SPECIALIST MOVES6 MIN READ
A concert grand weighs 550kg. A baby grand weighs 300kg. An upright averages 200kg. Moving one without specialist equipment breaks the piano, the floor, and often the crew's backs.
Equipment used
- Piano trolley (four-wheel, rated to 800kg)
- Piano skid (long padded board for stairs)
- Four-strap harness system
- Padded piano covers
- Ramps rated for the weight
- Tail-lift lorry (never manual loading)
Upright piano — the process
- Piano covered with padded piano blanket, secured with straps
- Lifted onto piano trolley by 2-person crew
- Wheeled to lorry via a skid over any steps
- Ramped onto tail-lift, secured to lorry side with 4 straps
Grand piano — the process
- Legs and lyre removed (specialist tool set)
- Body laid on its side on a padded piano skid
- Wrapped in 3 blankets, secured
- 4-person crew skid the piano onto tail-lift
- Legs and lyre wrapped separately
Cost
- Upright piano: £150–£250 add-on to your removal
- Baby grand: £250–£450
- Concert grand: £450–£850
Prices reflect specialist crew, equipment and additional insurance. Always fully covered under our £50k goods-in-transit cover.
What to do after the move
Every piano needs 2–3 weeks to acclimatise to the humidity of the new address before tuning. Tuning immediately after a move is money wasted — the piano will drift within a week.
Digital pianos
Treated as a regular fragile item. Stand and unit are dismantled, packed in original boxes where possible, and transported horizontally. Usually no extra charge.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to move a piano in the UK?
- As an add-on to a normal house move: £150–£250 for an upright, £250–£450 for a baby grand, and £450–£850 for a concert grand. Standalone piano-only moves are typically £250–£950 depending on size and distance.
- Can a normal removal company move a grand piano?
- Only if they have a piano trolley, piano skid, 4-strap harness, tail-lift lorry, and crew trained to disassemble and reassemble the legs and lyre. Ask specifically — most general removal firms subcontract piano moves. Apex handles them directly.
- How long after moving can I tune my piano?
- Wait 2–3 weeks. Every piano needs time to acclimatise to the humidity of the new address. A piano tuned within 48 hours of moving will drift within a week and need re-tuning.
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