How to move a 7' B Steinway grand piano across the room

I would like to move the piano from one end of a room to the other. It's a wood floor so I don't want to gouge it and I don't want to remove the legs of the piano or damage the lyre.

Can a group of people just lift it and walk it to the other side of the room to avoid rolling it?

How many people would it take to share the weight and move it easily and safely?

Thanks.

answer

The legs of grand pianos are for supporting the piece only, and you should never attempt to roll it across the floor... so yes, you are correct in supposing that your best option, if you have no equipment... is to lift it and carry it.

A quick google gives us this link: Steinway specifications which reveals your piano weighs 345kgs.

So...4 strong or possibly, 5 people will be needed. The keyboard end is the heaviest end so arrange one assistant on each corner and one in the middle with the other two facing each other at the other end.

These operations demand communication. So if one of the lifters is getting into trouble, he must shout out early rather than drop the piece: so I suggest you move it a few paces at a time, gently put it down, rest and resume.

Alternatively, since there is a smooth wooden floor; You could arrange a large heavy blanket under the piano, by lifting one leg at a time. Then place 3 long thin pieces of ply board between the casters and the blanket, connecting the 3 legs in a '∆' shape.

This would allow you to carefully pull on the blanket and so drag it... watching to ensure the arrangement remains intact.

This method has risks...
1) If the floor boards are uneven or there are lips between them, your assembly may catch and so become displaced.
2) Any grit on the floor or in the blanket will damage the floor.

Great caution will therefore be needed and Lifting it would be better.

Hope this helps and take my advice At your own risk!!!

Answer by Stephen of SW piano movers, South London UK


Our complete list of piano moving questions and answers.