Piano Removals

Piano Removals in Highbury by Highbury Movers

Moving a piano is one of the most demanding tasks in the removals world. At Highbury Movers, we provide dedicated piano removals in Highbury and across London, using specialist equipment, trained teams and carefully planned methods to protect both your instrument and your property.

Specialist Piano Removals Service Explained

A piano is not just heavy – it is delicate, finely balanced and often emotionally valuable. Our professional piano removals service is designed around these realities. We:

• Assess access routes, stairs, tight corners and parking before the move
• Use protective covers, padding and floor protection throughout
• Employ piano skates, dollies, ramps and stair-climbing equipment where required
• Secure the piano properly inside the vehicle to prevent movement in transit

Every move is planned by an experienced mover who understands how pianos are constructed and how they respond to movement, temperature and humidity changes.

Local Piano Moving Expertise in Highbury

Highbury and the surrounding areas present real-world challenges for piano removals: narrow terraced streets, basement flats, high-floor apartments and limited parking. Our local knowledge means we can:

• Advise on parking and permits in Islington and neighbouring boroughs
• Plan access in period properties with tight staircases and shared hallways
• Coordinate with building management for lifts and loading bays
• Schedule moves to avoid local traffic pinch points where possible

Because we work in Highbury day in, day out, we know how to complete complex piano moves safely and efficiently while being respectful to neighbours and communal areas.

Who Our Piano Removals Service Is For

We support a wide range of clients who need reliable piano transportation:

• Homeowners – moving house locally or nationally, or repositioning a piano within your home.
• Renters – relocating between flats, often with tight staircases and limited access.
• Landlords – removing or installing pianos in rental properties or furnished lets.
• Businesses – studios, schools, churches, venues and hotels needing regular or one-off piano moves.
• Students – music students moving between term-time accommodation and home.

Whether you have a single small upright or multiple instruments to move between locations, we tailor our service to your situation and timescales.

What We Can and Cannot Move

Items Included in Our Piano Removals

Our piano removals service covers most types of standard pianos and related items, including:

• Upright pianos (including overstrung and modern uprights)
• Baby grand and grand pianos (with partial dismantling where required)
• Digital stage pianos and large electric pianos
• Piano stools and benches
• Music stands and small associated items, by arrangement

Items Excluded or Requiring Prior Agreement

For safety and insurance reasons, certain items are excluded or subject to special terms:

• Heavily modified or structurally unsound pianos
• Pianos requiring crane or external lift access without prior survey
• Extremely high-value antique instruments without agreed valuation
• Other large items not booked in advance (e.g. safes, commercial machinery)

If you are unsure whether your instrument or situation can be accommodated, we will carry out a free assessment before confirming the booking.

Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process

1. Enquiry & Quotation

You contact us with basic details: type of piano, current and new address, floor levels and any access concerns. We will ask a few focused questions and, where possible, request photos or short videos of the access. Based on this information, we provide a clear, no-obligation quote outlining what is included, expected timings and any access requirements (such as parking arrangements).

2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite

For straightforward upright moves, a virtual survey using photos or video call is often sufficient. For grand pianos, difficult staircases or unusual access, we may arrange an onsite survey. During the survey, we measure doorways, landings and stair turns, and confirm whether any partial dismantling or specialist equipment is required. This reduces the risk of issues on move day and allows us to allocate the right team and vehicle.

3. Packing & Preparation

On the day, our trained movers protect your home and instrument before any lifting begins. We may:

• Lay floor protection in hallways and on stairs
• Wrap the piano in thick padded blankets and protective covers
• Secure lids and moving parts, and remove legs or pedals on grands where required
• Label components to ensure correct reassembly

We work methodically and communicate clearly with you throughout so you know what to expect at each stage.

4. Loading & Transport

Using piano skates, dollies and lifting straps, we move the piano carefully to our vehicle, managing each step, corner and threshold with control. The instrument is then loaded via ramps or tail lift and securely strapped to prevent movement. Our vehicles are clean, dry and fitted for goods in transit insurance, ensuring your piano is protected from shocks and movement as far as reasonably possible while on the road.

5. Unloading & Placement

At the destination, we reverse the process with equal care, placing the piano exactly where you want it, subject to access and floor strength. We remove all our protective materials and, if the piano has been partially dismantled, we reassemble it and check that it is stable. We can also offer guidance on letting the instrument acclimatise before tuning, which is usually recommended after any significant move.

Transparent Pricing for Piano Removals

We believe in clear, realistic pricing with no surprise add-ons on the day. Our quotes are based on:

• Type and size of piano (upright, baby grand, grand)
• Number of steps, floor level and access difficulty at each property
• Distance between addresses
• Need for extra staff, specialist equipment or partial dismantling
• Any time constraints (evening moves, weekend work, urgent slots)

You will receive a written breakdown of what is included, such as labour, equipment, travel and insurance. If circumstances change before move day, we will discuss any pricing implications with you in advance.

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

Pianos are heavy – often 200–400 kg – but it is not just about weight. The internal frame, soundboard and action are highly sensitive. Attempting to move a piano without the correct knowledge and equipment can lead to:

• Damage to the instrument (soundboard cracks, action misalignment, case damage)
• Injury to those lifting
• Damage to walls, floors, bannisters and door frames

A casual man-and-van service typically does not carry the appropriate insurance or training for piano work. By choosing a professional removals company that regularly handles pianos, you significantly reduce risk and gain the reassurance of proper cover if something unexpected happens.

Insurance & Professional Standards

Highbury Movers operates to robust professional standards for your peace of mind. We provide:

• Goods in transit insurance to cover your piano while it is being moved and transported, up to agreed limits
• Public liability cover in case of accidental damage to third-party property during the move
• Trained moving teams who follow established lifting and handling techniques specific to pianos

We are transparent about our cover levels and happy to provide details on request. If your piano is of particularly high value, we can discuss additional cover or documentation where necessary.

Care, Protection and Sustainability

We treat every piano as though it were our own. That means careful preparation, polite communication and respect for your home and neighbours. To minimise our environmental impact, we:

• Use reusable protective blankets and covers rather than disposable materials
• Maintain our vehicles regularly for better fuel efficiency
• Plan routes sensibly to reduce unnecessary mileage

Whenever we do need to use packing or floor protection products, we aim for recyclable or reusable options where practical without compromising on safety.

Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios

Moving House with a Piano

If you are moving your entire household, we can integrate the piano move into your wider removals plan. Often this involves moving the piano either first or last, depending on access and loading sequence, and coordinating with other items to keep everything efficient and safe.

Office, School or Studio Relocations

We regularly move pianos for schools, rehearsal spaces, churches and recording studios. These moves often need to be carried out outside teaching or operating hours, with minimal disruption and careful handling in shared or public buildings. We can work early mornings, evenings or weekends by prior arrangement.

Urgent or Short-Notice Piano Moves

Situations change – tenancies end, buyers complete faster than expected, or venues have last-minute requirements. Where our schedule allows, we offer short-notice and same-day piano removals in Highbury and nearby areas. We will always be honest about what is feasible within the time available and never compromise on safety to squeeze in a job.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a piano removal cost?

The cost of a piano removal depends mainly on the type of piano (upright, baby grand, grand), access at both properties and the distance travelled. Local upright moves with straightforward access are usually at the lower end of our pricing, while larger instruments, stairs, tight turns or long distances increase the cost. We will ask a few questions and often request photos or a short video to provide an accurate fixed quote. There are no hidden extras – all labour, equipment and standard insurance are included in the price we confirm with you.

Can you do same-day or urgent piano removals?

Where our schedule allows, we can accommodate same-day or short-notice piano moves in Highbury and surrounding areas. Urgent bookings depend on the availability of a suitably experienced team, the right vehicle and any access checks needed. If you need a rapid move, contact us as early in the day as possible with full details, including photos if you can. We will give you an honest answer on what is achievable, any constraints and the cost for an urgent slot, which may be higher than standard rates due to rescheduling and out-of-hours work.

Is my piano insured during the move?

Yes. Your piano is covered under our goods in transit insurance while it is being handled and transported by our team, up to the policy limit stated in your confirmation. We also hold public liability cover in case of accidental damage to third-party property. We are happy to provide details of our insurance on request. For particularly high-value or rare instruments, we recommend you tell us the estimated value in advance so we can confirm adequate cover or discuss temporary additional insurance if necessary.

What is included in your piano removals service?

Our standard service includes the supply of specialist moving equipment, protective blankets and covers, loading and unloading by a trained team, safe transport in a suitable vehicle and standard insurance cover. Where required and agreed, we also carry out basic dismantling and reassembly of grand pianos (such as removing legs and lyre). Floor protection, careful placement at the destination and removal of all our materials are included as standard. Tuning is not included, as this is best carried out by a piano technician after the instrument has settled in its new environment.

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

A casual man-and-van service may be fine for boxes and small furniture, but pianos require specific skills and equipment. As professional piano movers, we invest in training, purpose-built skates, ramps and protective materials, and we carry appropriate insurance. We carry out surveys, plan routes and allocate the right number of staff for safe lifting. Man-and-van operators often lack dedicated cover for high-value instruments and may not understand the internal structure of a piano, which increases the risk of damage to both the instrument and your property.

How far in advance should I book a piano removal?

For planned moves, we recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance, particularly if you need a specific date or time slot, such as a weekend or evening. This gives us time to complete any necessary survey, arrange parking and allocate the right team and vehicle. That said, we understand that short-notice situations arise, and we always try to help where our schedule permits. The more notice you can give us, the more flexibility we have to offer you convenient options and the most cost-effective solution.