Piano Moving & Disposal in Seattle, Tacoma & Bellevue
Specialized piano moving — uprights, grands, and baby grands. Insured handling, proper equipment, and stair-trained crews.
Piano moving is the move most general movers refuse. Pianos are heavy (uprights 300-500 lbs, grands 600-1,200 lbs), unbalanced, and damage easily if mishandled. Top Tier handles piano moves across Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, and the South Sound with proper equipment — piano dollies, padding, straps, and stair-trained crews. We also handle piano disposal when an instrument has reached the end of its life.
What is included
- Specialized piano dolly and skid board
- Heavy-duty padding and protective straps
- 3-4 person crew (depending on piano type and access)
- Stair coordination — both the source and destination
- Insured handling at the actual instrument value (provide value at booking)
Piano moving pricing
Pricing by piano type and access. Stair flights, distance, and tight access add to the base.
Long-distance moves (Seattle to Tacoma, Bellevue to Puyallup, etc.) add transit time on top of the base. Quotes confirmed before commitment.
What makes piano moving different
A piano is not just a heavy piece of furniture. The internal action (hammers, strings, pin block) can shift if the instrument is tilted incorrectly, requiring expensive tuning or repair afterward. Wheels on uprights are decorative — they cannot bear weight during a move. Grand pianos must be partially disassembled (legs, lyre) before transport. Each of these requires specific knowledge and equipment.
The right crew and equipment matters
- Piano dolly (4-wheel, weight-rated for the instrument)
- Skid board (used for grands during disassembly and stair coordination)
- Heavy-duty straps with shoulder padding
- Furniture pads specifically rated for piano weight
- 3-4 person crew with at least one piano-experienced lead
What we need to know before the move
- Piano type (upright, baby grand, grand, concert grand)
- Brand and approximate age (helps with handling planning)
- Source location: floor level, stairs, doorway widths
- Destination: same details
- Estimated value (used for insurance — actual value, not original purchase price)
When piano disposal makes sense
Sometimes a piano has reached the end of its useful life — water damage, irreparable internal mechanism, severe cosmetic damage. Donation centers rarely accept used pianos because the cost of moving and refurbishing exceeds the value. In these cases, disposal is the practical option. We dismantle the piano, recycle the metal parts (cast iron plate, copper strings), and dispose of the wood case responsibly.
FAQ
- Can you move a piano up or down stairs?
- Yes. Stairs add $75-$150 per flight and require additional crew. We use a skid board and full padding. Make sure to mention the stair count when booking.
- Are you insured for piano damage?
- Yes. We carry insurance covering piano moves at the actual instrument value. Provide the value at booking so the coverage matches your piano. For instruments above $25,000 we may request a separate appraisal.
- Can you move a piano to a second-floor apartment with no elevator?
- Most uprights, yes. Grand pianos generally cannot be moved up walk-up flights without crane access. We will assess at booking and recommend the right approach.
- How much does it cost to dispose of a piano nobody wants?
- Piano disposal runs $200-$400 depending on the type. We dismantle, recycle the metal components, and dispose of the case. Less than the cost of moving the piano somewhere else just to abandon it.
Available with city-specific details in
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