A piano weighs hundreds of kilos and holds thousands of precision parts â every step of the move affects its condition and tuning afterwards.
Leave piano moving to professionals: an upright must stay upright throughout, while a grand travels on its side on a skid board after the legs come off. Measure stairs, doorways and lifts beforehand â and once the piano arrives, let it settle for two to three weeks before booking a tuning and inspection.
Start with the weight. A typical home upright weighs around 160â250 kg, with taller uprights exceeding 300 kg; a baby grand runs about 230â270 kg, and a concert grand can reach 500 kg. Add a high centre of gravity and a scratch-prone cabinet, and piano moving becomes a specialist trade within the removals industry.
Professional piano movers bring a dedicated skid board, piano dollies, heavy-duty straps and thick padded blankets â and they know where a piano can and cannot take load. A piano must never bear weight on its legs or pedals; one wrong lift can scratch the cabinet at best, or snap a leg and shift the action (piano action) at worst. A DIY move risks more than the instrument: several hundred kilos getting away from you on a staircase is genuinely dangerous.
Measuring comes first. Note the piano's height, width and depth, then check every point along the route: measure doorways diagonally (can the piano pass through at an angle?), find the stair step with the lowest headroom, and measure the lift door and car depth. Many of Hong Kong's older walk-up buildings have narrow, winding staircases; where a landing is too tight, movers may need to hoist the piano through a window instead â confirm this with the company early.
Next, choose the company carefully. Ask three things: do they have piano-specific equipment, do they have real piano-moving experience (a piano is not a refrigerator), and do they carry insurance covering the instrument. On moving day, lock or pad the fallboard, and clear away sheet music, metronomes and anything stored inside the bench.
The two designs are moved in completely different ways:
| Aspect | Upright | Grand |
|---|---|---|
| Position in transit | Kept fully upright at all times â never laid flat or on its side | Legs and pedal lyre removed; body placed on its side on a skid board |
| Disassembly | Generally none required | Lid, legs and pedal lyre removed and wrapped individually by trained hands |
| Crew size | At least 2â4 people | Usually 3â4 people, depending on the piano's size and the stairs involved |
| Main risk | High centre of gravity; balance on stairs | Disassembly and the angle of side placement; poor handling can damage the action |
One warning sign worth knowing: an upright's action and strings are designed to work in a vertical position, and lying flat for long periods can shift components. If a mover suggests laying your upright down to carry it, treat that as a red flag.
Yes â but not for the reason most people assume. Many owners blame the bumps of the journey, yet with correct handling, road vibration has limited effect on pitch. What really knocks a piano out of tune is the difference in temperature and humidity between the old home and the new one.
The soundboard, pinblock and other core components are made of wood, which swells as it absorbs moisture and shrinks as it dries â directly changing string tension, and with it the pitch. Hong Kong can make this contrast extreme: moving from an air-conditioned flat to a humid unit near the waterfront, or moving house during the spring damp season, means the piano needs time to re-acclimatise after arrival. This is exactly why you should not tune a piano on the day it is moved.
The trade generally advises waiting two to eight weeks, with two to three weeks the most common practice â long enough for the wood to finish most of its expansion and contraction in the new environment, so the tuning holds. Tune too early and the string tension keeps drifting as the wood continues to move, undoing the work.
That first visit after a move is also the ideal moment for a full check-up: the technician can confirm the action hasn't shifted in transit, the pedals work properly, and the cabinet hasn't picked up new scratches. If the cabinet has been damaged, professional refinishing can restore it. The Pro Piano's tuning service sends Steinway and Yamaha certified technicians to your home, and every tuning includes an overall condition assessment â particularly worthwhile for owners who have just moved.
Placement in the new home matters too: keep the piano away from windows with direct sun, air-conditioner outlets and walls shared with bathrooms or kitchens, and keep indoor humidity stable â see our Hong Kong humidity guide for details.
Not advisable. A home upright typically weighs 160â250 kg, carries its weight high, and cannot take load on its legs. A DIY move risks injury and damage â use professionals with piano-specific equipment, experience and insurance.
Wait two to three weeks (the accepted range is two to eight). The piano needs time to adjust to the new temperature and humidity; tuning after the wood has stabilised means the result lasts. Tune too early and it drifts again quickly.
With a professional crew the risk is low. Damage usually comes from mishandling: an upright laid flat, a grand disassembled incorrectly, or knocks on staircases scratching the cabinet or breaking a leg. Choosing an experienced, insured mover is the key.
Yes. The lid, legs and pedal lyre must come off and be wrapped individually, with the body placed on its side on a skid board. Disassembly and reassembly should be done by trained hands, or the action and cabinet can be damaged.
Pick a spot with stable temperature and humidity: away from direct sunlight by windows, air-conditioner outlets, and walls shared with bathrooms or kitchens. Aim for around 42â45% indoor humidity, with a dehumidifier during the damp season.
Just moved your piano? Once it has settled into its new home, let a certified technician tune it and give it a full check-up.
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