Transporting a piano – heavy, delicate, doable
150 to 350 kilos on tiny castors: a piano forgives no improvisation. Here is how the transport runs safely – with carrying straps, load securing, and enough hands.
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How to transport a piano correctly
Check weight and route
An upright piano weighs 150–350 kg, a grand up to 600 kg. Measure doors, hallways, and stairs beforehand – tight winding staircases are where DIY ends and professionals begin.
Lock the lid, protect the edges
Lock the keyboard lid or secure it with stretch film, wrap the body in blankets, double-pad the corners. Remove the pedals – on a grand also the legs and lyre.
Move with straps and a dolly
At least three to four strong carriers with straps, a dolly on level ground. In the van, place it against the wall and strap it tight – its own castors are no transport securing.
Which vehicle do you need?
For an upright piano, the 2.7 m class with lashing points and an anti-slip floor is enough; for grands or several floors without a lift we recommend a special transport with experienced carriers. All dimensions and payloads in the van guide →
Upright or grand piano: weight, height and the right vehicle
Not every piano is the same job. Smaller upright pianos weigh around 180 kg, large instruments up to 300 kg, and a concert grand about half a tonne. For carrying, that means experienced movers usually handle an upright piano with four people holding it from all sides so it cannot wobble. The bookable carrying help – a second person alongside the driver – is not enough on its own.
For the vehicle, height matters as much as payload, because an upright piano travels standing. The 2.7 m class van offers around 1.35 m of interior height: enough for many uprights, but not for every tall model. Measure height, width and depth before booking; for tall instruments, the 3.3 m class Sprinter with around 1.80 m of interior height is the safe choice.
A grand piano is a different job altogether: legs, lyre and pedals are dismantled, and the instrument needs special equipment and a practised team. You do not book this transport online with Maxmove but request it as a special transport – as you would any piano move involving several floors without a lift.
Stairs, lift, parking: check the route beforehand
Most problems in a piano move happen not on the road but between the flat and the vehicle. So measure the whole route: door widths, hallways, the stairwell with its landings and the lift car. The plate inside the lift states the rated load in kilograms – instrument, movers and dolly together must not exceed it.
Outside, the distance from the front door to the vehicle counts, because every metre a piano is carried rather than rolled is a risk. In dense city centres, a temporary no-parking zone right outside the door is therefore worth it. In Cologne, the application should ideally be made at least three weeks before the date, and the signs must be up 96 hours beforehand; other cities handle this in a similar way through their road traffic authority.
If the instrument will not fit through the stairwell, an external lift or a crane via balcony or window are the remaining options. These jobs cannot be booked online: describe the situation with photos and measurements and request it as a special transport. For level routes or lifts that are large enough, plan the transport directly when booking – stating floor, lift and tight spots.
After the move: room climate, acclimatising, tuning
At the new address, the room climate decides how well the piano copes with the move. Bechstein considers a relative humidity of 40 to 60 percent good and advises keeping fluctuations as small as possible. Air that is too humid makes the felt, leather and wooden action parts swell and impairs tuning stability; if humidity drops below 40 percent, the manufacturer recommends a humidifier. A spot away from direct heating air and strong sunlight helps keep fluctuations small.
If the instrument was transported or stored at low temperatures, Bechstein says it needs to be acclimatised carefully. Tune it only once it has settled into the new room – usually after a few weeks. Tune earlier and you will tune twice. Winter moves are trickier than summer moves because the difference between cold outdoor air and a heated flat is greater.
For the drive itself: the instrument stands upright against the side wall, padded in blankets and secured with straps; its own castors are not a load restraint. How to attach lashing straps correctly is explained in our glossary article on load securing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the transport cost?
Piano transports are plannable: enter route and extras, see the fixed price – no surprises at unloading.
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