Understanding piano moving quotes: what is included and what is not

A piano moving quote should cover four things: a trained specialist crew, purpose-built transit protection, insurance to the value of the instrument, and a fixed price that holds from booking to delivery. What it may not include by default is stair access, long carries, crane lifts, or any access detail that was not described at the time of booking. Knowing what sits inside and outside the quoted price is how you avoid surprises on the day. You can get a fully itemised fixed quote for your move at book.pianospeed.com in about two minutes.

What a specialist piano moving quote should always cover

A quote from a specialist piano mover is different from a general removals estimate in several ways. The following should be included in any credible piano moving quote, not listed separately as optional extras:

• A piano-trained specialist crew, sized for the instrument type and the access at both addresses
• Purpose-built transit equipment: fitted triple-thickness transit covers, a padded skid board, and piano-rated dollies
• For grand pianos: individual padded bags for the legs and pedal lyre, and handling by a crew trained in the leg-removal sequence
• Transit insurance to the declared value of the instrument
• A fixed price confirmed at booking, not subject to adjustment when the crew arrives

If a quote does not include transit insurance, ask specifically what the policy covers for a piano. Many standard goods-in-transit policies set per-item limits well below the replacement value of a quality upright, and some exclude musical instruments unless they have been declared. A specialist piano mover writes their insurance around the actual risks of piano handling.

What is usually not included by default

The majority of access-related charges are calculated separately, because they depend on details that vary for every job. These are not hidden extras: they are specific to your property and your piano, and a good booking system will ask about them before presenting a price.

Stairs and floor level

Moving a piano up or down stairs requires more crew members and takes longer than a ground-floor or lift-served move. Stair access is chargeable, and the charge depends on how many flights are involved, the width of the staircase, and whether there is a landing wide enough to reposition the piano between flights. A steep narrow Victorian staircase is a different job from a broad modern flight, and the price reflects that difference.

At book.pianospeed.com, the booking form asks for the floor level and lift availability at both the collection and delivery addresses. The stair charge is calculated automatically and included in the fixed price you see before you confirm. There are no day-of adjustments if the access matches what you described.

Long carries

If the van cannot park within a short distance of the property, a longer carry on the skid board adds time and crew effort. A long carry from a road parked at the end of a no-vehicle zone, across a courtyard or through shared grounds is factored into the quote when you describe the access accurately at booking. If you know the van cannot reach the front door, say so.

Crane lifts

Some access routes simply do not work with a stair or corridor move: a basement flat with a very steep external stair, a high-floor flat with no lift and no safe staircase route, or a property where the only access is over a balcony. In these cases, a crane lift or an overhead hoist is the only viable method. Crane lifts are priced separately and arranged with advance notice. They are not part of a standard quote, but a specialist who surveys the access details at booking will raise the need for one before the crew arrives.

How piano type affects the quote

The instrument type is one of the primary variables in any piano moving price. An upright piano stays in one piece and travels vertically in the van. A baby grand or full grand is broken down before the move: legs off, pedal lyre removed, lid board lifted and padded separately, and the body placed on its straight side on a padded skid board for transport. A concert grand, which can weigh over 500kg, is a different operation again in terms of crew size and vehicle.

The piano's dimensions and weight affect not just the crew size but the equipment used and the time the job takes. A quote that does not ask what type of piano you have is not an accurate quote. When you book through book.pianospeed.com, the form asks for the piano type and the finish, so the price reflects the actual job.

Why a fixed price matters

A fixed price confirmed at booking protects you from day-of adjustments when the crew finds that the access is more complex than described. It also protects the moving company: both parties agree on exactly what the job covers before anyone is committed.

The condition on a fixed price is that the booking details are accurate. If you tell the booking system the piano is on the ground floor and it is actually on the third floor with no lift, the job is different from the one priced. The crew will not have brought the crew size for that access, and the price will need to change. The fix is straightforward: describe the access accurately when you book. Floor level, lift availability, stair count and approximate stair width are the details that matter.

Piano moves start from £125. The instant quote at book.pianospeed.com covers the crew, transit protection and insurance for the move as described. What changes the price is access: stairs, long carries, crane lifts and piano type all feed into the number you see before you confirm. That number is the number you pay.

What to check before accepting any piano moving quote

• Does the quote name a specific crew size, or is it vague about how many people will attend?
• Does it specify the transit protection method: fitted covers, skid board, padded bags for a grand's legs?
• Does it confirm that transit insurance is included, and to what value?
• Has it asked about the floor level, lift availability and stair count at both addresses?
• Is the price fixed, or is it described as an estimate subject to confirmation?

A quote that cannot answer those five points specifically is not yet a complete quote. Ask before you confirm, not after the crew arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Does a piano moving quote include VAT?

The instant quote at book.pianospeed.com shows a price inclusive of all applicable taxes. There are no additional charges on top of the amount shown at the confirmation screen.

What happens if my access is more difficult than I described?

Contact PianoSpeed before the move, not on the day. If the access at collection or delivery is significantly different from what was entered at booking, call 020 7164 0000 so the crew can be briefed and the quote updated. A crew that turns up expecting a ground-floor move and finds a third-floor staircase without a lift will not have brought the right crew size, and the job may not be completeable that day.

Can I get a quote without knowing the exact date yet?

Yes. The instant quote at book.pianospeed.com shows the price for the access and piano details you enter. You can check dates and availability separately. The price for the job itself does not change by day of the week, though the available dates for your postcode area depend on the planned route schedule.

Is stair access always chargeable?

Yes, stair access is chargeable. Moving a piano up or down a staircase requires extra crew and additional time, and the charge is calculated automatically when you enter the floor level at booking. It is factored into the fixed price you see before you confirm, not added on the day.

What if I do not know the exact piano model?

The piano type matters more than the model name: upright, baby grand, grand, concert grand, digital piano or Clavinova. The size of the instrument within that category affects the crew and equipment needed. If you know the brand and model, including it helps the crew plan, but the basic type is the essential piece of information for pricing.

Does the quote cover both the collection and the delivery address?

Yes. A piano moving quote covers the full move from collection address to delivery address. The access charges at both ends are included in the price when you describe both sets of access details accurately at booking.

For a fixed price on your piano move, get an instant quote at book.pianospeed.com. Piano moves start from £125. The quote covers the specialist crew, transit protection, insurance and fixed pricing with no day-of surprises. You can also call 020 7164 0000 to talk through any access questions. PianoSpeed is rated 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 77 reviews. PianoSpeed London Limited, 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JQ.