What’s the best way to move my piano? Just like moving anything else in your home, the best way to move your piano depends on the following three things:
- Keeping the piano safe
- Protecting your home from damage
- Keeping yourself safe
Regardless of the piano model you have, the best way to accomplish these three things is to hire professional piano movers. While DIY piano moving is still possible, it’s not a good idea at all.
Almost every other moving company provides piano moving services as part of their service list. Also, you must understand that there are a few companies that specialize in piano moving only. But, the cost of piano moving might differ when you choose to use the hire a general moving company or a specialist piano moving company.
The cost of moving a piano
Now, this is a common question that most people ask when looking for a piano moving company. So, what’s the average cost? This depends on several factors, including:
- The type of piano you have
- Its weight
- The obstacles the movers will need to negotiate when getting the piano or into your home
- The moving distance
However, the average cost of moving a piano ranges between $200 and $1,000+. However, chances are, hiring piano moving experts will be a bit more costly than hiring a normal moving company. Also, the number of movers you need will depend on the piano you have, and they also determine the cost of moving the piano.
Typically, you will need:
- 4 – 6 mover if you have a grand piano
- 2 – 3 movers for an upright piano
Now, you can multiply the number of movers needed by the average hourly rate to get your estimate. If the cost seems too high, remember the ultimate goal is to keep you safe, protect your piano, and protect your home.
Which company should you hire?
The piano moving company that you hire depends on the following:
What piano type do you own?
There are two major types of pianos—grand pianos and upright pianos. With that, you should note that grand pianos are completely different from upright pianos, and require more expertise to handle, unlike upright pianos. Therefore, owning a grand piano will impact the company you hire.
Although most common movers have the manpower and tools to move a grand piano, as you move up the scale towards heavier, larger, and expensive grand pianos, you must consider hiring a piano moving specialist.
The weight of your piano
Do you have a five-foot, half-ton, or three-foot, three-hundred-pound piano? At the end of the day, the weight of your piano will have a direct impact on the cost of moving it. Most, your movers will need to know the model or even come to assess the piano before giving you a quote. Also, this should help the piano movers to prepare accordingly for the move.
Where you live
Interestingly, certain states have set specific laws governing piano moving because of the weight regulations. So, unless you are a musician, it might be impossible to know the laws set by your state, as well as the muggy interstate piano moving regulations. However, hiring piano movers will figure this out for you before the moving day.
The path out of your current location
Here we are talking about the path from your home to the truck. In most cases, distance is not an issue for piano moving experts. However, staircases are a big problem for them. The more staircases you have in your home and the heavier the piano, the more the expertise, as well as the number of movers you will need.
In addition to this, you must:
Get the right moving equipment
Typically, when you hire professional piano movers, they will come with the right moving equipment. The piano moving equipment needed includes piano boards or dollies, protective padding, and straps. However, the type of equipment needed will vary depending on the model of your piano:
- Upright piano – you will need piano dollies and straps
- Grand pianos – you will need a piano board or skid board when moving a grand piano. Also, you will need extra padding and strapping. Lastly, it’s important to make sure that you measure the size of the piano for you to get the right equipment.
Measure your space
When moving your piano, measure your doors, walkways, and staircases to ensure that you have a clear path without any obstructions. This should apply to your current home, as well as your new home.
Ensure that your piano is well secured on the moving truck
The last thing that you want to deal with is a rocking piano behind the moving truck. To prevent this, ensure that the piano is tied securely to the walls of the moving truck to prevent it from shifting while on the move. This will help to prevent further damages.
Get your piano tuned after the move
When moving a piano, there is a high possibility that it will lose its tune. Therefore, you should make the necessary arrangements to get it tuned after you’ve moved. However, it’s recommended that you schedule the re-tuning after one month to allow the internal mechanisms and parts to settle.