Transporting a piano safely involves more than checking whether it will fit through the door. Before the move, you need to know the type and dimensions of the instrument, protect it properly, assess the entire route and plan how it will be moved from its current location to the vehicle and then to its final room.
A piano’s weight, size and the difficulty of manoeuvring it mean that doors, turns, lifts or stairs can completely change how the move needs to be organised.
That is why, before moving a piano, it is advisable to inspect the instrument and map out every step of the route it will need to follow.
What you need to know before moving a piano
Not all piano moves present the same difficulties. The type of instrument and the access conditions at both the origin and destination determine how the transport should be organised.
Before planning the move, you should know:
- The type of piano.
- Its approximate dimensions.
- The floor and room where it is located.
- The route to the property exit.
- Whether there are any narrow doors or passageways.
- The turns required along the route.
- Whether a lift is available and its dimensions and access.
- The number of floors and landings if stairs are involved.
- The outside access to the loading area.
- The room where the piano will be placed at the destination.
Measuring the piano and the main door is not enough. The instrument will need to pass through several spaces and, at certain points, will require enough clearance to change direction.
How to prepare and protect a piano before moving it
Before moving the piano, the instrument must be protected from knocks and scratches during handling and transport.
Specialist piano transport may involve using thick blankets and protective covers to reduce the risk of damage along the route.
The protection should remain in place throughout every stage of the move: while the piano is being moved inside the property, during loading and while it is in the vehicle.
It is also important to clear the route in advance. Remove furniture, boxes and any other objects that reduce the available space or could make a manoeuvre more difficult.
The exact preparation may vary depending on the type of piano and the conditions of the move. For this reason, parts of the instrument should not be dismantled or handled until you know how it will be transported.
How to check whether the piano can pass through every access point
To determine whether a piano can be removed from a home, it is not enough to compare its width with the main door.
The most practical approach is to inspect the route in the same order the instrument will follow:
room → internal doors → corridors → turns → lift or stairs → building exit → loading area.
The same check should then be carried out at the destination.
Doors, corridors and turns
Check the width of every door between the piano and the exit.
In corridors, pay particular attention to changes of direction. There may be enough room to move forwards in a straight line but not enough to turn the instrument.
Corridor intersections, landings and entrances to other rooms can also become restrictive points.
Can a piano be transported in a lift?
Having a lift does not necessarily mean that the piano can be moved this way.
You need to check:
- The width of the door opening.
- The space inside the lift car.
- The route to the lift.
- The space available in front of the door for manoeuvring.
A lift may have enough space inside and still not allow the piano to enter because there is not enough clearance to make the turn beforehand.
What to check when stairs are involved
When the route includes stairs, you should know the number of floors and pay particular attention to:
- The width of each flight.
- Changes of direction.
- The landings.
- The space available for manoeuvring.
Narrow stairs or tight turns may require changes to the moving plan.
If the internal route does not allow the piano to be moved safely, another access method may need to be considered, such as using a professional furniture lift.
From the building exit to the vehicle
Checking the route does not end at the property door.
You also need to check the route between the exit and the area where loading will take place.
A narrow entrance, a change in level, external stairs or an area that is difficult for the vehicle to access can affect how the transport is organised.
The route at the new location
Before moving day, decide where the piano will be placed and check how it will reach that room.
An internal door or a turn at the destination may present the same difficulties as the access points at the original property.
Checking this final section in advance avoids having to change the piano’s intended location once the move is under way.
How a piano is moved and transported
A piano should not be treated like an ordinary piece of furniture.
During a specialist move, handling equipment such as trolleys or wheeled boards designed to support the instrument’s weight may be used to make it easier to move.
The method used will depend on the type of piano, the available space and the characteristics of the route.
The aim is to keep the instrument under control during manoeuvres and prevent unexpected movement while it is being taken through corridors, access points or loading areas.
Once in the vehicle, the piano must remain protected and properly secured to prevent it from moving during the journey.
For this reason, before transport begins, it is important to understand not only the piano’s dimensions but also any difficulties that may arise along the entire route.
What to do when stairs or access points make the move more difficult
Some piano moves cannot be carried out solely through the building’s internal access routes.
Narrow stairs, small landings or insufficient space to make a turn may mean that an alternative route needs to be considered.
One example is a piano move carried out by Metrecubic in Girona’s old town.
In this case, the layout of the stairs made it difficult to move the instrument safely using the conventional access route. The solution was to use a professional furniture lift and move it via an alternative route.
Situations like this show why it is important to provide details of the access conditions in advance.
Identifying the problem before moving day makes it possible to assess the route and the equipment needed to organise the transport.
What information to provide before moving a piano
| Information | What to provide |
| Piano | Type of instrument and approximate dimensions |
| Location | Current floor and room |
| Lift | Whether there is one and the access conditions |
| Stairs | Number of floors, turns and landings |
| Narrow passageways | Doors or areas with limited space |
| External access | Entrance and loading-area conditions |
| New location | Room where the piano will be placed |
| Date | Approximate moving date |
If there is a particularly difficult point, photographs of the access routes may also be helpful.
This information makes it possible to identify in advance whether any points along the route could change how the move needs to be organised.
Common mistakes when preparing to transport a piano
Measuring the piano but not the route
Knowing the instrument’s dimensions is only the first step.
You also need to measure or check the spaces it will pass through and allow for the clearance needed to make turns.
Only considering the main door
On many routes, the most difficult point may be an internal door, a corridor or a landing.
The building entrance is not always the most restrictive access point.
Assuming the lift can be used
The dimensions of the lift car are not the only factor.
The door opening and the space available to position the piano in front of the lift and move it inside must also be checked.
Not checking access at the destination
The move does not end when the piano reaches the new property.
The route to the chosen room must also be checked before moving day.
Reporting difficult access points on moving day
Narrow stairs, changes in level or areas with limited space should be reported in advance.
If a difficulty changes the route or the equipment needed to move the piano, discovering it on the day can complicate the organisation of the move.
When to use a specialist piano transport service
Moving a piano can be particularly complex when there are stairs, tight turns, narrow access points or doubts about whether the lift can be used.
A specialist service is also worth considering when the move requires specific equipment to protect, handle or secure the instrument during transport.
Metrecubic offers a piano transport service that organises this type of move while taking into account the characteristics of the instrument and the access conditions at both the origin and destination.
Before requesting the service, provide as much information as possible about the piano and the route. The sooner any difficult points are identified, the easier it will be to determine how the move should be organised.
Frequently asked questions about how to transport a piano
Can you transport a piano yourself?
Before deciding how to move a piano, you need to assess its weight and dimensions, as well as the entire route. Stairs, turns and the need for specialist handling equipment can make the move a complex operation.
If there is any uncertainty about how to move the instrument or the access conditions, the move should be assessed before any handling begins.
Are there differences between transporting an upright piano and a grand piano?
Yes. The type and dimensions of the piano can affect how the move needs to be prepared and organised.
For this reason, one of the first details to provide is the type of piano that needs to be transported.
What happens if the piano cannot be taken down the stairs?
If the stairs or landings do not allow the planned route to be used, another solution must be considered.
Depending on the property and its access points, one option may be to use a professional furniture lift and move the piano via an alternative route.
Plan the route before transporting your piano
To transport a piano safely, you need to protect the instrument, plan how it will be moved, check every access point and ensure that it remains stable during transport.
The piano’s dimensions are important, but they must be considered alongside the complete route from its original room to its final location.
Not sure whether the piano can be taken down the stairs, whether the lift can be used or whether another type of access will be required?
Contact Metrecubic and tell us what type of piano you need to move, where it is located and what the access conditions are like. With this information, we can assess the requirements of the move.
