Guide
How to move a piano yourself, and how much it weighs
A modern upright piano weighs about 190 to 250kg: Yamaha lists its 109cm b1 at 193kg and its 131cm U3 at 246kg, with the GB1K baby grand at 261kg. That is eight to ten times HSE's 25kg guideline figure for one person lifting close to the body, and the Pianoforte Tuners' Association recommends a professional mover for any piano.
How much does a piano weigh?
Taller uprights weigh more, because the frame, soundboard and strings are all longer. Yamaha's own specifications give a useful spread:
| Piano | Height or length | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha b1 upright | 109cm high | 193kg |
| Yamaha b2 upright | 113cm high | 203kg |
| Yamaha U1 upright | 121cm high | 228kg |
| Yamaha b3 upright | 121cm high | 237kg |
| Yamaha U3 upright | 131cm high | 246kg |
| Yamaha GB1K baby grand | 151cm long | 261kg |
Most of that weight is the cast iron frame that holds the strings under tension. If you do not know the make or model, measure the height from the floor to the top of the lid and compare it with the table: an upright of 120cm or more is likely to be well over 200kg.
Can you move a piano yourself?
Within a room, on a level floor, people do, but carefully. The Pianoforte Tuners' Association (PTA) warns that the small castors on many uprights are not designed for wheeling, and says an upright should be lifted and moved on a trolley rather than pushed on them. A grand, it says, must be lifted and supported as it moves, by no fewer than three people.
A house move is a different job. HSE's manual handling guidance gives 25kg for men and 16kg for women as guideline figures for lifting close to the body at waist height, and a 228kg upright is many times that even shared between four. The danger is also the shape: an upright is tall, narrow and heavy at the back, so once it starts to tip on a step or a ramp, its weight carries it over.
The PTA's own advice is simple: use a professional piano mover for any piano. A digital piano on a stand is the exception, since it can be packed and carried like other electronics.
What does moving a piano upstairs or into a van involve?
Movers strap an upright to a padded trolley or a piano board, and take a grand's legs, lyre and lid off before turning the body on its side onto a board. Stairs are taken one step at a time, with the weight held from below, which is why the crew grows with every flight.
Getting it into the van is the next problem. Lifting 200kg or more to the floor of a Luton by hand is exactly what HSE's guidance warns against, so piano moves use a ramp or a tail lift. The lifts on hire Lutons are rated at up to 500kg, enough for any of the pianos above. Measure every doorway and landing on the route, and the turn at the top and bottom of each flight, and send the figures with photos when you ask for a quote.
How do you get ready for the piano movers?
A little preparation saves the crew time, and on an hourly job it saves you money.
- Close and lock the lid and fallboard, and take off anything on top: lamps, photos, music.
- Clear the route from the piano to the front door, including rugs that could slide under a trolley.
- Measure the space it is going into, and check the floor there is solid enough for the weight.
- Arrange parking as close to the door as you can, at both addresses.
- Tell the firm about any step, threshold or gravel path, since each one changes how the piano is wheeled.
If the piano has been in one place for years, look at the floor underneath once it has gone: the castors can mark carpets and soft wood.
Does a piano need tuning after a move?
Usually. The PTA recommends tuning at least twice a year and says how often a piano needs it depends on how it is used and the conditions it is kept in. A move brings a journey and a new room at once, so expect the tuning to drift.
Book the tuner once the piano is in its final place, not before the move. Ask a local tuner for a price, and ask them whether they would rather wait for the piano to settle in the new room first.
What does a piano mover charge?
AnyVan's published piano prices in October 2026 were £108 to move an upright within London, £227 from London to Birmingham and £308 from London to Manchester. A grand cost £213 within London and £435 to Manchester. Stairs, a long carry from the van and taking a grand apart all add to a quote.
Check what the mover's goods in transit cover pays for a piano before you book. A general policy may cap any single item at a figure well below a piano's value; AnyVan's piano bookings carry compensation cover of up to £50,000 per booking, subject to its terms (October 2026). Ask whether a claim pays the repair cost or the piano's market value.
Common questions
How heavy is an upright piano?
Usually 190 to 250kg for a modern upright. Yamaha gives 193kg for its 109cm b1, 228kg for the 121cm U1 and 246kg for the 131cm U3.
How many people does it take to move a piano?
The PTA says a grand should never be moved by fewer than three people. For an upright, ask the mover how many it sends; stairs and tight turns need more.
Can a man and van move a piano?
A general man and van can carry a digital piano. For an acoustic upright or grand, the PTA recommends a professional piano mover with a trolley or board, straps and a ramp or tail lift.
Should a piano be tuned straight after a move?
Book the tuner once the piano is in its final room. The PTA recommends tuning at least twice a year, and the conditions a piano is kept in affect how quickly it drifts.