Piano Removals by Holborn Removals

Moving a piano is very different from moving ordinary furniture. At Holborn Removals, our dedicated piano removals service is designed specifically for the weight, balance and sensitivity of upright and grand pianos. Every move is handled by trained, experienced crews using purpose-made equipment to protect both your instrument and your property.

Specialist Piano Removals – What We Do

We provide a complete, end-to-end piano moving service for private and commercial clients. Whether your piano is going to another room, another floor, across town or into storage, we manage the entire process: planning, protection, lifting, transport and placement in its new position.

From initial survey through to final tuning position, we work methodically, communicate clearly and take responsibility for every stage. Our teams are fully insured and follow strict handling procedures developed over many years in the removals industry.

Local Expertise You Can Rely On

Holborn Removals has extensive experience moving pianos in and around the local area, including dense urban streets, period mansion blocks, narrow stairwells and properties with limited access. We understand the challenges of residents' bays, parking suspensions, loading restrictions and time windows.

Before move day, we assess access routes, discuss any issues such as steps, lifts, tight corners or top-floor flats, and plan the safest method. Our local knowledge means fewer surprises on the day and a smoother, quicker move for your piano.

Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For

Our specialist piano moving service is suitable for:

Homeowners – Moving a piano between homes, to a new room or into storage while you renovate.
Renters – Safely relocating your instrument without damage to floors, walls or communal areas.
Landlords – Removing or repositioning pianos between tenancies or during refurbishments.
Businesses – Hotels, schools, music studios, theatres, venues and churches needing reliable, careful moves.
Students – Conservatoire or university students transporting pianos between term-time and home addresses.

Whether you own a valuable family heirloom or a working instrument for lessons and performances, we treat each piano with the same level of care and attention.

What We Move – Included Items

Our piano removals service covers most types of domestic and commercial pianos, including:

Upright pianos – Standard uprights, compact uprights and taller upright models.
Baby grand and grand pianos – Including dismantling of legs, pedals and music stands where required.
Digital pianos and electric stage pianos – Including stands and pedals.
Piano stools and benches.
Covers, music stands and associated small accessories, by arrangement.

We can also move pianos within the same building – for example, from ground floor to upper floors, or into a different room – subject to an access check.

What Is Not Included

To keep our service safe and transparent, some items and tasks are excluded from our standard piano removals:

Piano tuning or internal repairs (we can move the piano ready for your tuner or technician).
Disassembly of non-standard, heavily modified or antique mechanisms without prior agreement.
Hoisting via external windows where structural risks are present and equipment is unsuitable.
Any work that requires a specialist crane without prior survey and quotation.
Moving pianos through unsafe environments (e.g. unstable floors, unfinished staircases).

If you're unsure whether your instrument or situation is covered, we will clarify this during the survey and provide alternatives where possible.

Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process

1. Enquiry & Quotation

It starts with a conversation. You tell us the type of piano, collection and delivery addresses, access details and preferred dates. We may ask for photos or short videos of stairways, lifts and tight corners to understand any difficulties. Based on this, we provide a clear, no-obligation quotation outlining what is included and any optional extras, such as protective crating for long-distance moves.

2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite

For straightforward moves, a virtual survey using photos and video is usually sufficient. For more complex jobs – such as grand pianos, multi-flight staircases or restricted access properties – we recommend an onsite survey. This allows us to measure clearances, check floor conditions and plan the route precisely. The survey ensures we send the right number of professional movers, the correct equipment and a suitably sized vehicle.

3. Packing & Preparation

On move day, we prepare the piano before it leaves its position. This may include:

Removing loose items (music, lamps, decorations).
Protecting the instrument with quilted blankets and corner protectors.
Securing lids and covers.
For grands: carefully removing legs and pedals, packing each component individually.

Floors, banisters and door frames are protected as needed to prevent scuffs or impact damage.

4. Loading & Transport

Your piano is then moved using piano skates, dollies, lifting straps and, where necessary, stair climbers. The aim is always controlled movement rather than brute force. Once at the vehicle, we secure the piano using webbing straps and additional padding so it cannot shift in transit. Our vehicles are equipped for safe, stable transport and our goods in transit insurance provides financial protection in the unlikely event of damage.

5. Unloading & Final Placement

At the destination, we repeat the process in reverse: careful unloading, route protection and controlled positioning. For grands, we reassemble legs and pedals, then position the instrument exactly where you want it. We can make small adjustments to help with acoustics or space. Once finished, we remove all packing materials and walk you through the results so you are satisfied before we leave.

Transparent Pricing – How We Charge for Piano Removals

Piano removal costs depend on several factors, including:

Type and size of piano (upright vs grand).
Distance between properties.
Number of steps or floors, and presence of a lift.
Complexity of access (tight turns, narrow doorways, long carries).
Urgency and time of day/week.

We provide fixed-price quotations for most piano moves so you know the total cost in advance. There are no hidden extras: any potential additional charges (for example, if a hoist or extra crew is required) are discussed and agreed before booking. Written quotes can be supplied for landlords, businesses and insurers.

Why Use Professional Piano Movers Instead of DIY or Man-and-Van?

While it can be tempting to save money by using friends or a casual man-and-van, pianos are heavy, awkward and fragile instruments. DIY moving carries real risks:

Damage to the piano's frame, soundboard or action.
Injury to people lifting beyond their capability.
Damage to walls, floors, lifts and communal areas.
Lack of suitable insurance if something goes wrong.

By choosing a professional removals company with specific piano experience, you gain access to trained crews, specialist equipment, proper risk assessment and comprehensive insurance. In many cases, this is a fraction of the cost of repairing a damaged instrument or property.

Insurance and Professional Standards

Holborn Removals operates to high professional standards for every piano move:

Goods in transit insurance – Cover for your piano while it is being moved and transported, up to agreed limits.
Public liability cover – Protection in case of accidental damage to third-party property or injury.
Trained moving teams – Staff are properly trained in manual handling, use of specialist equipment and safe working practices.
Documented procedures – Clear methods for lifting, securing and moving pianos, refined through practical experience.

We are happy to provide proof of insurance and discuss any specific requirements you or your building management may have.

Care, Protection and Sustainability

We handle every piano as if it were our own. Protective materials are used generously to shield the instrument and your property. Where possible, we use reusable quilted blankets, straps and crates instead of single-use plastics. Vehicle loading is planned to minimise journeys and reduce emissions, and we maintain our fleet for fuel efficiency and reliability.

For clients placing pianos into storage, we can advise on suitable conditions and help arrange storage through trusted partners, ensuring your instrument remains protected long-term.

Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios

Our piano removals service is frequently used for:

Moving house – Coordinated with your full home removal so the piano is packed, loaded and delivered as part of the main move.
Office and commercial relocations – Hotels, schools, churches and venues moving instruments between sites or refurbishing spaces.
Urgent moves – Short-notice relocations for landlords, insurers or clients needing a piano removed quickly to enable works.
Internal moves – Repositioning pianos within the same property for decorating or layout changes.

Whatever the situation, we plan around your timings and other contractors to keep disruption to a minimum.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a piano removal cost?

The cost of a piano removal varies based on the type of piano, the distance between addresses and the difficulty of access at each property. Upright pianos on ground-floor to ground-floor moves are usually the most straightforward, while grand pianos and multi-flight staircases require more labour and time. After a brief consultation and, if needed, a survey, we provide a fixed quotation so you know the total cost in advance, with no hidden extras. Contact us with a few details and we can give you an accurate price.

Can you move my piano at short notice or the same day?

Same-day or short-notice piano removals are sometimes possible, depending on our schedule and the complexity of the move. Simple ground-floor jobs within the local area are easiest to arrange at short notice. More complex moves involving grands, stairs or restricted access often need a little more planning and may require a survey. If you need an urgent removal, it is best to call us as early as possible so we can check availability, discuss options and, where feasible, prioritise your booking.

Is my piano insured during the move?

Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is being handled and transported by our team, subject to policy terms and agreed value limits. In addition, our public liability cover protects against accidental damage to third-party property. We are happy to explain the scope of cover and provide documentation if required by your building management or insurer. Although we take every practical step to prevent incidents, having proper insurance in place offers extra reassurance for valuable and sentimental instruments.

What is included in your piano removals service?

Our standard service includes a pre-move assessment, protective wrapping of the piano, route protection where necessary, careful lifting and manoeuvring, secure loading into a suitable vehicle, transport to the new address and final placement in the room of your choice. For grand pianos, we also include basic dismantling and reassembly of legs and pedals. We remove all our packing materials afterwards. Tuning, internal repairs and specialist restoration are not included, but we can move the piano ready for your chosen tuner to attend.

How is a professional service different from a man-and-van?

A casual man-and-van service typically does not specialise in piano handling, may lack the correct equipment and often has limited insurance cover. By contrast, we provide trained piano movers, purpose-built skates, dollies and straps, and use proven methods to protect both instrument and property. Our fully insured service means you have recourse if something unexpected happens. We also carry out surveys where needed, plan routes carefully and allocate sufficient staff so the move is controlled and safe rather than improvised on the day.

How far in advance should I book a piano removal?

Ideally, you should book as soon as your dates are known, particularly during busy periods such as end-of-month, school holidays and weekends. For straightforward local moves, a week or two's notice is often sufficient, but more complex jobs involving grands, stairs or restricted access benefit from extra time for surveys and planning. That said, we understand that plans can change quickly, and we will always try to accommodate shorter notice where our schedule allows. Early booking simply gives you the widest choice of dates and times.