Why a piano needs proper movers, not a man and van
A piano is the one thing you don't want two lads and a wheelbarrow turning up for. An upright weighs the best part of two hundred kilos, the weight sits awkwardly, and one bad knock can knock it out of tune or crack the frame. Grands are heavier still, and they have to be dismantled before they'll go anywhere. It's worth doing properly.
We've moved more than 180 pianos around Manchester and the North West. Two of us handle every move: the piano gets wrapped in blankets, carried on a proper piano trolley where the ground is level, brought down stairs on its side, and strapped upright in the van so nothing shifts on the road. It's insured door to door, and we put it back together in your new room, not just inside the front door.
How we move an upright piano
Upright pianos are the most common instrument we move. Here's how a typical job goes:
- We check the route first: door widths, turns on the stairs, flooring and parking. If there are stairs, we work out the line before we touch the piano.
- We wrap it: blankets over the body, the keyboard lid secured, the pedals protected.
- We carry it: on the trolley where it's level, and on its side down the stairs with two of us. Nothing gets dragged, nothing gets tipped.
- We load it: up the tail-lift and strapped upright inside the van, padded so it can't move.
- We place it: the same job in reverse, ending with the piano exactly where you want it in the new room.
Grand pianos: these have to come apart
Grands have to be dismantled before they'll go anywhere: legs off, lid off, the body carried on its side on a padded board. It's not a job for a general removals firm. We've moved Steinways, Yamahas, Bechsteins and Kawais, and we always bring a third man for a grand. The extra pair of hands makes taking it apart, moving it and putting it back together safer, and a lot quicker.
Digital pianos, organs and keyboards
We move digital pianos, organs and keyboards too. They're lighter than acoustic pianos, but they get the same treatment: kept upright, padded and strapped. Screens and stands don't survive being thrown about. Digital piano moves are quoted on the same clear basis as everything else.
Piano transport FAQ
Yes. Moving a piano, even carefully, will cause it to go out of tune due to changes in humidity, temperature, and vibration. We recommend waiting 2-4 weeks after the move before tuning to allow the instrument to acclimatise to its new environment.
Yes. Two of us carry pianos up and down stairs on their side, using a proper piano strap, and it's never dragged. For very narrow or winding staircases, common in Victorian terraces, we'll check the access first and tell you honestly whether it's a job for us or a job for a crane.
We recommend booking 3-7 days ahead for piano moves. Same-day service is sometimes available, call 07402966998 to check. Weekend slots book fastest, especially during summer.
Two of us wrap the piano in blankets, carry it to the van and strap it upright inside so it can't move. Where there are stairs, we carry it down on its side, never dragged. It travels upright and stays that way until it's back in your room.
Yes, and we bring a third man for grands. The legs and lid come off, everything is wrapped, and the body travels on its side on a padded board. It's a three-man job, and we book it as one.
Upright piano transport within Greater Manchester starts at competitive rates. Grand piano moves are quoted individually based on instrument size and access. The price depends on distance, stairs involved, and the piano's size. All quotes are agreed before we start, no surprises on the day.
Yes. Every piano move is covered by our goods-in-transit insurance policy. Your instrument is protected from the moment we load it until it's safely positioned in your new home.