Call 0452 490 078, message us on WhatsApp or request a free quote.
A piano is the one item in most houses that is both very heavy and easy to damage, and it is the item most often left until last. Movers4Melbourne has been moving Melbourne households since 2014, and pianos are a regular part of that work — on their own, or as part of a full house move. We are fully insured, our hourly rates are confirmed with you before we start, and we work 7 days a week.
What makes a piano different from other furniture
Weight is only half the problem. An upright piano is top-heavy and its weight sits unevenly, so it does not behave like a wardrobe of the same size when it starts to tip. The case is usually a polished finish that marks if it is dragged or rested against a door frame, the castors on an older piano are often decorative rather than load-bearing, and the keyboard and action inside are sensitive to knocks. That is why we plan the path before anything is lifted rather than working it out in the hallway.
How we move your piano
- We check access before the move: steps, stairs, doorways, turns, gates and the path to the truck at both ends
- We wrap the piano in furniture blankets to protect the finish and the corners
- We use trolleys and straps to move it and to secure it in the truck so it cannot shift in transit
- We load it so it is braced against the truck wall rather than travelling loose with the rest of the furniture
- We place it where you want it in your new home, not just inside the front door
Uprights, grands and digital pianos
Upright pianos
Most of the pianos we move are uprights — studio, console and the older full-size uprights that turn up in Melbourne’s period homes. These are the most straightforward, but the older and larger ones are the heaviest, so the number of movers we send depends on the piano and the access rather than on the word “upright”.
Grand and baby grand pianos
A grand is a bigger job and we assess it case by case. Tell us the make, the length from the keyboard to the tail, and what the access looks like at both ends, and we will tell you honestly whether it is a job we can take on and what it will involve. If it is not a job for us, we would rather say so before you book than on the morning.
Digital pianos and keyboards
Digital pianos and stage keyboards are far lighter but the stands and the key beds still need care. If you have the original box, keep it. If not, we wrap and carry them like any other fragile item.
Stairs, access and the things that catch people out
Access decides most piano moves. The questions worth answering before you book:
- Steps and stairs. How many at each address, and do they turn? A straight flight is a very different job from a landing with a tight turn.
- Doorways and hallways. Narrow Victorian hallways and the turn into a front room are where uprights most often will not fit the obvious way.
- The path to the truck. Gravel, grass, a long driveway or a steep crossover all add time and need planning.
- Gates and side access. Width matters more than you would think — measure if you are not sure.
- Apartments and units. Is there a lift, does it need booking, and will the piano fit in it? See our apartment removalists page.
- Where it is going. Tell us the room, and if the floor is a polished board or a rug we will know to plan the last few metres.
Photos are the single most useful thing you can send us. A picture of the piano, the doorway it has to come through, and the stairs or path at both ends tells us more than a paragraph of description. Send them on WhatsApp.
What a piano move costs
We charge by the hour and confirm the rate upfront — there is no separate piano surcharge hidden at the end. Our rates:
- Van and man from $40 per half hour
- 4.5 tonne truck and two movers from $55 per half hour — the usual choice for a single upright with reasonable access
- 6.5 tonne truck and two movers from $60 per half hour — where the piano travels with the rest of a house move
Furniture blankets, trolleys and straps are included. What drives the hours is access and the piano itself, not the distance between the two addresses: an upright that rolls straight out of a ground-floor front room onto a level driveway is a quick job, and the same piano down a turning staircase is not. Describe both ends honestly and we will give you a realistic estimate rather than a number that changes on the day.
If the piano is moving as part of a full move, it is almost always cheaper to do it in the one booking than as a separate job — see house removals.
Before moving day
- Clear the path at both ends — rugs, door mats, pot plants, shoes by the door
- Take sheet music, framed photos, metronomes and anything else off the top of the piano
- Close and, if it has one, lock the keyboard lid
- Measure the doorway if you have any doubt at all that it will fit
- If the piano lives on castors that look fragile, tell us — we will not rely on them
- Decide where it is going in the new place before we arrive, so it only gets moved once
Tell us this when you ask for a quote
- The type of piano — upright, grand or digital — and the brand if you know it
- The number of steps or stairs at both addresses, and whether they turn
- Whether the piano is part of a bigger move or a single-item move
- Any tight doorways, gates or narrow paths
- Both addresses and the date you are hoping for
After the move
Pianos almost always need tuning after a move. The change in position, temperature and humidity moves the soundboard and strings slightly, so most tuners will ask you to let the piano settle for a few weeks in its new room before they come out. Book the tuner when you book the move and you will not forget. Try to put the piano on an internal wall, away from a heater, an air conditioner outlet or direct sun through a window.
Piano moves across Melbourne
We are based at 7/85 Cooper Street, Campbellfield, and we cover the whole of Melbourne. We are busiest in the northern suburbs — Reservoir, Preston, Coburg and Brunswick — and we also work the western, eastern, south-eastern and inner-city suburbs and regional Victoria. For a piano moving interstate, we travel to New South Wales, the ACT and South Australia only; see interstate removalists.
Why choose us
- Local removalists since 2014, based in Campbellfield
- Upfront hourly rates, confirmed before the job starts
- Fully insured
- Available 7 days a week
- Furniture blankets, trolleys and straps included at no extra cost
- Rated 4.9 on Google
Frequently asked questions
Can you move a piano up or down stairs?
In many cases, yes. Tell us the number of stairs, whether they turn, and send photos, so we can bring the right number of movers and plan the lift before the day.
Can you move a piano on its own?
Yes. Single-item piano moves are a normal job for us, as well as pianos that travel with a full house move.
Do you move grand pianos?
We assess grands case by case. Send us the make, the length and photos of the access at both ends and we will tell you honestly whether we can take the job on.
Is my piano insured during the move?
Movers4Melbourne is fully insured. See our insurance page for what that covers, and ask us if you want the details before you book.
How much does it cost to move a piano in Melbourne?
We charge by the hour, from $40 per half hour for a van and man and from $55 per half hour for a 4.5 tonne truck and two movers, with the rate confirmed before we start. The hours depend on access at both ends rather than the distance.
Will my piano need tuning afterwards?
Almost certainly. Let it settle in the new room for a few weeks, then have it tuned.
Do you move pianos on weekends?
Yes, we work 7 days a week. Evening moves can be arranged — mention it when you enquire so we can check the crew and the access before confirming.
Can you take away a piano we do not want?
Ask us. Disposal depends on the piano and where it is, but our rubbish removal service can often help.
Do you sell boxes for the rest of the move?
Yes, we sell moving boxes and packing supplies in our shop. We do not offer a packing service, so boxes need to be packed and sealed before we arrive.
Ready to book? Call 0452 490 078, message us on WhatsApp or request a free quote.