Piano Removals
Piano Removals in St John’s Wood by Experienced Specialists
At St John's Wood Movers, we provide safe, specialist piano removals across St John’s Wood and the surrounding North West London areas. Moving a piano is not the same as moving standard furniture – it requires the right equipment, experience and a steady, confident team who understand how to protect the instrument, your property and everyone involved.
Professional Piano Removals: What We Do
Our dedicated piano moving service is designed for upright and grand pianos of all sizes. We handle:
- Upright piano removals – standard uprights, tall uprights, school and studio pianos
- Grand piano removals – baby grands, medium and full-size grands
- Digital and stage pianos – including stands, pedals and flight cases
- Internal moves – room-to-room or floor-to-floor within the same property
- Collection & delivery – from homes, schools, venues, studios and auction houses
We use specialist piano skids, dollies, thick transit blankets and securing straps. Where needed, we can arrange extra crew, stair climbers and external lifts to move pianos from challenging access points.
Local Piano Moving Expertise in St John’s Wood
Working daily in St John’s Wood means we understand the realities of moving pianos in this area: narrow streets, residents’ bays, mansion blocks, mews houses and basement flats. We are used to dealing with:
- Parking suspensions and timed loading restrictions
- Listed and period properties that require extra care
- Shared entrances, concierge-managed buildings and lifts
- Access via tight staircases and hallways
We plan every piano removal around your building and your neighbours, keeping disruption and noise to a minimum while protecting communal areas and private spaces.
Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For
Our specialist service is suitable for:
- Homeowners – moving house, rearranging rooms or sending a family piano to relatives
- Renters – relocating between flats, studios or house shares where access can be tricky
- Landlords – clearing or installing pianos in managed properties or furnished lets
- Businesses – hotels, event venues, recording studios and rehearsal spaces
- Students – music students moving to or from halls and student accommodation
Whether you have a cherished family instrument or a working concert piano, we tailor our approach to the instrument’s value – both financial and sentimental.
What’s Included in Our Piano Removals
Our standard piano moving service typically includes:
- Pre-move assessment of access and piano type
- Supply of protective covers, blankets and floor protection
- Careful dismantling of removable parts where appropriate (e.g. legs, lyre on grands)
- Safe lifting, manoeuvring and secure loading onto our vehicles
- Transport in fully insured vehicles with proper securing points
- Placement of the piano in your chosen room at the destination
On request, we can also coordinate with your tuner or restorer so everything is scheduled sensibly around your move.
What’s Not Included
To keep everything clear and transparent, some items or services fall outside a standard piano removal:
- Major piano repairs, restoration or internal adjustments
- Tuning (we can recommend local tuners, but do not tune ourselves)
- Heavy building alterations or removal of windows/doors that require separate trades
- Transport of hazardous materials, flammables or unrelated bulky waste
- Long-term storage, unless agreed as a separate storage service
If your move needs additional services, we will explain what is possible, what may require partners, and outline any extra costs before booking.
Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process
1. Enquiry & Quote
You contact us with the basic details: piano type, collection and delivery postcodes, access notes and preferred dates. Where possible, we ask for photos of the piano, entrances, staircases and any tight corners. Based on this information, we provide a clear, no-obligation quote.
2. Survey – Virtual or Onsite
For straightforward upright moves, a virtual survey via photos or video call is often enough. For grand pianos or complex access (spiral stairs, basement flats, high floors), we may recommend an onsite survey. This allows us to measure accurately, plan the route and decide on crew size and equipment.
3. Packing & Preparation
On move day, our trained team protects floors and doorways before any lifting begins. The piano is wrapped in thick blankets or purpose-made covers. For grand pianos, we safely remove legs and pedals where necessary and place the body onto a piano skid or board for secure handling.
4. Loading & Transport
We use specialist dollies and lifting techniques to move the piano to the vehicle, maintaining control at all times. Inside the lorry or van, the instrument is positioned carefully, strapped securely to anchor points and cushioned to prevent movement. Your piano travels under goods in transit insurance in our well-maintained vehicles.
5. Unloading & Placement
At the destination, we reverse the process calmly and systematically. We place the piano in your chosen spot, ensure it is stable on its castors or feet, and re-fit any parts we removed. We tidy up packaging and walk through the result with you before we leave.
Piano Removals Pricing – How We Charge
We price piano moves based on:
- Piano type and size (upright vs baby grand vs full grand)
- Access difficulty at both properties (stairs, distance to vehicle, lifts)
- Travel distance between addresses
- Number of staff and any specialist equipment required
- Any additional services (e.g. internal moves, waiting time, storage)
Instead of flat "one size fits all" fees, we provide a tailored fixed price once we understand the job. This ensures you pay a fair rate for your specific move, with no surprise extras on the day as long as the information provided is accurate.
Why Use Professional Piano Movers Instead of DIY
Attempting to move a piano yourself, or using a casual man-and-van, can be risky. Pianos are heavy yet delicate, with much of their weight in awkward places. Common DIY issues include damage to floors and walls, injury to helpers and serious harm to the instrument’s frame or action.
With St John's Wood Movers you get:
- Professional crews trained specifically in piano handling
- Correct equipment to manage weight, balance and stair work safely
- Fully insured transport and liability cover
- Proper planning around parking, access and building rules
This reduces stress, protects your property and usually works out cheaper than repairing avoidable damage.
Insurance and Professional Standards
We take responsibility seriously. Our service includes:
- Goods in transit insurance – covering your piano while it is in our vehicle
- Public liability cover – protecting you and your property during the move
- Trained moving teams – experienced staff who are briefed on each job
We maintain clear communication from booking to completion, arrive in clean, well-presented vehicles and treat your piano as if it were our own. Any specific concerns can be discussed in advance so we can address them properly.
Care, Protection and Sustainability
Our approach is based on care for your instrument, your home and the wider environment:
- Use of heavy-duty blankets, covers and floor protection to prevent scratches and dents
- Thoughtful lifting and manoeuvring to minimise strain on the piano’s structure
- Modern, regularly serviced vehicles to improve fuel efficiency
- Re-usable protective materials rather than excessive single-use plastics
- Route planning to reduce unnecessary mileage and emissions
We know many pianos are heirlooms, so we combine technical skill with respectful handling at every stage.
Real-World Piano Moving Scenarios
Moving House with a Piano
If you are relocating within or out of St John’s Wood, we can integrate piano moving into your wider house removal or treat it as a separate, focused job. We coordinate timings with your overall move so the instrument is protected from last-minute rush.
Office, School and Venue Relocations
We regularly move pianos for schools, churches, rehearsal studios and performance venues. We understand the need to work around rehearsals, services and events, and can schedule moves for early morning, evenings or weekends where necessary.
Urgent or Short-Notice Piano Moves
Sometimes a piano needs to be moved quickly – an unexpected sale, tenancy change or building works. Where our schedule allows, we offer fast or same-day piano removals in St John’s Wood and nearby areas, always maintaining the same standards of care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a piano removal cost in St John’s Wood?
The cost of a piano removal varies depending on piano type, access and distance. Straightforward moves of an upright piano between ground-floor properties nearby will be at the lower end, while grand pianos, stairs, difficult access or longer travel increase the price. We typically charge a fixed fee per move rather than an hourly rate so you know the total in advance. Share a few photos, addresses and details about stairs or lifts, and we will provide a clear, obligation-free quote before you decide.
Can you move my piano at short notice or on the same day?
Where our schedule allows, we can provide same-day or short-notice piano removals in St John’s Wood and surrounding areas. Availability depends on crew and vehicle capacity, as piano moves require specific staff and equipment. Contact us as early as you can with your preferred times, and we will confirm what is realistically possible. Even for urgent moves, we still carry out a quick assessment of access and piano type to ensure we send the right team and avoid any safety or damage issues.
Is my piano insured during the move?
Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is in our vehicle, and our public liability cover protects your property and third parties during handling. Insurance details and limits can be shared on request before booking. We always recommend you tell us about any particularly high-value or historically significant instruments so we can confirm adequate cover. While our focus is to prevent any damage in the first place, our policies are there to give you additional reassurance throughout the move.
What exactly is included in your piano removal service?
Our piano removal service includes assessment of access, provision of protective covers and floor protection, safe dismantling of removable parts on grand pianos, lifting and manoeuvring by a trained team, secure loading into our vehicles, transport, and placement of the piano in your chosen room at the destination. We also reattach any parts we removed. Standard packaging and equipment are included in the quoted price. Additional services, such as storage, coordination with other trades or complex building alterations, are available by separate arrangement where feasible.
How is your service different from a regular man-and-van?
Many man-and-van operators can handle general furniture, but pianos require more than muscle and a basic trolley. Our teams are specifically trained in piano handling, use purpose-designed equipment and work to established methods that protect the instrument and property. We carry appropriate insurance and plan each move in detail, including parking and access. While a cheaper man-and-van may seem tempting, the cost of repairing a damaged piano or staircase can far exceed the saving. Our approach balances safety, reliability and value for money.
How far in advance should I book a piano removal?
For maximum choice of dates and times, we suggest booking at least one to two weeks in advance, especially during busy periods such as month-end or school holidays. That said, we do keep some flexibility for shorter-notice moves, particularly for local jobs within St John’s Wood. If you know your moving date, it is best to contact us as soon as possible so we can schedule a survey if needed and secure parking arrangements. Early booking leads to smoother planning and a more relaxed move day.
