Should You Move a Piano Yourself?

The short answer to this question is probably not.  Piano moving is a specialized skill that requires training, experience, and the proper equipment.

The difficulty and process depends on several factors, including the type of piano, its dimensions, weight, and the moving destination.

An improper move is risky to the piano, flooring, and the movers themselves. A safe, damage-free piano move can be tricky, but the right movers can make it happen safely and efficiently. 

Can One Person Move a Piano?

Moving a piano safely is definitely a job for more than one person. Depending on the piano size and the move location and route, up to three or four people might be needed. 

The smallest type of piano is a spinet piano which can be up to 40 inches in height, and vary in weight from 200 pounds to 400 pounds.  Larger pianos, like baby grands and uprights, can weigh anywhere from 500 to over 1,000 pounds.

Is Moving a Piano Difficult?

Pianos are one of the more difficult pieces of furniture to move, which is why there is a need for specialists. To start, they are among the heaviest pieces in any move, so difficult to maneuver in tight spaces, around corners, and especially, going up or down stairs. 

The difficulty lies not simply in the weight of the instrument, but in how that weight is balanced. To explain further, the main weight of a piano comes from its internal parts, and not the housing holding the instrument together. 

This causes the majority of the weight to be concentrated on one side of the instrument. Without experience and proper equipment, it is hard to avoid having the piano lean dangerously over to that side. Professional piano movers use proper equipment and moving techniques that help them achieve any move safely.

What is the Easiest Way to Move a Piano?

The easiest way to move a piano is to disassemble its pieces and reassemble them in the new location. Most pianos disassemble rather easily and most parts can be removed and replaced without issue. Often, the legs, pedals, and music stand can be unscrewed, wrapped, and set aside for transport. Sometimes there will also be a key cover that can be taken off as well. This leaves the main body of the piano to be moved.

Disassembling these pieces reduces the weight of the main housing and concentrates the largest amount of weight in one, more easily balanced piece.

Unfortunately, this is not true of every piano as some cannot be disassembled, either due to age and fragility or the piano type.  

Is it Worth Moving an Old Piano?

Since piano moving can be difficult and sometimes pricey, whether to move an old piano may be a difficult question. You need to balance the value of the piano against the cost and risk of the move.

If you have an old piano, you should check the make and model of the instrument, as well as the condition. It could be an antique with high-quality wood and metals made by a well-known piano artisan. Or it might simply have sentimental value, passed down through family members for generations. 

Once you get an idea of the value of the piano itself, get an estimate of the cost of the move, and see how those values compare. You can get a piano moving quote from professional piano movers. You will need to supply specific details about the piano and the move in order to get an accurate estimate.

The factors that go into a piano move quote include the piano’s type and size, the distance of the move, and the difficulty of the move (i.e. if there are stairs involved). In addition, a professional mover will also check if there are physical roadblocks. This likely includes comparing the dimensions of the piano and every corner and door frame on the route.

Note: Sometimes, just because a piano was able to get into a certain room, it doesn’t always mean it will realistically fit back out.