Whether you’re planning on moving a concert grand or an upright, moving any kind of piano can be a demanding process and one that you don’t want to undertake alone. After all, pianos are delicate instruments, and they are very heavy with some weighing in at over 1,000 pounds.
To avoid potentially harming yourself or damaging your piano, consider looking into the services of piano moving services. Whether you’re looking for local or long-distance moving when you are moving a piano, there are many piano moving companies that can help you when looking up piano movers.
Why Should I Choose Piano Movers?
Moving a piano can pose risks for you if you don’t have the proper means to move it, and you would also need a few people to help. Attempting to move a piano alone could end up doing damage to your delicate ivories, or worse, could end up hurting you.
Professional piano movers are experts in their field, have the proper means to move the piano, and have several able-bodied and experienced workers on hand to move your piano for you. You will be able to be confident that your piano is going to end up at its destination safe and sound.
What’s the Average Cost to Move a Piano?
It is hard to attempt to nail down a concrete piano mover cost when every move is completely unique. The overall cost of moving your piano will be determined by things like company pricing, the size and weight of your piano, and how far you are having your piano moved. A local move will be much cheaper than long-distance moving. You will also likely incur labor costs, as well.
You’re also paying for the bonus that the piano movers are providing a very specific service, not something that every moving company handles. This added experience lends you a little confidence in knowing that the professionals are on the job.
All in all, the costs most people can expect for piano movers can be anywhere in the range of $100 on the low end to up to $1,000 on the high end. It will also depend on whether the moving company offers hourly rates or fixed rate services.
What Are the Differences in Rates For Services?
When you are talking with potential piano movers and inquiring about their services, ask if they charge hourly rates or fixed rates. There are a few differences between these two that could help you make a decision when shopping around for movers.
Piano movers charging an hourly rate would have their cost to move a piano determined by things like:
- The number of movers needed for the job: The moving company will be charging for each person that is on the team required to safely move your piano.
- Labor costs: The overall hourly cost of labor per worker.
- Other applicable fees: You will also be charged for the distance of your move. Most movers have a per-mile cost, and those prices vary by moving company. If your move is longer-distance and requires overnight lodging for the movers, you may need to handle that cost, as well.
- Size of the piano: The size of the piano is a big factor in price estimates because some pianos are smaller than others and require less work to break down and reassemble. Other pianos, on the other hand, such as a concert grand piano can be a more time-consuming task.
Professional piano movers that are charged on a fixed rate basis estimate their prices based on jobs they have done before. They’ll try to work with you to come up with the best plan possible to get your piano moved safely to your new location.
Is It Possible For Me to Move My Piano By Myself?
By yourself, it would be virtually impossible to move your piano. With the right equipment and several able-bodied friends to help out, it would be possible, but there is a lot you would need to know how to handle.
Most people hire a professional when it comes to piano moving because of the extra care that goes into it. Since your piano is not going to be able to make it through doors, down hallways, or down flights of stairs in its normal form, it is going to have to be disassembled. Professional piano movers are skilled in carefully disassembling a piano in one location, safely moving and storing it in the moving vehicle, and reassembling it when it arrives at its destination.
So, while you could do it yourself, you may not have all of the specific knowledge needed to break down and put a piano back together. With professional long distance movers, you are essentially paying for the satisfaction of knowing your piano will be safe and in working order when you sit down for some melody-making after the move.
Why Can’t a Regular Moving Company Move My Piano For Me?
While ordinary moves require putting regular household items into boxes and packing them safely in stacks in the moving truck, moving a delicate instrument like a piano is almost like a fine art. If you aren’t careful while moving your piano, you run quite a bit of risk on inflicting some damage to it.
There are dedicated professional piano movers out there who specifically handle moving any type of piano, from baby grands and organs to concert pianos. Professional piano moving services are highly skilled and experienced in the art of piano moving, and the confidence is worth the cost.
It is also worth noting that many general moving companies do offer separate piano moving services. To get in touch with reliable, professional piano movers, simply look up piano moving services in your area and find their contact information.
Give the moving company a call, let them know the specifics of your move, what type of piano you have, whether you are planning a short distance move or a longer distance move, and other relevant details. Most companies have fixed rate services that they will be happy to tell you about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving a piano takes a lot of precision, patience, and planning, but if done right, it isn’t so difficult. If this is your first time moving your piano, then you undoubtedly have some questions. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about piano moving.
Will moving my piano make it go out of tune?
Generally, pianos are built very tough. They are able to handle tons of tension on strings, and pianos around the world have been played and moved for years without having problems.
Actually moving your piano doesn’t affect its tuning, but the temperature changes that may accompany the move could have an effect on your piano’s tuning.
When should I tune my piano after moving it?
When the moving process is complete, the piano should be left for a minimum of two weeks before you should tune it. This is so it can adjust to the new climate.
You’ll Be Back to Tickling Those Ivories in No Time
Moving anything is a tough task, but the process of moving a piano can inject a little extra anxiety into anyone. Pianos are large, expensive, and fragile. Some are also very old, being passed down through generations of families. This is why professional piano movers are always recommended so that you know your piano is in safe hands, and you’ll be able to look forward to sitting down and playing it again as soon as possible.
