It can be extremely challenging to move a piano upstairs or down. As such, many people will prefer to hire professionals for this task. There are, however, DIY plans that involve some preparation ahead of time.
When moving a piano upstairs or down, you’ll need the right equipment and at least one helper. One person on a short staircase could move a small piano, but a longer set of steps should only be tackled with at least one helper to avoid any mishaps.

Please read below to know what you need to move a piano upstairs or downstairs and how to do so without hurting the people moving it.

What will you need to move a piano upstairs or down?

You will need the following piano moving equipment at your disposal if you want to move your Piano up and down the stairs:


  • Moving Pads/Moving Blankets – To cover and secure the instrument from any damage.
  • Piano Moving Dolly – To transport or move the Piano from one place to another without having to break your back.
  • Moving Straps – To fasten the Piano with the dolly when moving.
  • Plywood Plank – To help your move the dolly with Piano on top of it across the stairs.

Apart from the above things, you will need some other moving accessories such as ropes, hand-gloves, plastic wraps, bubble wraps, handyman tools for disassembling and assembling the Piano before and after the move. Last but not least, a few helping hands to lift the Piano up and down the stairs.

See also: How to Move a Piano Across the Room Safely?

Steps to Move a Piano up or downstairs

Here we’ve laid down step by step process to move a piano up or down the stairs using the above-mentioned piano moving tools and accessories:

Plan out your route

An excellent way to save time and hassle is by planning your route ahead of time. Take a walk through the house you’re moving out of or from where the Piano currently sits, all the way back to where it’ll be going when transported on a dolly to another location. Pay close attention to doorways and turns – especially those that occur while traversing stairs because these are common areas for pianos not to fit! Measure any doorway too narrow so that you can account for how wide both sides need to be before transporting it safely without damaging walls, furniture, etc., as well take into consideration whether there will also have enough space left over after everything’s moved inside once they arrive at their destination.

Prepare the Stairs

To lift a piano up and downstairs, you need an extra-long ramp. This is where plywood planks come in as they can easily be constructed by the person moving pianos themselves at a minimal cost.

Plywood is not just for building your house. When you need to move, plywood can be a useful tool in securing pianos and other heavy items during transport. Plywood varies in durability, so make sure that the staff at the home improvement store or lumber yard knows what type of wood product will work best for creating ramps that can withstand the Piano’s weight while transporting them upstairs or downstairs.


When you’re shopping for planks to cover your staircase, make sure the width and length are a perfect fit. To find out what size boards work best for your stairs, measure them before heading over to the store.

If your staircase is narrow, you may want to enlist a friend for the job. Be sure that each plank supports the one below it securely, or else they might slip when rolling on wheels of your dolly up and down them!

Get the Piano ready for transport

To make your piano-less vulnerable to damage, cover it with a moving blanket and secure the blanket down. Be sure not to skip this step! If done correctly, you can be confident that your prized possession will arrive at its destination unscathed. It would be best if you also left any handles on the back of the instrument uncovered so they’ll have something sturdy for them to grip onto as they carry it around during travel – otherwise, there’s a risk of scratches or dents from their hands coming into contact with unprotected surfaces while carrying it by hand across bumpy terrains like pavements and roads.

Place the Piano on a dolly. Cover it with moving straps. This is different for the type of Piano you are moving- upright pianos often fit on the dolly, and grand pianos may need creative placement and straps. When you pick up the Piano, grip it under where the keyboard is located and then hold onto a handle in the back or some other place that will securely hold it.

You could face many risks when lifting a piano, but by following these tips and tricks, the risk of injury can be decreased.

Maintaining good posture throughout the lift will help keep your spine neutral and avoid any muscle strain on that area later. While it is tempting to bend at your waist instead of using proper form with bending from the knees for safety reasons, this puts too much pressure on those areas, which increases the chance of damage done in case there’s an accident while moving Piano around!

Move the Piano

To move your Piano on a truck, plan for the best way to load it onto the truck by clearing an exit path and having one person pull it with hand brakes while another person pushes. If you have extra helpers, keep them close to walking alongside the Piano so that they are less likely to sway or tip over when transporting the Piano.

When you get to the steps, have your helper come and stand on the end of the Piano. You will need to use all of your strength to move a piano up or downstairs because it is heavy.

The best way to go down a ramp is slowly and carefully. When going up a steep slope, walk sideways with your back foot ahead to avoid slipping backward while walking up! Avoid running or skipping, as you might slip on the surface of the stairs.


See also: Detailed Guide to Moving a Piano

Hire Professional Piano Movers – An alternative to DIY that’s worth it

Moving pianos can be a time-consuming and challenging task. Thankfully, we have some tips for hiring professional movers to do the job instead of trying to move it up or down by yourself. To find reputable piano moving companies in your area, use our trusted directory, which will allow you to compare prices from at least three different firms. When requesting quotes, consider mentioning the types of Piano and the number of flights of stairs involved in the move!

See also: Benefits of Hiring Professional Piano Movers

Conclusion

One of the best ways to move a piano is by hiring professional movers. The risks of injury are too significant for you to try moving it up or down the stairs on your own, so if you don’t have any friends who can help with this task, then consider calling in some professionals – they will get the job done quickly and safely!