You may need to hold the points of 3 or 4 different sizes of screwdriver against the screw to see which size fits properly. Save these screws—and all others that you remove while disassembling the piano—in a plastic bag for safekeeping. Place the lid hinges in the plastic bag, too. Label the bag “lid screws” so you can correctly re-assemble the piano lid.

You can buy thick moving pads at any moving-supply store, and at many hardware stores. If you don’t have the budget or inclination to use moving pads, you can also use spare blankets from around your house.

Keep all screws and any accompanying metal plates in a plastic bag. Label the bag “lyre screws” to prevent confusion between these and the screws for the lid hinges.

Do this very carefully, so as not to drop or damage any part of the piano. The movement should be controlled and guided at all times. A piano board is a large, flat wooden surface build to hold the side of a piano. Piano boards typically have handles to which you can strap the body of the piano. You can purchase a piano board at a local moving-supply store. They may also be available to purchase at larger music stores.

It’s better to use too many pads than too few, to make sure the piano isn’t damaged during the move.

You can purchase buckle straps at any hardware or home-supply store.

Only remove the legs once the piano is firmly strapped onto the piano board.

Secure the wrap in place with packaging tape.

As with the piano lid, you want to keep the legs and lyre as safe as possible during the moving process.

A sturdy 4-wheeled dolly will be able to hold the weight of a large, heavy piano as it’s wheeled from stage to moving truck. Do not attempt to move a grand piano with a 2-wheeled dolly. You could offer your friends pizza and beer after the move is completed to entice them to help you.

If you need to move the piano down stairs, you could lay a piece of plywood on the stairs for the dolly to roll down. Remember to put safety first, and keep the piano from tipping over or rolling on someone’s foot.

You’ll need to set the wrapped legs and lyre in the moving truck too, but these can be placed just about anywhere. You could even set them on the passenger seat in the cab with you. It’s best to rent a moving truck when moving a piano. Even if the piano would fit in a large pickup truck bed, you won’t be able to strap the piano vertically to the side of the truck.

Piano moving companies will also have insurance in case they damage your piano. This means that, should the piano accidentally be dropped, the company will pay for the damage. It won’t come out of your pocket. A local move will likely cost between $150 and $600 USD, depending on the size of the piano and the complexity of the move. A long-distance move will average between $700 and $2,000 USD, depending on the distance moved. Read reviews and get quotes from a few different companies before you settle on one. [7] X Expert Source Cindy HofenCertified Relocation Specialist Expert Interview. 13 February 2020.