You have a beautiful, centuries-old upright piano at home that seems to weigh about a million pounds. Even if the instrument is on wheels, it feels like an impossible task to push it. How could anyone ever lift it down the stairs when moving?

There is a beautiful grand piano in the foyer of your business. Now that you’ve secured your own building and don’t need to lease, this instrument needs to move to the new location. How can you get it there safely?

Although some people try to move pianos alone, the weight of this instrument makes that a tough choice. Depending on the size and how heavy it is, you might need between 2-5 people to complete the work.

Expo Movers provides professional moving services in NYC for pianos and other intricate instruments. Reach out today if you need help with your relocation!

How to Move a Piano without Professional Assistance

If you have some strong neighbors, friends, or family members who want to help move a piano, it is sometimes possible to do this job without professional assistance.

After rolling up your sleeves and getting a good breakfast, here are the steps to follow to ensure the instrument stays in one piece and no one gets hurt.

1. Take measurements of everything before starting.

It helps to measure the piano’s dimensions before beginning the moving process. You must also carefully check how wide the spaces are where you’ll be moving the instrument. The list of items to measure should include doorways, hallways, and stairwells.

The last thing you want to have happened is to have your instrument get stuck halfway down the building because the space was too tight.

2. Get the supplies you’ll need for a successful experience.

Although you could lift or roll a piano out the door with enough help, there is a risk that you could damage the instrument or yourself during this process. The number of scratches, dented railings, broken walls, and pulled muscles is too numerous to count from that decision.

You can avoid most problems with moving a piano by having the safety and transportation supplies needed for a successful experience.

Here are the items that will make your moving experience better.

• Work gloves, heavy-duty tape, and plastic wrap.
• A four-wheel dolly that is rated for the weight of the piano.
• Dolly straps, a ramp, and moving straps.

Don’t forget about having a vehicle that supports the weight of the instrument!

3. Clear the path to move the piano.

Before you start moving the piano, you’ll want to take the time to remove obstructions or decorations in the exit path. No one wants to trip over a potted plant or break Grandma’s portrait that still hangs on the wall.

It’s also a good idea to keep kids and pets out of the way while moving the instrument.

As you’re taking this step, it helps to cover the piano’s corners with bumpers or extra towels to prevent wall or door damage.

4. Wrap the piano before moving it.

Upright and grand pianos must be wrapped before moving them because they have components that can dislodge. The process is different for each one, especially when the instrument must be disassembled before getting moved.

Upright pianos are the easiest to move. You simply wrap the lid over the keyboard and secure it with tape. Then wrap the pedals, front, sides, and back.

If you have a grand piano, it is usually better to have a professional moving team handle the job because of its complexity.

5. Get those heavy lifters working.

Since the average piano weighs about 700 pounds, you’ll need four people to move the instrument efficiently. Smaller versions are lighter, so two people might be able to carry it in that circumstance.

You’ll want another person guiding the process, acting as a spotter while the piano moves out of the house.

6. Move the piano to the truck.

Hoist the piano onto the dolly with the straps. Once you have the instrument centered, secure it with rope or more straps before moving it along the cleared exit path. If you have stairs to navigate, you’ll need to have a ramp in place to carefully guide the piano to each level.

The key to a successful piano move is going slow and having everyone operating at a comfortable pace. Once you’ve got the instrument on the truck, you’ll need to reverse the process when arriving at your destination.