Can you move a piano yourself? Pros, Risks and when to call a professional
Moving a piano might look straightforward from the outside. It’s just a heavy piece of furniture, right? In reality, pianos are one of the most complex and delicate items to move inside a home. Between the weight, the awkward shape, the fragile internal parts and the risk of damage to floors, doors and staircases, it’s a job that catches many people out.
Here’s a breakdown of when you can move a piano yourself, and when it’s better to call in a specialist.
What Makes Pianos Difficult to Move?
Pianos are unique because they’re:
Heavy (typically 180kg–280kg for uprights, 300kg–550kg for grands)
Awkwardly weighted (soundboards + irons create uneven balance)
Delicate inside (thousands of moving parts)
Large but narrow (tight corners, door frames, staircases)
High-risk for property damage (floors, walls, banisters, doors)
A basic upright may weigh as much as a motorbike, but it has the fragility of a musical instrument.
When You Can Move a Piano Yourself
There are scenarios where a DIY move can be realistic:
✔ Short distance inside a single room
e.g., sliding an upright across the room onto a hard floor
✔ No stairs, no tight corners
Moving from one open space to another
✔ Piano is a lightweight digital upright
These can often be moved in two parts
✔ The piano is already considered non-valuable
e.g., a free or scrap upright that isn’t worth specialist transport
In these cases a few basic precautions help:
Use furniture sliders or a dolly
Protect the floor with blankets/cardboard
Keep the piano upright (never lay sideways for acoustic pianos)
Avoid dragging across carpet (casters can damage subfloor)
When a DIY Move Becomes Risky
A DIY piano move becomes unsafe when any of the following are involved:
⚠ Stairs (up or down)
Even 4–5 steps introduce serious tipping hazards
⚠ Tight hallways, corners or narrow door frames
Common in older UK properties and terraces
⚠ Grand pianos
Requires partial dismantling, crating and specialist trolleys
⚠ Uprights over 220kg (Broadwoods, Bechstein, Steinway etc.)
⚠ Period or antique pianos
Restored or high-value instruments
⚠ Moving through communal buildings
Apartments, lifts, shared hallways, concert venues etc.
⚠ No proper equipment available
If the solution becomes “push harder” — it’s time to stop.
What Can Go Wrong With DIY Piano Moving
Here are the most common issues we see:
🚩 Damaged floors
Scratched laminate, gouged wood floors, cracked tiles, carpet burns
🚩 Damaged piano casework
Chips, crushed corners, veneer damage, lid warping
🚩 Internal mechanical issues
Slipped action, broken pedals, soundboard cracks, tuning instability
🚩 Personal injury
Crucial because pianos are unpredictable when tipping
🚩 Getting stuck mid-move
The worst scenario is wedging a piano halfway up a staircase or landing
When to Call a Professional Piano Mover
You should call a specialist when:
✔ There are stairs
✔ There are tight access points
✔ It’s a grand piano
✔ The piano has monetary or sentimental value
✔ It needs moving to/from a workshop or dealer
✔ It’s going into storage
✔ It’s being delivered to a customer
✔ You simply want to avoid damage or stress
Professional movers bring:
Correct piano dollies & cradles
Stair climbers & ramps
Covering & strapping equipment
Vehicle tie-downs
Flooring protection
Insurance
Trained handling & technique
Most importantly — they know how pianos behave when moving.
Final Thoughts
You can move some pianos yourself, but there’s a point where the risks outweigh the initial saving. Between repairs, tuning, damaged flooring or injury, a cheap DIY move can quickly become expensive.
For many people, hiring a specialist piano mover ends up being the simplest, safest and most cost-effective option.
If you want a professional to move your piano safely, get a quote from us!