hammers, action), and fragile finish that requires special care. A failed piano move can result in damage from 1,000 to 30,000+ USD plus emotional cost of damaging a family instrument.
After moving hundreds of pianos in Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell, and South Florida, we have learned what works and what does not. This guide explains the entire process so you understand what to demand from a professional service and when DIY is absolute madness.
Types of pianos and their challenges
Upright piano (vertical)
- Weight: 300-500 pounds
- Height: 4-5 feet
- Most common in homes
- Approximate cost of professional move: 300-600 USD (local)
Baby grand piano
- Weight: 500-700 pounds
- Length: 4-6 feet
- Requires disassembling legs and pedals
- Approximate cost of professional move: 600-1,200 USD (local)
Concert grand piano
- Weight: 800-1,200 pounds
- Length: 7-9 feet
- Complete disassembly + special crating
- Approximate cost of professional move: 1,200-2,500 USD (local)
Digital piano / keyboard
- Weight: 30-100 pounds
- Pack like fragile electronics
- Original box ideal, otherwise box with thick bubble wrap
- Cost: included in standard move
Special equipment required
Moving a real piano requires specific tools that most homeowners do not have:
- Piano dolly: 4-wheel platform reinforced for extreme weight. Rental: 35-60 USD/day
- Piano board: rigid board for tipping grand pianos. Specialized rental: 50-80 USD/day
- Heavy duty straps: 4-6 minimum, rated for 1,000+ pounds
- Piano blankets: thicker than regular furniture blankets, special padding
- Skid boards: for stairs
- Specialized ramps: for entries and trucks
How to move an upright piano (step by step)
Preparation
- Verify exact weight (look on inside of piano or manual)
- Measure all doors, hallways, stairs from origin to destination
- Secure keyboard cover with painter's tape (not regular tape, leaves residue)
- Lock pedals if possible
- Wrap completely with piano blankets, secure with tape (not on the wood, only on blankets)
Loading
- Minimum 4 strong people, ideally 5-6
- One person directs, others lift coordinated
- Tilt carefully to one side
- Slide piano dolly under base
- Secure piano to dolly with straps
- Roll slowly, NEVER lift with dolly inclined
Stairs
- For each step, minimum 4 people
- Use skid board with friction-reducing material
- Lower one step at a time, with people in front receiving and behind sustaining
- NEVER rush; piano dropped on stairs can be total loss
- If stairs are narrow or winding, hire piano specialists
Truck
- Place against side wall of truck
- Secure with multiple straps
- Cushion with blankets around to avoid contact with other items
- Transport upright, never on side
How to move a grand piano
This requires specialists. We do NOT recommend DIY for any grand. Process summarized:
- Disassemble pedal lyre and legs (4 hours of work with experience)
- Tip piano on its straight side onto piano board
- Secure with multiple straps
- Transport flat (lying on side) on dolly
- Wrap completely with heavy blankets
- At destination, reverse: tilt up, reinstall legs and pedals
- Allow 1-2 weeks of acclimation before tuning
Critical: climate factors in Florida
Wood pianos are sensitive to humidity and temperature changes. Florida has extreme humidity (60-80% summer), which affects already adapted pianos.
- Never transport piano in non-air conditioned truck during summer (temperatures of 100+ inside truck)
- Avoid moves in rain whenever possible (mist enters piano cracks)
- Allow 1-2 weeks of acclimation in new home before tuning
- Maintain stable temperature 65-75°F and humidity 40-50% in new home
Tuning after the move
EVERY piano needs tuning after a move, no matter how careful. The change of location, vibrations, and acclimation alter the tuning. Schedule tuner 2 weeks after arrival.
Tuning cost in Miami: 120-250 USD depending on tuner. We recommend Piano Technicians Guild for finding certified professionals (ptg.org).
What to ask the moving company
If you are hiring professional service, demand these specifics:
- Do you have specific experience with pianos? How many in last year?
- Can you give me references of recent piano moves?
- Do you have specialized equipment (piano dolly, piano board, heavy straps)?
- How many movers will come for my piano?
- Does your insurance cover the value of my piano? (verify minimum equal to commercial value)
- What is your protocol for stairs?
- How do you transport in the truck (upright vs flat)?
- Do you offer post-move tuning or do I coordinate separately?
Approximate costs by service
- Local upright (within Miami-Dade): 300-600 USD
- Local baby grand: 600-1,200 USD
- Local concert grand: 1,200-2,500 USD
- Long distance to Orlando upright: 700-1,200 USD
- Interstate to NY/NJ grand: 2,500-5,000 USD
- Stairs (each flight): 50-150 USD additional
- Climate-controlled truck: 100-300 USD additional
When DIY is acceptable (rarely)
You can consider DIY only if:
- It is a small upright piano (under 400 pounds)
- No stairs in origin or destination
- You have minimum 4 strong helpers experienced
- You rent appropriate dolly
- You accept all risk of damage (instrument worth less than 2,000 USD)
For any other case, professional service is the only sensible option.
Real case: family in Brickell tried to move 1980s Yamaha grand piano with only friends. Mid-move broke pedal lyre and scratched wood. Repair: 3,500 USD. Hiring specialists would have cost 800 USD.
Wadjet Logistics for piano moves
We have a team specialized in pianos with own equipment and 30 years of experience moving pianos in South Florida. From small upright to concert grand. Insurance covers commercial value of the instrument and we coordinate post-move tuning. Call us at +1 (305) 970-6538.