At a glance
Pianos we move: upright and baby grand pianos
Cost: a fixed written quote once we have seen the piano and the route, by WhatsApp video or a survey
Team size: two movers for a ground floor move, up to four for a heavy upright on stairs
Insurance: goods in transit and public liability cover on every booking
Tuning: let the piano settle for a few days, then book a qualified piano tuner
Your guide to piano removals in London
A piano is one of the heaviest and most delicate things most households will ever move. The difficulty is rarely the weight alone. It is a finely regulated instrument meeting London’s narrow staircases, tight hallways and busy streets.
This guide explains how an experienced team moves a piano, what affects the cost, the London problems to plan for and the questions to ask before you book. It is written by Best London Removals, who have been moving London homes since 2011. We are members of the National Guild of Removers & Storers (NGRS) and winners of three 2026 Consumer Care Awards from the National Guild of Removers & Storers and the Removals Industry Ombudsman Scheme: Super Elite Plus Remover, Professional Standards Commitment and Perfect Record.
When you are ready to book, everything you need is on our piano moving service page.
Upright or baby grand: what changes the move
The biggest variable in a piano move is not the distance. It is the instrument itself. The team size, the equipment and the price all follow from it.
Why the piano type changes the plan
An upright piano puts its weight on a small, tall footprint, with a delicate action inside that does not like rough tilting. A baby grand spreads its weight across a wide, curved case that has to be partly dismantled for transport: the legs and pedal lyre come off, and the piano is wrapped and moved on its side on a padded piano board.
That is why a baby grand usually needs more planning than an upright over the same route. We move upright and baby grand pianos. We do not move full or concert grands.
How we move each type
| Piano and access | Team | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Upright, ground floor or lift | 2 | Piano dolly, piano cover or moving blankets, stretch film, straps |
| Upright, with stairs | Up to 4, depending on the piano and the staircase | Lifting straps, piano cover or moving blankets, stretch film |
| Baby grand | Confirmed when we see the access | Piano board, straps, legs and pedal lyre removed and refitted |
What works and what does not
The right method always starts with seeing the piano and the route. An upright on a dolly across a ground floor is a quick job. The same upright up two flights of a narrow Victorian staircase with a turn at the half-landing is a different job entirely, and needs more people and a planned carry.
The photographs below show three stages of a typical London upright move: the piano before wrapping, the piano wrapped in moving blankets and secured, and the piano strapped and ready to be carried where there is no lift.
How a piano move works
Every piano move we carry out follows the same three stages.
Step 1: Seeing the piano and planning
Before anything is booked, we confirm the piano type, the access at both properties (doorways, stairs, turns and lifts), the parking at each address and your preferred date. The easiest way is a free WhatsApp video survey of the piano and the route. The result is a fixed written quote and a plan: team size, equipment and timing.
Step 2: Wrapping and stairs
Moving day starts with protection. The keyboard and pedals are protected, and the piano is covered with a piano cover or moving blankets and stretch film, secured with straps. For a baby grand, the legs and pedal lyre come off first and the piano goes on its side on a piano board.
On flat floors and in lifts we use a piano dolly. On stairs, the piano is carried with lifting straps by a team sized for the staircase, slowly and with every step called out. We do not use cranes or hoists.
Step 3: Loading, transport and placement
The piano travels in our 3.5t Maxi Mover van, strapped and padded so it cannot shift on the journey.
At the other end the process reverses. The piano is placed where you want it and unwrapped, and a baby grand has its legs and pedal lyre refitted. Tuning is best left for a few days, see the questions below.
What affects the cost of moving a piano in London
The most common question is "how much does it cost to move a piano in London?". The honest answer is that it depends on the piano and the access, so we do not publish a price list. We give a fixed written quote once we have seen the piano and the route.
What changes the quote
Five things affect a piano quote more than anything else. Distance within London is usually the least important.
The first is the piano: an upright or a baby grand, and how heavy it is.
The second is access at the harder end: an easy destination does not help if the piano has to come down four floors at the other.
The third is the staircase: a straight run with wide treads is a very different job from a Victorian staircase with a turn at the half-landing.
The fourth is parking: a bay close to the front door means a shorter, safer carry.
The fifth is team size, which follows from all of the above.
Moving a piano to another room or floor in the same home is quoted the same way, with a minimum charge based on the team size and the distance from us. Every booking includes goods in transit and public liability cover, and the price is fixed in writing before the day.
London logistics to plan for
London adds problems that most other UK cities do not. An experienced team plans around them before moving day.
Parking and suspensions
Many London streets are controlled parking zones, and a bay close to the door may need a parking suspension. Notice periods and fees vary by borough, so it pays to check early. If your street needs one, we can help you arrange it. See our parking suspension guide.
Red routes, school streets and market days can also affect where the van can stop. We check this when we plan your move.
Period homes and modern buildings
London homes swing between two extremes. Period houses often have narrow staircases with turns, tight hallways and no lift. Modern developments usually have a goods lift, but it often has to be booked through the managing agent or concierge, with a time slot and floor protection rules. Either can be handled, but neither can be sorted out on the day.
Passenger lifts in mansion blocks can look generous but may still be too small for an upright. We check the measurements before we quote.
What to prepare before the team arrives
Clear the route at both ends: roll back rugs, prop doors open and keep pets in another room. Tell the concierge or building manager that a piano is moving, and book the lift if there is one. Taking a few photos of the piano before the move is also a good idea.
Your checklist and questions for movers
What to ask before booking
A professional piano mover should answer these questions without hesitation.
Is the quote fixed and in writing, and what would change it?
Are goods in transit and public liability cover included?
Have you seen the piano and the access, by video or survey, or is the price based on a description?
How many people will come, and have they moved this type of piano before?
Can you help with a parking suspension if my street needs one?
Can you work on the day and at the time I need, including evenings and weekends?
Will the price change if the piano or the access turns out different from what I showed you?
A reputable company will answer all of these before you book.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to move a piano in London?
It depends on the piano, the stairs, the access at both ends, the parking and the team size. We give a fixed written quote after seeing the piano and the route, so there are no surprises on the day.
Does a piano need tuning after a move?
Usually, yes. Moving and a change of room can affect the tuning, even when the move goes perfectly. Let the piano settle in its new room for a few days, then book a qualified piano tuner. We do not tune pianos ourselves.
How long does a piano removal take?
It depends far more on the access and parking at each end than on the distance. A ground floor move with the van close by is quick, while stairs, tight hallways or a baby grand take longer. We confirm the timing with your quote.
Can you move a piano up or down stairs?
Yes. Many London piano moves involve stairs at one end. Where a dolly can be used we use one, and where the piano has to be carried we use lifting straps and the right number of people for the staircase. We do not use cranes or hoists.
Do I need a parking suspension for a piano move in London?
Often, in controlled parking zones and on busy streets. Rules, notice periods and fees vary by borough. If your street needs a suspension, we can help you arrange it.
What insurance should a piano removal include?
Two kinds of cover matter. Goods in transit covers the piano while it is being moved. Public liability covers accidental damage to the property or injury during the move. Both are included on every booking we carry out.
How far in advance should I book a piano move in London?
Book as early as you can, especially if you need a parking suspension or a goods lift slot. Short-notice moves are often possible, subject to availability.
Can I move the piano myself with a van and a few friends?
You can, but we would not recommend it. An upright is top-heavy and can tip once tilted, and amateur lifts risk injury, damage to the piano and damage to the property. A professional team with the right equipment and insurance is the safer choice.
Ready to book?
For a fixed written quote, visit our piano moving service page or call 0800 080 7476. We move upright and baby grand pianos across Greater London, any day of the week, and have been moving London homes since 2011.
