Moving Baby Grand Piano
Should You Do It Yourself?

Should you move your own baby grand piano or any other grand piano for that matter?  Unless you are experienced at moving grand pianos and have the specialized equipment that a grand requires, my advice is not to do it yourself.  I realize the temptation to try to save some money is probably the motivation but it usually isn’t worth it.

A baby grand piano can weigh about 500 pounds and a full 9’concert grand can weigh as much as 1300 pounds.  Unfortunately, along with the weight come problems of balance and inertia.  Knowledge in knowing how to deal with these problems can make all the difference in moving a piano safely and efficiently.  Lack of knowledge in these areas can lead to disaster and injury.

In general I would discourage you from moving your own piano due to the potential dangers you may encounter such as damage to the piano, other items near the piano such as furniture and walls, and injury to yourself. Also I have seen a lot of pianos damaged that have been moved by the owner.  Professional piano movers make it look easy but it is more difficult than it appears. 

Upright Pianos

While I also do not recommend you move your own upright piano it is less complicated and requires less equipment.  A lot of the same problems of weight, balance and inertia, vertical pianos are also top-heavy especially the old, taller uprights.  To move these they are generally moved away from the wall, one end is lifted up in the air while the other end stays on the floor and a dolly is positioned near the center of the piano underneath with the dolly flush to the backside.  Once a dolly is in position, the piano can be rolled to its new location or outside to a truck.

Remember that whenever a piano is being moved, regardless of who is doing the moving, it is best to go slow and not rush it.   Moving pianos faster is not better.  That is when you run the piano into door jams and walls and damage both.

Another point to remember is if you're using a professional piano mover you should examine the cabinet of the piano with the mover to identify any existing damage to the piano before it is moved.  That information should be noted and then you will be able to tell if there's any additional damage after the piano has been moved.

Cost of moving baby grand piano

Some piano movers will charge by the hour and others will charge you by the job.  Steps will be in addition to the normal charge. They will try to get as much information from you as possible so they know what is involved such as steps, tight quarters, accessibility etc. Information you thank me be important may be very important to the mover.  I know from experience that piano owners who do not move pianos do not understand how important some minor details are.  I always ask a lot of questions but I rarely get complete and accurate information about the situation.I also ask for pictures of steps, loading area etc.

You may not want to hire a piano mover to move a piano somewhere within your house.  By being careful and using common sense you should be able to do it yourself.  If it is a grand piano you can reposition it within a room by getting at least three guys around it and lifting it slightly and rolling to where you want it.  You don’t lift it up in the air but instead take some weight off the legs so you don’t damage them.  Upright pianos can simply be rolled to a different location in a room if the castors are good enough to roll.  This applies to larger uprights that have legs that are supported at the bottom.  Smaller pianos that have free standing legs require more caution.  These legs are very easy to break because they can get caught in the carpet.  These pianos have to be leaned back slightly to take weight off the front legs as you roll it.  The casters on these smaller pianos typically don’t roll very well so be careful.

Prices for moving and pianos may seem high to you but if you damage the piano or injure yourself or a friend the price for moving will all of a sudden seem quite reasonable or cheap.  By the time you purchase or rent the equipment needed to move the piano including a truck or trailer you may not be saving very much money at all. 

Whatever you would save by moving it yourself, may not be worth the risk that you are taking. Moving Insurance

It is very important thats you ask your mover if they have insurance.  If they do, ask specifically what the coverage is.  Some movers insure by the pound and the amount of coverage on the piano is quite low.  You must know this ahead of time in case you need to purchase additional insurance

Whether you need to make a local move or across the country, I can help with it.  If I can't make the move personally, I will put you in contact with someone that can. 

Contact information:

559-358-4523

Return from Moving Baby Grand Piano to Home