How to Move a Baby Grand Piano a Few Feet on Carpeting

Everyone knows a piano has 88 keys but did you know that information technology's common for them to have more than 10,000 moving parts? Moving such a delicate, heavy, and complicated instrument without damaging it tin be difficult, and professionals are best equipped to practice this safely. Y'all can practice it yourself, just information technology takes a bit of grooming and a lot of assist.

So, when do you throw in the towel and call a professional to move your piano? We offer some tips below on how to answer that question, how much it can toll to motion a piano, and if you desire to do it yourself, nosotros requite you lot some things to bank check beforehand.

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Save yourself fourth dimension, stress, and dorsum pain past calling in the pros. Whether you're planning to DIY or just demand help with the heavy lifting, we tin assistance yous find a solution that fits your move and your budget.

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In this guide:

Offset steps before y'all motion a piano yourself
What not to do when moving a piano
The lesser line
Infographic
Frequently asked questions

First steps before you motility a piano yourself

If you're determined to motility the pianoforte by yourself, information technology's of import to be prepared. You'll need the right equipment, and it's important to make sure the piano fits every step of the style. Take a wait at the checklist below:

ane. Measure the new space.

You want to make sure your piano will fit in its new place. Mensurate the room, doors, and staircases to make sure there are no obstacles to getting the instrument to its new home.

2. Brand certain you lot have the right equipment for the job.

Equipment and supplies needed to move a piano

Yous will need, at the very least, piano dollies, straps, and padding. Just the specific supplies you'll need to get tin can vary based on the type of piano:

For an upright piano: Yous will need piano dollies.
For a yard piano: You will need a special piece of equipment called a piano board or pianoforte slip lath to move a m pianoforte. This lath requires additional strapping and padding, and y'all should ensure that it is the right size for your piano.

iii. Verify what size moving truck you'll demand.

Take an inventory of all your stuff, especially large items similar your piano and other article of furniture, and use information technology to select the correct size moving truck for your move.

iv. Clear the paths first.

Brand sure you have a articulate path to the door in the identify you're moving from and from the door of your new house to the location for the piano.

v. Review the path you are taking.

If you have to go up or downstairs with the piano, make sure the stairs can bear the weight of the instrument before you offset your movement.

half dozen. Depending on the type of piano you have, you will need to take several steps to move it:

Moving an upright piano: Make sure that the pianoforte dollies yous apply are able to carry the whole weight of the piano.
Moving a grand piano: Yous should remove the legs of a 1000 or infant 1000 piano before moving it. Secure the instrument to the piano board (mentioned above) with straps and a screwdriver.

7. Load the piano first in the truck and make certain information technology is securely tied down.

The pianoforte should be one of the first things loaded on the truck. Secure the piano with straps and ropes to prevent movement during travel. In the graphic below, encounter additional steps to getting your pianoforte safely in the truck.

viii. Retune the pianoforte shortly after the move.

Moving a piano, even when everything goes well, can crusade the instrument to go out of tune. Be prepared to have it tuned after the movement — though many experts advise waiting a month before doing and so.

What not to do when moving a pianoforte

Now you know the steps to take to properly and safely motion a pianoforte yourself. Here are a few mistakes to avert:

Don't forget pianos are heavy.

Putting the piano on a calibration to know how big the job is going to exist isn't actually an option. So how practise you lot effigy out how much the pianoforte weighs, since that weight guides the strategy you'll use for the move as you navigate tight passageways, corners, doors, and, maybe worst of all, stairs?

A piano'due south weight varies greatly by the model. Grand pianos can weigh equally much every bit i,400 pounds or as little every bit 500 pounds. As for upright models, one that'south less than 48 inches high can weigh every bit little as 300 pounds. If your pianoforte is 48 inches tall or more, it tin weigh equally much as 800 pounds.

Hither are the weights of some popular pianoforte brands and styles:

Upright

Young Chang 121: 496 Pounds
Steinway & Sons Model 1098: 480 Pounds
Bösendorfer 130: 582 Pounds
Baldwin BH-122: 542 Pounds
Yamaha P22: 490 Pounds
Steinway & Sons Model K-52: 600 Pounds
Kawai K300: 500 Pounds

Grand / Baby Grand

Mason & Hamlin Artist Grand Piano BB: 1,090 Pounds
Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano: 990 Pounds
Steinway Model S: 540 Pounds
Yamaha C3 Studio: 705 Pounds
Young Chang Y185: 671 Pounds
Mason & Hamlin CC: 1,399 Pounds
Steinway & Sons Model B: 760 Pounds

Don't skimp on help.

Those weights are pretty daunting, so y'all'll need to recruit a lot of help. Fifty-fifty the smallest of upright pianos will take at least three adults to become information technology safely from 1 place to another. Remember this: The consequences of dropping a piano are severe.

Don't try to lift the piano without equipment.

Make sure you utilize the right equipment and protection. All dollies aren't created equal. You will need a iv-wheel piano dolly, especially made piano padding, and designated piano straps tightened to the correct tension.

Don't rely on your piano's casters (if it has them).

They're non actually made to roll peachy distances, and they weaken with time. And those rollers can jam, likewise. That can mean torn carpet and deep scratches on floors.

Don't motion as well fast.

Moving a piano is hard, and it shouldn't be done in a hurry. Moving too fast can lead to making mistakes that can result in injuries to you, your helpers, your floors, your walls, and more.

The bottom line on moving pianos

Whether yous hire a professional piano mover or exercise it yourself, make sure you know all the costs and potential risks of your decision. If you use a professional mover, the cost of the move itself could be anywhere from $350 to $1,200, depending on the size of the pianoforte, how far yous're moving it, and whether stairs are involved. Moving across state can cost every bit much every bit $3,000 and moving it internationally can be $5,000-plus. In that location are fewer risks of damage and injury with movers, as the professionals use the right equipment and techniques and they'll know the best way to motion your piano into its new space.

Information technology volition cost less money if yous practise it yourself, no doubt, but there is a good take a chance that something might get damaged or someone might get hurt — especially if you don't have all the correct equipment. Information technology might be best to salvage everyone the difficult piece of work and get someone who knows what they are doing to help y'all. It will save you fourth dimension and possibly money (should something happen to the piano) in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to motion a piano?

Moving a pianoforte depends on the size of the instrument and the altitude you are moving it. The fees can range from $350 to $1,200-plus.

It'south important to consider all the costs involved when it comes to making the choice to either hire professional person movers to transport your piano or exercise it yourself. There are costs for packing, labor, truck rental, insurance, fuel, time, and prepare-up. Each situation volition be different.

In addition, at that place's too the question of tipping movers. Y'all need to include this in your cost judge also. Depending on the number of movers and how long the movement takes, tips could be $xx to $100 extra.

How much does a piano weigh?

Pianos come up in two styles — upright and g. Upright pianos stand up tall vertically and the strings run vertically within the case. Thou and infant 1000 pianos are more horizontal and the strings run that mode. Weights will vary by way and manufacturer.

Most pianos volition require 2-three people to move them, using the proper equipment. More than people may be needed if you are moving into a space that has a lot of obstacles or a difficult road to navigate.

What do you need to move a pianoforte?

Pianoforte dollies: These are special dollies with four wheels, actress bearings to make turning easier, and safe wheels to avert damaging floors.
Strapping: Y'all volition need stiff strapping to go on the pianoforte on the dolly or piano lath. Look for locking straps or straps with ratchets attached so you tin easily tighten and secure the strapping. Some other strap to consider getting is a "hump strap." It helps with lifting large, heavy things past extending the utilise of your arms. This is especially useful for going up stairs. Y'all wrap information technology around your wrists and so through the wheels on the bottom of the piano, and then lift upward gently.
Pianoforte board or sideslip lath: This is a large piece of plywood that has been covered in padding. To move a piano using a skid lath, you strap the body of the instrument to it. So, you put the board on a pianoforte dolly and the body is moved.
Movers pads or blankets: These blankets or pads will protect the finish of your pianoforte during the motility. They also protect the piano from the straps, tape, and whatever adventitious bumps during send.
Shoulder harness or belt: This strap system allows movers to properly use their legs and shoulders to move large items. It will not increase the amount of weight you can carry, only will assistance prevent injuries from improper lifting.

How to move a piano full infographic, step by step

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Source: https://www.mymove.com/moving/guides/moving-a-piano-youre-wrong/