The Best Piano Movers Around You

By: Thomas Curry Last Updated: Jan 01, 2024

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We give guide and research top piano movers in the moving industry based on their location as well as a few other factors. You can make a comparison and check a list of piano movers that can match your household needs.

BEST OVERALL

4.9


Gentle Giant Moving Company

  • Flexible payment options
  • Great customer service
  • Licensed and insured
Get a Quote 800-442-6863 Read review

BEST CUSTOMER REVIEWS

4.8


Sterling Van Lines Inc

  • No hidden fees
  • Nationwide availability
  • Price matching
Get a Quote 323-614-0949 Read review

BEST PREMIUM SERVICES

4.7


Modern Piano Moving

  • Transparent pricing
  • Responsive customer service
  • Well-trained staff
Get a Quote 888-375-8018 Read review

A piano is a costly and valuable instrument and it often comes in large size and is bulky. Moving a piano by yourself can cause damage or injury, therefore when you are moving home, piano moving should be performed by professionals. Piano movers often make use of specialized equipment for your piano move as other moving techniques used by furniture movers may simply damage your costly instrument.

The piano movers we partner with a focus on the safe transporting of large, heavy, and costly pianos & organs with the use of special equipment, harnesses, and dollies.

Piano moving companies have undergone special training and understand how to secure, haul, and set up the instrument properly, carefully, and precisely. They have the qualification to transport the piano from your home, apartment, or office and maneuver it safely across the stairs.

Also, long distance movers must possess the right license to perform national moves across state borders.


How Much Does It Cost To Move A Piano?

How much cost required to move a piano is dependent on several factors such as the size of your piano, your location, whether you are moving locally or across the country as the case may be.

The cost or rate also varies for different companies. On average, the cost of moving an upright piano is between $380 to $650, if it is a baby grand piano; then the price may increase by an additional $100, and if it is a grand piano; the price may increase by an additional $150 to $200.

The total cost will be dependent on the type of piano; its age, whether there are a set of stairs, and the distance you are relocating it to.

The weight of an average piano ranges from 300 pounds upright piano to about 1,200-pound grand pianos.

Piano moving companies usually charge an additional fee for each set of stairs they have to scale through.

The size of the piano also plays a role in deciding the rates as a bigger piano attracts higher moving rates. All these put together will give an idea of what the cost of moving a piano from one place to another will be.

The following table displays piano moving cost:

Distance Upright Piano Baby Grand Piano Grand Piano
Local $125 – $600 $600 – $850 $850 – $1000
Long Distance $600 – $1000 $1000 – $1200 $1200 – $1500

Prices For Moving Piano Locally

Prices for local piano relocation differs from company to company depending on your distance and unique needs that are to be served. The cost usually depends on the type and size of the piano, billing type, distance, and if crating is required.

Moving a piano across town usually costs as little as $100 or more depending on the size and distance to be covered. If stairs or flights are involved, then it can go as high as $200 or more as the case may be.

  • Prices for an Upright Piano: To move an upright piano within local towns cost between $125 to $600 depending on the stairs and distance to be covered.
  • Prices for a Baby Grand Piano: For a baby grand piano, it may cost up to $600 or more depending on the stairs, distance, and difficulty that may be encountered.
  • Price for a Grand Piano: This may cost up to $850 or more depending on the distance and if there are stairs to be scaled.

Prices For Moving A Piano Cross Country

Prices for relocating pianos whether long distance or cross country also differ from company to company just as we have for local piano moving services, it is also dependent on the distance you are moving to.

Moving a typical high-end, big or grand piano across the country or across long distances may cost as much as $600 depending on the location or as the case may be.

  • Prices for an Upright Piano: This may cost up to $600 depending on the locations and circumstances as the case may be.
  • Prices for a Baby Grand Piano: To move a baby grand piano across country will cost at least $1,000 or more depending on the distance, location, and stairs involved if any.
  • Price for a Grand Piano: The price for moving a grand piano can cost up to $1,200 and above depending on the distance and difficulty that may be involved in transporting the piano.

It is important to note that stairs may cost an additional $2-$10 per step. Other things to be considered include the best time to move a piano, the right moving equipment, piano storage facilities to be used, safety, and how to get a quote among others.


Compare The Best Piano Moving companies

4.9 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.5
Best Overall Best Customer Reviews Best Premium Services Best Moving Crews Best Local Movers
15% Seniors & Military Discounts 20% Seasonal Discount 18% Flexibility Discount 15% Student Discount Not Disclosed
$2700-$6200 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) $2850-$6350 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) $2900-$6500 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) $2200-$5400 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) $2300-$5600 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom)
Get a Quote Get a Quote Get a Quote Get a Quote Get a Quote

Top 5 Piano Movers Around You

  1. Gentle Giant Moving Company
  2. Sterling Van Lines Inc
  3. Modern Piano Moving
  4. Two Men And A Truck
  5. A-1 Piano and Organ Movers

It is important to have the right tools and training to make sure the piano remains undamaged and that no one sustains an injury. While there are owners who may want to perform the Piano move themselves, the smartest move is to hire a professional mover to handle the work for you.

Piano movers have special knowledge and understand the right handling methods to make sure the object is properly disassembled, transported, and set up.

Below are our top picks based on our experts’ research and reviews:

1

BEST OVERALL

4.9

Gentle Giant Moving Company

  • Flexible payment options
  • Great customer service
  • Licensed and insured

Gentle Giant is one of the best piano moving companies out there, it is a national moving company based in Massachusetts and was founded in 1980 to offer full-service moving solutions to their clients.

They have over 200 competent moving specialists and movers who they refer to as giants.


  • Experienced piano movers
  • Full-service moving
  • Over 200 competent moving experts
  • Local and cross country piano movers
  • Service may be slower
  • Mediocre moving service

Licenses:

Type:

Long Distance Moves

2

BEST CUSTOMER REVIEWS

4.8

Sterling Van Lines

  • No hidden fees
  • Nationwide availability
  • Price matching

Sterling Van Lines Inc. is a moving company based in Los Angeles offering both moving and storage facilities for over 50 years, they are a member of a couple of moving organizations that only reputable companies can be identified with.

Some of these organizations include the American Moving and Storage Association and California Moving and Storage Association among others.


  • Storage service
  • Experienced movers
  • Member of moving organizations
  • Add-on services
  • Lengthy quote process
  • No tracking of shipment

Licenses:

Type:

Long Distance Moves

3

BEST PREMIUM SERVICES

4.7

Modern Piano Moving

  • Transparent pricing
  • Responsive customer service
  • Well-trained staff

Modern Piano Moving began operations in 1935 with moving only pianos before they later began to offer other moving services and storage facilities.


  • Experienced piano movers
  • Storage facilities
  • Available in 48 states
  • Specialized piano movers
  • No tracking of shipment
  • There may be hidden fees

Licenses:

Type:

Long Distance Moves

4

BEST MOVING CREWS

4.7

Two Men And A Truck

  • Customized services
  • Wide geographic range
  • Nationwide availability

Two Men and a Truck offers exceptional moving services and has been in operation for over 30 years providing moving solutions for local, long-distance, and international relocation, packing services, storage facilities in over 300 locations spread within and outside the United States.


  • Great moving services
  • Experienced movers
  • Storage facilities
  • Packing and other services
  • None at the moment

Licenses:

Type:

Long Distance Moves

5

BEST LOCAL MOVERS

4.6

A-1 Piano and Organ Movers

  • Binding quotes
  • Personalized packages
  • Flexible cancellation policy

A-1 Piano was founded in 1958 by Jim Flobert who started the company as a small piano moving coy; they provide top quality piano moving services with the help of their trained and expert movers who understand the trade of relocating piano from one point to another.


  • Experienced movers
  • Quality piano moving services
  • Highly-trained expert movers
  • Storage facilities
  • Hidden charges

Licenses:

Type:

Long Distance Moves


Getting Piano Moving Quotes

Getting a quote for your piano moving task can be through visitation or direct contact with the national moving companies or requesting for a quote from the company by visiting their website online.

Usually, the billing or quotes are based on two major ways;

  • Hourly Rate: Hourly rate is common with household movers. The minimum hours required is usually 3 hours and that is the base rate.
  • Flat Rate: This is the type of rate that is usually used by piano moving companies and the following factors are considered in arriving at the rates;
  1. The type of piano being moved; whether it is grand or upright.
  2. The distance that will be covered from home to home, and piano to a truck.
  3. Time restraints.
  4. Challenges and Difficulties that may be involved, may include grass pulls, stair flights, and tight turns among others.
  5. Waiting time as it may apply

All these are factors that will be put into consideration before arriving at a rate for moving your piano either locally or across the country.


Some Vital Tips to Safely Move Your Piano

1. Employ Qualified Hands:

The most important thing in moving your piano is to ensure you engage a professional piano moving company that is licensed and insured to do the job.

Engaging professional cross country movers will save you a lot of headaches and hassles as you can attend to other daily pressing issues while the moving company gets the job done for you.

2. Make Sure the Company is Insured:

This is important as it will help you cater for any eventuality in the process of moving your piano from one place to the other.

If your moving company is not insured, then it will be difficult to recoup your loss in case of any form of damage to your piano in the process of transiting.

3. Wrap the Piano:

Wrap the piano with a blanket or padding and secure it with a packing tape and do not allow the tape to touch the piano surface.

The padding and blanket must be thick enough so that the piano is properly protected when the truck encounters bumps on the way.

4. Lifting The Truck:

Do not lift the piano using its legs when you are lifting it into the truck or into the furniture dolly, the legs can be fragile. The piano should be kept in the upright position as laying it on its side may cause damage to the inner mechanics.

5. Properly Secure the Piano in the Truck:

Make sure the piano is properly secured in the truck, it is safer to use a wood plant so as to ensure a level flooring for the piano because most truck spaces are usually not level

6. Pack Safely:

Make sure you take extra precautions while packing to avoid any form of damage to the piano.

7. Proper Padding:

All moving parts of the piano should be well-secured and padded while in transit and the trucks used in transporting the piano must be equipped with a special air ride system to prevent jostling organs or pianos while in transit.


Frequently Asked Questions

Will I need to retune my piano after it is moved?

Most people assume that if their piano is moved to another house or across the country, it needs significant retuning. But it is not always the case.

One of the most important factors in the tune of a piano is humidity. If the piano travels through areas with varying levels of humidity, it may require retuning. If the humidity is a similar level throughout the journey, it may not require any further tuning.

Is it safe to move a piano across the same room without professional assistance?

It is very common for piano owners to move their piano across a room after it is delivered by a moving company. Perhaps you are rearranging your furniture and you have finally landed on the ideal spot for your piano.

We would recommend that you exercise extreme caution when moving your piano. It is not so much about the piano, but about yourself and your home.

Pianos are very heavy and dragging them on your floor may damage the wood floor or carpet. Meanwhile, trying to lift a piano by yourself or with one other person can be dangerous, as they are very heavy.

What should I do to prepare for the individuals who are coming to pick up my piano?

One of the best things that you can do is to clear the space where the movers will enter to pick up your piano. Ensure there is a clear path between the piano and the door. It is also a good idea to clear the staircase and any other areas where the movers may go to get your piano outside.

Another helpful tip is to ensure there is space for the movers to park the moving van. It should be close to the door of your home or apartment building to make the process easier.

What happens if the movers damage my piano during the moving process?

The most reputable movers that offer piano moving services take great care to ensure that your instrument does not suffer any damage. But there are no guarantees when you are lifting and loading heavy objects.

It is best to purchase insurance from the moving company for your piano. They will offer you several plans, and we would advise that you choose the plan with the most comprehensive coverage. Such coverage ensures that you receive financial compensation if your piano is damaged or lost.

Is it better to move my piano before or after my other possessions are loaded onto a moving van?

Time is not always a commodity available to people who are moving long distances. You may have no choice but to schedule your piano moving for a specific date or time. If you do have the option, we recommend that you schedule your piano moving for AFTER your other possessions are loaded onto a moving truck.

Moving your piano at the end ensures that your rooms are clear. It means that movers can easily shift the piano across the room and get it to the moving van. If you have furniture and valuables throughout the rooms of your home, moving a piano becomes more challenging.

Can I help the movers shift my piano into the moving van?

It is imperative that you ask the moving company beforehand if you want to help during the moving process. Some companies may not allow you to participate in the process, beyond holding a door open, as it is an insurance liability issue.

There is no need to help in most cases. Moving companies have a lot of experience dealing with heavy items like pianos. So long as you are upfront with them about the conditions of the move, they will bring the necessary personnel and equipment to shift it safely.


Moving Feedback – Methodology

We research and analyze huge amounts of data so that you can make the most educated and informed decision when it comes to choosing your local or long-distance movers.

We dig through customer reviews to get the real scoop on the 6 P’s: 

  • Pricing – fair and transparent pricing policies with binding estimates and no hidden fees.
  • Professionalism – fast responses and knowledgeable staff and a willingness to be flexible and solve problems.
  • Provision of Services – the ability to deliver a wide range of services successfully, including packing, furniture assembly, storage, and more.
  • Protection – insurance coverage and quick resolution of any damage claims.
  • Personalization – customized moving packages depending on need.
  • Perks – GPS tracking, free storage, discounts, and promotions.

Conclusion

Engaging the right professional piano moving company already guarantees that the moving of your piano will be done in accordance with generally accepted standards using the right tools and equipment to ensure the process is carried out safely and securely.