A piano is one of the most challenging items to move well. It is heavy, structurally complex, and sensitive to temperature, humidity, and impact. Whether you own an upright, a baby grand, or a full concert grand, the preparation you do before moving day has a direct impact on whether your instrument arrives in the same condition it left.
This checklist walks you through everything you need to do before the movers arrive, so nothing gets overlooked.
Step 1: Measure Everything Before Moving Day
Start with dimensions. Measure the height of an upright or the length of a grand piano, then measure every doorway, hallway, and staircase along the intended route. Add a few inches of buffer to account for the padding and equipment that will surround the piano during the move.
If a doorway is borderline, do not assume it will work. Confirm it ahead of time. Discovering a clearance problem on move-in day with a 700-pound instrument in the hallway is not a situation you want to be in.
Step 2: Clear the Entire Path
Walk the full route from the piano’s current location to the moving truck and remove everything that could create an obstacle: rugs, furniture, decorative items, wall art, and anything fragile nearby. Rugs in particular are a tripping hazard when people are carrying or steering a heavy instrument on a dolly.
The clearer the path, the safer and more efficient the move.
Step 3: Remove and Secure Loose Items
Take everything off the piano before it gets wrapped: sheet music, metronomes, lamps, decorative items, and anything stored inside the bench. These items should be packed separately.
Take photos of the piano from multiple angles before anything is moved or covered. A visual record of the instrument’s condition before the move protects everyone and gives you a clear reference point if anything needs to be addressed afterward.
Step 4: Secure the Keyboard Lid
Close and lock the keyboard cover. If the cover does not have a lock, use painter’s tape to keep it shut. Never use duct tape or any strong adhesive directly on the piano’s finish. Even briefly applied, aggressive tape can permanently damage lacquered and polished surfaces.
Step 5: Wrap the Piano Properly
The piano should be wrapped in heavy-duty quilted moving blankets, not standard household blankets. The difference in padding and protection is significant, and a piano’s finish is susceptible to scratches from even minor contact.
Secure the blankets with rubber bands, stretch wrap, or low-stretch ratchet straps. The key rule here is that nothing adhesive should touch the piano’s finished surfaces directly.
For grand pianos, the legs and lyre assembly need to be removed and wrapped separately. This is not something to attempt without experience. Improper disassembly of a grand piano’s legs can cause structural damage that is expensive to repair.
Step 6: Use the Right Equipment for Loading
Upright pianos are typically moved on a heavy-duty piano dolly. Grand pianos require a padded piano skid board. Standard furniture dollies are not designed for the weight distribution of a piano and should not be used as a substitute.
Inside the truck, the piano should be secured against a flat sidewall using ratchet straps attached to the truck’s rub rails. Movement during transit, even minor shifting, can cause damage to both the instrument and the vehicle.
Step 7: Plan for Post-Move Recovery
Once the piano arrives at its new location, resist the urge to play it immediately. Give the instrument 24 to 48 hours to acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the new space before anyone sits down at the keys.
Position the piano away from windows with direct sunlight, exterior walls that experience temperature fluctuations, and any vents or drafty areas. These environmental factors affect tuning stability and, over time, the condition of the wood.
Schedule a professional tuning two to three weeks after the move. This gives the piano time to fully settle before a tuner works on it.
Why Professional Piano Movers Make a Difference
A piano is not simply heavy furniture. The internal mechanics, the finish, the structural integrity of the case, and the calibration of the instrument all depend on the move being done correctly. A mistake during loading, transit, or unloading can result in damage that costs far more to repair than a professional move would have cost in the first place.
Professional piano movers bring specialized equipment, trained technique, and the experience to handle complications that arise in real moves: tight stairwells, narrow doorways, weather conditions on moving day, and the particular challenges of different piano types.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I prepare my piano for a move?
Start the preparation process at least a week before moving day. This gives you time to measure pathways, document the piano’s condition, coordinate with your movers, and make sure everything is in order without rushing.
Can I move a piano myself to save money?
Technically possible, but not advisable. Pianos can weigh several hundred pounds to over a thousand pounds, and their weight distribution makes them genuinely difficult to control without proper equipment and technique. The risk of personal injury and damage to the instrument is high enough that professional help is the wiser financial decision in most cases.
Does a piano need to be tuned after every move?
Yes. Changes in temperature, humidity, and the physical stress of being transported affect a piano’s tuning. Plan to have it professionally tuned two to three weeks after the move, once it has had time to settle into its new environment.
What type of wrapping should be used on a piano?
Heavy-duty quilted moving blankets are the standard. They provide substantially more padding than household blankets. Nothing adhesive should come into direct contact with the piano’s finish, so use stretch wrap or rubber bands to secure the blankets rather than tape.
Does it matter where I position the piano in my new space?
It does. Avoid placing a piano near windows with direct sunlight, exterior walls, heating and cooling vents, or drafty areas. These conditions cause wood to expand and contract and make it much harder to keep the instrument in tune over time.
How long does it take to move a piano?
It depends on the type of piano, the layout of the buildings involved, the distance of the move, and whether stairs are involved. A straightforward local move with good access can take a couple of hours. More complex moves with stairs, tight spaces, or disassembly of grand piano legs will take longer.
Trust Your Piano to The Move Caddies
A piano deserves more than a general moving crew and a prayer. At The Move Caddies, our professional piano movers in Fort Collins and Boulder, CO are trained and equipped to handle every type of piano safely, from compact spinets to full grand pianos. We use proper piano dollies, padded skid boards, heavy-duty blankets, and secure strapping techniques on every job.
We are fully licensed and insured, and we handle both residential and commercial piano moves for homes, schools, churches, music studios, and event venues throughout Northern Colorado.
Contact The Move Caddies today for a free quote on your piano move, and have peace of mind knowing your instrument is in experienced hands.