Piano Removals

Piano Removals in Tooting by Tooting Movers

Moving a piano safely is a specialist job. At Tooting Movers, we provide dedicated piano removals in Tooting and across South West London, using the right equipment, trained teams and carefully planned routes to protect your instrument and your property.

Specialist Piano Removal Service in Tooting

A piano is more than just heavy furniture – it is a precision instrument, often with significant financial and sentimental value. Our professional crews understand how to protect the delicate internal mechanisms, polished finishes and structural frame while negotiating stairs, tight corners and narrow doorways common in Tooting homes and flats.

We handle:

• Upright piano removals (all sizes, including overstrung and tall uprights)
• Baby grand piano removals
• Grand piano removals (with dismantling and crating where required)
• Digital and stage pianos

Every move is planned around access, parking restrictions, and any building rules, so your piano is moved safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption.

Local Tooting Expertise

As a local company, we know Tooting’s streets, estates and housing stock extremely well. From Victorian terraces and maisonettes off Tooting High Street to flats near Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec, we understand the challenges of staircases, communal entrances and controlled parking zones.

This local knowledge allows us to:

• Plan realistic arrival times despite traffic and bus lanes
• Arrange suitable parking and loading where space is tight
• Coordinate moves around building management rules and lift access
• Advise honestly on what is and isn’t feasible for very restricted access

Our team works across Tooting, Balham, Mitcham, Streatham and wider South West London on a daily basis, so we bring genuine local experience to every piano removal.

Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For

Our specialist piano removals in Tooting are suitable for:

Homeowners

Whether you are moving between houses, renovating, or placing your piano into storage, we provide careful handling and secure transport so your instrument arrives in the same condition it left.

Renters

Flats and rentals often mean stairs, lifts and tight hallways. We protect floors and walls, helping you avoid damage deductions when you move out, and we work considerately with neighbours and building managers.

Landlords

If you have inherited a piano with a property, or need one removed between tenancies, we can relocate it within the building, move it to another address, or deliver it to storage or auction.

Businesses

We regularly move pianos for schools, churches, rehearsal studios, event venues, restaurants and care homes. We can work out of hours to minimise disruption and coordinate with facilities teams.

Students

Music students at local colleges and universities often need their practice piano moved between term-time and home addresses. We offer practical solutions and clear pricing so you can plan with confidence.

What Is Included in Our Piano Removals

Every piano removal with Tooting Movers includes:

• Pre-move discussion and guidance on access and preparation
• Arrival of a trained, professional piano moving team
• Use of piano dollies, skids, straps and pads suitable for your instrument
• Protective wrapping for casing, keys and pedals
• Floor and banister protection where required
• Careful loading into a purpose-equipped removals vehicle
• Secure transport to the new location
• Unloading and placement in your chosen room

For grands and baby grands we can, where needed, remove legs and lyre, wrap and secure the body onto a piano skid, and reassemble on arrival.

What Is Not Included

To avoid misunderstandings, the following are not included as standard in a piano removal, but can sometimes be arranged or recommended separately:

• Piano tuning or repairs after the move
• Internal servicing or regulation of the mechanism
• Removal of windows, doors or structural alterations for access
• Hoisting via crane or external lift (we can advise if this is required)
• Long-term storage (short-term storage may be available on request)
• Disposal of pianos that are beyond repair (separate arrangements needed)

If you are unsure whether your situation is straightforward or requires additional services, we are happy to assess this during the survey stage.

Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process

1. Enquiry & Quote

Contact us by phone or email with basic details: type of piano, collection and delivery addresses, property type, number of floors and any access concerns. We will ask a few focused questions and may request photos to understand the route. Based on this, we provide a clear, no-obligation quote with any assumptions explained.

2. Survey (Virtual or Onsite)

For more complex moves – such as grand pianos, multiple flights of stairs or tight turns – we recommend a short video call or onsite survey. This allows us to measure stair widths and ceiling heights, check parking options, and decide what equipment and crew size are needed. Accurate surveying greatly reduces the risk of delay or unexpected issues on moving day.

3. Packing & Preparation

On the day, we protect the piano first: wrapping the body with padded blankets, covering key surfaces and securing any lids. For grands, we safely remove legs and pedals where necessary. We also protect floors, door frames and bannisters along the route. Our trained team plan their moves carefully, taking their time at tricky points rather than rushing.

4. Loading & Transport

We use specialist equipment and proper lifting technique to move the piano to the vehicle. It is then secured against movement using straps and blocks inside our removals van. We drive carefully, avoiding harsh braking and planning a sensible route to minimise jolts and delays. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance during this stage.

5. Unloading & Placement

At the destination, we reverse the process. We bring the piano into the property, place it in your chosen room and, for grands, reattach legs and pedals. We remove our coverings and tidy up any protective materials. We can also give basic guidance on letting the piano acclimatise before arranging tuning with your chosen technician.

Transparent Piano Removal Pricing

Piano removal costs vary depending on the type of piano, access, distance and any additional requirements. We aim to keep our pricing clear and fair, with no hidden extras.

Typically, we consider:

• Upright vs baby grand vs grand
• Number of steps and floors at each address
• Need for extra crew members for safety
• Distance between collection and delivery
• Parking restrictions and timing constraints

We will always explain what is included in your quote and when any surcharges might apply (for example, last-minute changes, very late-night moves or challenging access discovered on the day).

Why Use Professional Piano Movers Instead of DIY or Casual Man-and-Van

Attempting to move a piano yourself, or using a general man-and-van with no specialist equipment, carries significant risks. Pianos are heavy but also fragile, with uneven weight distribution and delicate internal parts.

Professional piano movers bring:

• Appropriate skids, dollies, straps and protective materials
• Experience with weight balance, tight turns and staircases
• Correct lifting techniques to reduce risk of injury
• Vehicle space and securing points designed for heavy items
• Insurance cover if the unexpected happens

By choosing a specialist service, you protect your piano, your property and everyone involved in the move.

Insurance and Professional Standards

Tooting Movers operates as a properly established removals company, not a casual side-line. Your piano and your property are protected by our fully insured operation, including:

• Goods in transit insurance for items we transport
• Public liability cover in case of accidental damage to third-party property

Our moving teams are trained in manual handling, piano-specific techniques and safe use of moving equipment. We follow clear procedures for planning, lifting and securing loads, and we review complex moves in advance to minimise risk. We treat your instrument with the same care we would give our own.

Care, Protection and Sustainability

Protecting your piano starts with protecting its surroundings. We use floor coverings, door frame protectors and padded blankets to prevent scuffs and scrapes in both the old and new properties. Our crews work methodically, using steady movements rather than force, and communicating clearly with each other at each stage.

Where possible, we make use of reusable protection materials and durable equipment to reduce waste. We also plan routes that balance efficiency with fuel use, helping to minimise our environmental impact while still delivering a reliable service.

Real-World Piano Removal Use Cases

Moving House

House moves in Tooting often involve narrow terraces and multi-storey homes. We can coordinate your piano move as part of a full house removal or as a dedicated job, planning the sequence so the piano is safely out of the way while other furniture is moved.

Office or Venue Relocation

Businesses, schools, churches and music venues frequently need pianos relocated between halls, studios or new premises. We can work outside normal hours, including evenings or weekends, to fit around performances or opening times.

Urgent or Short-Notice Moves

Sometimes pianos need to be moved quickly – for an unexpected property handover, emergency works or a last-minute event. Subject to availability, we can offer same-day or next-day piano removals in Tooting and nearby areas, with realistic advice on what can be achieved safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a piano removal in Tooting cost?

The cost of a piano removal depends mainly on the type of piano, access at each property and the distance travelled. Upright pianos with straightforward ground-floor access are usually at the lower end of the price range, while grands or moves involving multiple flights of stairs cost more due to extra crew and time. Once we know your details, we provide a clear, itemised quote so you know exactly what you are paying for and what is included, with no unexpected charges on the day.

Can you do same-day or urgent piano removals?

Same-day or urgent piano removals are sometimes possible in Tooting, depending on our schedule, crew availability and the complexity of the move. Simple upright moves with good access are generally easier to accommodate at short notice than grand pianos or challenging staircases. If you need an urgent move, contact us as early as you can with full details. We will tell you honestly what is realistic, discuss any premium for out-of-hours work, and prioritise safety and protection of your instrument above speed.

Is my piano insured during the move?

Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is in our care, and we also carry public liability cover for any accidental damage to surrounding property. Our insurance is designed for removals work rather than general haulage, which means it is appropriate for high-value household items. We are happy to explain the key terms and limits before you book. We still handle every piano as if it were uninsured and irreplaceable, focusing on prevention rather than relying on cover.

What is included in your piano removal service?

Our service includes planning, a professional moving crew, protective wrapping, appropriate moving equipment, careful loading, secure transport and placement of the piano in your chosen room at the destination. For grands and baby grands, we can dismantle and reassemble legs and pedals as needed. We also protect floors and key surfaces where required. Tuning, internal repairs, crane work and long-term storage are not included as standard, but we can often recommend suitable specialists if your move requires those additional services.

What is the difference between your service and a man-and-van?

A casual man-and-van service is typically geared towards general furniture and boxes, with limited equipment and no specific training in piano handling. Our piano removal service uses trained crews, specialist skids and dollies, proper securing points in the vehicle and structured risk assessment. We also operate with full removals insurance, clear procedures and detailed planning of access routes. This significantly reduces the chance of damage to the piano, property or people and provides a more reliable, accountable service from enquiry through to placement.

How far in advance should I book a piano removal?

For planned moves, booking one to three weeks in advance usually gives the best choice of dates and times, especially if you need a specific day or weekend. Grand pianos or moves with complex access benefit from earlier booking so we can survey in good time. However, we understand that not all moves are planned that far ahead. If you have a short-notice requirement in Tooting, still get in touch – we will check our schedule and either fit you in or suggest practical alternatives.