Piano removals by a specialist crew

Pianos are the move where ordinary careful is not careful enough. Specialist crew, instrument-specific tools, climate awareness during transit, and a sober conversation about what the move does and does not do for the instrument's tuning.

Pianos are heavy in two senses. Physically heavy — an upright is two-hundred-and-fifty kilos, a baby grand is over three hundred, a full grand is around four hundred — and structurally heavy in the sense that the instrument is essentially a tensioned harp inside a wooden case, and the move puts stress on parts of the instrument that aren't designed to be stressed. The crew that moves your sofa is not the crew that should move your piano.

The specialist piano-removal crew has different equipment (piano dollies rated to four hundred kilos, padded skid-boards, leg-removal tooling for grands), different lifting practice (a piano comes down a staircase carried by people whose backs need to remain functional after the move), and different climate awareness (a wooden instrument that's been in a centrally-heated room for a decade does not love a cold lorry). For grands, the legs come off; for uprights, the casters are checked before the move starts.

The honest conversation: a move always affects the tuning. Most pianists book a tuner once the instrument has settled into its new room and climate. We don't tune; we move. The settling-in period and the tuner's visit are part of planning the move even though they don't appear on our invoice.

What's included as standard

  • Specialist crew with piano-rated equipment
  • Leg removal and refit for grands and baby grands
  • Padding and protective wrap during transit
  • Goods-in-transit cover with itemised piano valuation on the inventory
  • Optional climate-controlled transport for long-distance or international moves

What affects the quote for piano removals?

We don't publish prices because these factors differ for every move. The written quote shows each one as its own line.

  • The type of piano: upright, baby grand or grand
  • Steps, stairs and tight turns at both addresses
  • Whether a grand needs its legs removed and a piano board
  • Combining the piano with a full house move or moving it on its own

What to mention when you book

  • Access at both ends — narrow staircases, conservatory thresholds, low ceilings. The crew assesses at survey and confirms whether the move is doable as planned or whether a window-hoist is required (rare but real for some upper-floor uprights).
  • Climate during transit — for a long transit or an international move, climate-controlled transport is the right choice for high-value instruments. For shorter UK moves with the lorry insulated, ambient transit is fine.
  • Tuning: the piano will need a tuner once it has settled in the new room. Book the tuner for after it has settled, not straight after the move.

Piano removals: common questions

General questions about quotes, insurance and customs are on the FAQ page.

Can you move an upright piano up to a third-floor flat?
Often yes, depending on the staircase and the lift. The crew assesses at survey: staircase width, turn radius at landings, lift capacity. Where the staircase doesn't take the instrument, a window-hoist (specialist contractor) is the alternative; this is rare but realistic for some London upper-floor flats. The route is confirmed before booking.
Will my piano need re-tuning after the move?
Almost certainly. A move changes the climate the piano lives in, and pianos drift out of tune with climate changes even when the move itself went perfectly. The usual practice is to book a tuner once the instrument has settled, and some owners book a second tuning later for stability.
Do you handle international piano moves?
Yes, to France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. The piano travels on the same vehicle as the rest of your belongings, with extra protection for the road. It goes on the customs inventory at its appraised value, and goods-in-transit cover for it is quoted as a higher-value line. Plan the piano early; it is not a last-minute decision.

How do you book piano removals?

  1. Send the details. Both addresses, what is moving and any dates you know, through the quote form or by calling 0151 453 1036.
  2. Survey or photos. We arrange a survey for larger or harder-access moves; photos are enough for most small ones.
  3. Written quote. Itemised, with the cover level and any optional extras shown as separate lines.
  4. Confirmation. Once you accept, we confirm dates and access in writing.

Related services and guides

Moving abroad? Country guides:

Ready to book piano removals?

Send both addresses and a few details about the move. We reply in writing with an itemised quote for the whole job.

Request a written quote → contact@removalss.co.uk
Call us Get a quote