7 Best Piano Movers | 2025 Guide

By Sean Donnelly Updated August 15, 2024

All products and services featured are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The best moving companies can safely move pianos, but there are key factors to consider before booking moving services for your treasured instrument. The carriers and brokers we’ve analyzed here offer quality piano moving assistance to clients booking local and long-distance moves. The well-trained workers they employ can handle even baby grand and grand pianos plus standard full-service moving needs.

Did You Know?

388 movers requested and received a free no-obligation quote from one of the above companies in the last 30 days.


 

The Best Moving Companies

We’ve listed our top moving companies overall, along with their key strengths.

 


 

Best Piano Mover and Best Mobile App: JK Moving Services

Fast Facts:

What We Like

JK Moving Services gets our vote for the best piano moving company. Since its founding in 1982, this carrier and broker has facilitated more than half a million individual moves. We like that it trains its movers in an on-site facility with a fully furnished home. This ensures quality moving experiences for clients with varying needs.

JK provides secure climate-controlled storage facilities for short- and long-term storage needs. Its workers have the industry know-how to provide premium crating and protection services for your piano.

Rating:
Best Mobile App

Cost

We’ve used JK Moving’s app and consider it to be one of the best mobile apps in the industry. It offers comprehensive move tracking through moving day. When you get your free quote, this mobile interface allows you to easily log your inventory via a virtual survey to yield accurate pricing. 

Deposits with JK Moving are $250, and all quotes include valuation coverage. This coverage and JK Moving’s qualified moving teams help ensure that your piano remains safe for the duration of your move.

Services Offered

JK Moving offers local moving within the greater Washington, D.C. area, as well as in Maryland and Virginia. Beyond that, it provides long-distance moving throughout the lower 48 states. All employees are background checked and receive training every year. Along with quality piano moving services, it offers a suite of basic and add-on options for all moves.

Read more: JK Moving Services Review

 


 

Best for Antiques: American Van Lines

Fast Facts:

What We Like

American Van Lines (AVL) operates exclusively as a carrier and provides quality service from its three hubs in Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. It advertises that its workers are well-trained and average a decade of experience on the job. We recommend American Van Lines for piano, antique, and specialized moving services.

Rating:
Best for Antiques

Cost

American Van Lines provides binding free quotes for all moves. It features bottom-line pricing, which means its rates won’t shift unless your inventory or service needs change between quote day and moving day. When you book with AVL, you’ll pay a deposit between 10% and 50%. Half of the remaining balance is due at pickup, and the other half is due upon delivery.

Services Offered

American Van Lines’ trained and experienced crews offer service for grand and upright pianos, as well as antique and high-value item protection and packing. We read its service offerings and found its crews can safely dismantle your piano and reassemble it in your new home. It primarily operates as a long-distance moving company across the lower 48 states, and it offers some local moving capabilities near its three primary locations. 

Read more: American Van Lines Review

 


 

Best for Condos and HOAs: Safeway Moving Inc.

Fast Facts:

What We Like

Safeway Moving Inc. is a moving carrier and broker based in Fort Lauderdale. It specializes in long-distance and cross-country relocations and exclusively provides binding flat-rate pricing for all moves. We like that Safeway requires all its moving partners to carry $1 million insurance policies, enabling them to move clients in apartment and condo complexes with stringent regulations.

Rating:
Best for Condos/HOAs

Cost

Safeway offers flat rates for all moves it carries out. All moving packages include 30 days of free storage at the delivery point. When you get a quote from Safeway, your move coordinator will take your full inventory and service needs into account before rendering a bottom-line quote. You must pay a 20% to 40% deposit to reserve your mover.

Services Offered

Safeway’s service offerings vary from partner to partner. Its full-service moving partners provide loading, unloading, furniture protection, and a free month of storage with all basic moving quotes. Beyond that, many Safeway movers provide dedicated service for pianos and high-value goods.

Read more: Safeway Moving Inc. Review

 


 

Best Overall Mover: International Van Lines

Fast Facts:

What We Like

International Van Lines (IVL) is a nationwide moving carrier and broker that has partners in all 50 states. Its partners include professional piano movers. IVL has provided domestic moving services since 2004 and offers both local and long-distance service. 

Rating:
Our Top Pick

Cost

IVL doesn’t offer binding estimates for its moves. It renders moving quotes after conducting virtual surveys via a phone or video call with a move coordinator. You’ll pay a 25% deposit up-front to book.

This mover lists additional costs for special tasks on its long-distance moving page. We noted that piano moving and packing services range between $150 and $350 per unit; your exact pricing will depend on the piano type.

Services Offered

IVL provides local and long-distance moving assistance within Florida and a limited area in Texas. Beyond this, it brokers out all local and long-distance services. Its movers are thoroughly vetted and offer a standard suite of services, including packing, assembly and disassembly, crating, and piano moving.

Read more: International Van Lines Review

 


 

Best for Major Cities: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group

Fast Facts:

What We Like

Interstate Moving & Relocation Group (IMRG) offers moving assistance across all 50 states. Its partner companies provide local and long-distance relocations. We’ve noted that its customer service team offers a speedy quote process. 

Beyond its moving services, we like IMRG’s informative website that provides moving guides, partner company bios, and a price calculator tool to help you confidently book.

Rating:
Best for Major Cities

Cost

IMRG doesn’t offer binding quotes for its moves. Once you get a quote, you must confirm your booking to lock in your rate. Many of its partner companies offer specialized piano moving services, which will inflate your cost. Confirm this with your IMRG mover before booking.

Services Offered

IMRG offers services for domestic local and long-distance moves that include full- and self-service moves. We recommend booking with a company that has dedicated piano moving experience. Disclose your service needs to your move coordinator during the quote process to ensure you book with a mover that has the right dollies, equipment, and workers for the job.

Read more: Interstate Moving & Relocation Group Review

 


 

Best for Coordinated Moves: Moving APT

Fast Facts:

What We Like

Moving APT has been in the industry since 1999. It began as a relatively small operation and has since expanded to a nationwide broker with more than 2,500 individual partners across 50 states. Its partner companies range from partial- to full-service moving providers and are fully vetted and insured. 

Rating:
Best for Coordinated Moves

Cost

Your moving experience will vary depending on the partner company that handles your move. When you contact Moving APT, they will put you in touch with providers that operate in your area. A move coordinator with the partner company will assess your move. Deposits vary depending on move length, but you can expect to pay 25% to 30% of your total move price up-front. Special handling fees for appliances and pianos will be assessed and added to your final total.

Services Offered

Moving APT’s partners provide a range of services. You can request a basic move package, which includes loading, unloading, and released liability coverage, or a comprehensive moving package. Moving APT can coordinate specialty services, including heavy lifting and crating for pianos.

Read more: Moving APT Review

 


 

Best Appliance Movers: North American Van Lines

Fast Facts:

What We Like

North American Van Lines (NAVL) has been in business since 1933. Today, it offers local and long-distance service via its 500-plus locations in all 50 states. Its movers are trained to provide a range of services, including premium moving for appliances, pianos, and high-value items. It offers bottom-line pricing on request if you’re moving on a defined budget.

Rating:
Best for High-End Appliances

Cost

NAVL provides bottom-line and not-to-exceed pricing for moving clients who request it. All moving quotes include released liability coverage, loading and unloading, and transportation. NAVL doesn’t require deposits to book moves. However, you must complete a virtual or in-person survey for binding estimates to be rendered.

Services Offered

NAVL provides basic and add-on services on request for moving clients. Its specialty offerings, including piano moving, appliance detachment and installment, and antique packing, are among the best in the industry.

Read more: North American Van Lines Review

 


 

How to Pick a Piano Moving Company

To help ensure your piano move goes smoothly, consider a few key factors when evaluating moving companies before you book. 

Solid Reviews

Ensure that your mover of choice has experience providing piano moving services. We recommend combing through customer reviews and looking for mention of dedicated piano or fragile moving services. This feedback is a good way to gauge whether movers can meet your service needs.

Dedicated Piano Moving Service

A basic search through a company’s website should tell you if a provider offers dedicated piano moving services. We’ve found most moving companies that provide piano moving assistance advertise it on their services pages.

Clear Pricing

Some movers list defined pricing for add-on services. If a mover doesn’t list add-on pricing online, it should be clear after you get a quote. Requesting free quotes from piano movers—and movers in general—is the best way to determine pricing.

 


 

What Factors Influence Your Piano Move’s Cost?

Consider the following cost factors when budgeting for a general move or a piano move:

 


 

Our Recommendation

Carefully consider your options when booking moving services for any type of piano. After you narrow your options down, we recommend requesting quotes from your top three movers. We like JK Moving Services, American Van Lines, and International Van Lines for piano moving assistance. Collecting multiple quotes will help you make an informed decision to tackle the logistical hurdles of a piano move.

 


 

Piano Moving Company FAQ

Can I book a moving container for a piano move?

You can book a moving container for a piano move. However, we recommend you only do so if the container mover in question offers valuation coverage. Full-service movers almost always provide better care.

Do moving companies’ insurance policies cover pianos and other high-end goods?

All moving companies provide released liability coverage for all goods in their base moving packages. This covers you at a rate of 60 cents per pound per item, including pianos and other high-end goods. If you want additional coverage, most movers provide this at an added cost.

How much do piano moves typically cost?

Piano moves typically cost around $400. Long-distance piano moves with special considerations such as crane service could cost more than $2,000.

 


 

How We Chose the Top Piano Moving Companies

We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a moving review methodology based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.

Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.

We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as their overall score on Yelp.