Of all the items in your home, pianos are top contenders for being the most notoriously difficult objects to move, even if you’re simply relocating one to another room. They weigh a ton. Literally in many cases. If you need to move a piano, there are two recommended methods for doing it successfully. We explain both here.

Why are pianos so hard to move?

Pianos are not only heavy, they’re also large and many have an irregular shape. Adding to the difficulty, the distribution of weight isn’t even through the piano. Pianos generally have a cast iron harp, and this is where you get most of the weight. It makes them top or side heavy if you have to lift them off the ground.

So why not use the wheels? Yes, most pianos are mounted on casters or small wheels. These are designed to help you move the piano short distances, to position it where you want in a room and to protect the floor. They’re not designed to move a piano over distance, and relying on them for this purpose will likely lead to damage to your piano and floors.

Method One

To move a piano, you will need to prepare in advance. This involves getting the right equipment and gathering extra hands to do the lifting. Most upright pianos need at least four people to lift the piano off the floor.

You will need:

• Lots of moving blankets
• Packaging materials such as bubble wrap, foam packing, protective covers and tape
• A dolly capable of bearing your piano’s weight
• A piano skid board if you’re moving a grand piano
• Metal ramps if you have stairs
• At least four strong, able-bodied people, and one or two others

The next step is to package your piano for moving. Wrap it with packing materials to secure the keys, lid and pedals. Use protective blankets to cover the body of the piano and secure them in place so they won’t slip or make the piano harder to hold.

Measure your packaged piano, then walk the route you’ll take from the house to the moving truck, making sure you have ample clearance for your team and the piano to get around corners, through doors and so forth. Even wrapped, if you get stuck in a tight spot, you could cause a lot of damage getting the piano out. Position your metal ramps if you’re moving the piano down stairs.

Making the move

Park your dolly beside the piano and get everyone in position. Your four strong people will do the lifting and your extra people are there to slide the dolly under the piano. Lift on cue and position the piano onto the dolly. Secure it in place so it has less chance of tipping or sliding.

Slowly guide the piano along your established route, using everyone to look out for hazards or potential collisions. Take your time getting through doors and around corners.

If you have to negotiate stairs, it’s very dangerous to attempt to carry the piano if you don’t have specialised equipment or experience. Ease it onto the ramps and guide it down very carefully. Your moving team will have to organise themselves to bear the weight of the piano. Take your time to prepare, test the weight and negotiate the route.

Use your metal ramp again to load the piano onto the truck. Make sure it is secure in the truck and won’t move about. Once you reach your new home, repeat the process in reverse. That’s it! You’re done!

Method Two

You will need:

• One person
• A phone

Dial our phone number, lift the phone to your ear and book us in to move your piano. That’s it! You’re done!