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Be flexible with timing
Piano moves do not always happen quickly. Stairs, building access, traffic, and moves before yours can affect arrival time. Please keep some flexibility in your schedule; we will communicate important changes.
PIANO MOVING GUIDE
How to move a piano in NYC.
A fifth-floor apartment with a reserved freight elevator can have an easier route than a first-floor apartment with three steps and a sharp turn. Walk from the keyboard to the curb at pickup, then from the curb to the piano’s new spot. Here’s what to look for.
WHAT WE ASK FROM CUSTOMERS
How to help the move go smoothly.
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Clear the piano’s path
You do not need to organize the entire house. Please clear only the path from the piano to the exit at pickup, and from the entrance to the piano’s final position at delivery.
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Clean the piano
Remove personal items from the top and around the piano. A light dusting with a clean, soft cloth helps. Avoid strong chemicals or moving parts unless discussed with us.
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Tip the moving team if you choose
Tips are optional, but always appreciated. Piano movers work hard handling instruments that can reach 9 feet and weigh more than 800 pounds, including moves up flights of stairs.
Why balance matters: the science of piano moving →
Identify the piano before asking for a price
- For an upright, measure from the floor to the top of the cabinet. For a baby grand or grand, measure from the front of the keyboard to the far end of the curved case with the lid closed.
- Send the brand and model if you can see them. A photo from across the room is enough to get started. Leave the piano in place if the label is against a wall.
- Include both addresses, the floor at each end, your preferred date, and any bench or other items traveling with the piano. For a move within one building, tell us which rooms and floors connect.
Check the building at both ends
- For a Manhattan co-op or condo, ask the managing agent which entrance movers use. If the building requires a certificate of insurance (COI), get its sample wording, submission deadline, and the contact who approves it.
- Reserve the service elevator if required. Measure its clear door opening and the inside of the cab. Tell us if a cart has to turn immediately after it exits.
- For a Brooklyn or Queens walk-up, count the stoop steps separately from the interior flights. Mention gates, handrails, low ceilings, and turns at the top or bottom.
- For a house on Long Island or in Westchester, include the stretch between the truck and the front door. A sloped driveway, gravel path, or basement entrance changes the plan.
Photograph the turn a tape measure can miss
- Stand far enough back to show the approach to a tight spot. At a stair landing, take a second photo looking toward the next flight so we can see the turn.
- Measure a doorway with the door open. Record the usable width between the door and the opposite stop. On stairs, measure the narrowest point beside the handrail and both dimensions of the landing.
- Show the curb, building entrance, and final room at delivery too. A wide front door tells us little about a right-angle turn just inside it.
What to leave for the crew on moving day
- Empty the bench, take framed photos and loose music off the piano, and clear the agreed route. Leave the instrument where it stands. Its small casters are no reason to roll it to the front door.
- Ask the mover how the finish, floors, and truck load will be protected. For a grand, ask who will handle the legs and pedal assembly, what piano board the crew will bring, and who will reassemble it at delivery.
- Before the truck leaves, confirm the receiving contact and elevator time. If the service entrance changes, send a photo of the new approach while there is still time to adjust.
- Choose the final spot before the crew arrives. Allow room to pull out the bench and, for a grand, open the lid. Look for a spot away from a radiator and strong direct sunlight.
How much does the model matter?
Steinway lists its current Model S baby grand at 5 feet 1 inch long and 579 pounds. That gives you two useful facts for a quote, but neither tells you whether the piano can turn on your landing. Send the model and a photo of that turn together. If your piano is older, include its approximate age so the crew can check the right specifications.
A useful question to ask when comparing quotes is “Does this price cover the outside steps, the carry from the truck, and setup in the final room?” Give each mover the same route details so you can compare what the price includes.
Manufacturer references: Steinway Model S dimensions and weight · Yamaha’s guide to piano placement.
PHOTO CHECKLIST
Show the full route.
Wide photos showing the surrounding space are more useful than close-ups. Include both locations and every difficult section along the route.
Piano
Show the full instrument and a model label if it is easy to reach.
Pickup path
Photograph the route from the piano to the exit, including every stair and turn.
Delivery path
Show the route from the entrance to the room where the piano will go.
Final position
Photograph the space where the piano should be placed.
Photos are optional when first requesting a quote and remain private. Avoid including people, identification documents, or unrelated personal information.
Not sure what your move requires?
Call us or start a quote request with the two locations. We will explain which details are needed before the move can be confirmed.
Call for an instant quote
Tell us about
your piano move.
Call 516-410-1378
A free phone quote usually takes about 5 minutes.