The most common piano move. An upright is 400–800 lbs and stays upright throughout — it cannot be tilted or laid flat, as the internal action is not secured for horizontal transport. The piano board (a flat, low-to-the-ground dolly with securing straps) slides under the piano, the legs are protected with blankets, and the crew navigates it as a single heavy unit. Stairs require stair rollers or a planned carry — this is where crew count matters most.
Baby grands and full grands require partial disassembly: the legs remove, the lid comes off, and the body — the "rim" — is tilted and wrapped in moving blankets before being secured on a grand board (a curved board specifically designed for the shape). The keyboard lid and music desk are wrapped separately. Reassembly at the destination reverses the process. A full 9-foot concert grand can weigh over 1,000 lbs and requires planning the path from the truck to the final position.
Ground-floor moves are the baseline; every flight of stairs adds complexity and time. Winding staircases, landings that require repositioning, and staircases under 36 inches wide can make some upright moves impractical without a crane (rare but not unheard of in narrow Silver Lake and Echo Park bungalows). We confirm the path before quoting stairs.
Any piano move — even a short one — will require tuning at the destination. Allow 2–4 weeks after the move for the piano to acclimate to the new humidity before tuning. LA's dry climate is harder on wooden soundboards than humid climates; if you're moving from the East Coast, expect more frequent tuning in the first year.
Call (213) 676-9460 with your piano type, floor level, stair count, and approximate move distance. We'll give you a flat rate.
An upright piano move in LA runs $300–$600 standalone (within the same city), depending on stairs and distance. A baby grand runs $500–$900. A full concert grand requiring disassembly: $900–$1,500+. Piano moves require specialty equipment and a minimum 3-person crew — these are not standard moving rates.
A piano board (flat dolly with straps), moving blankets, leather piano straps, stair rollers for steps, and a minimum 3-person crew. The piano board is not standard moving equipment — it's piano-specific. A standard dolly will damage the casing and instrument.
Some can, with the right equipment and experience. Ask specifically: Do you have a piano board? Have you moved pianos with stairs? How many crew members? A company that says 'yes we can move a piano' without asking about the type and location may not have done it before.
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