Moving a Piano in a NYC Apartment: Uprights, Baby Grands, Stairs and Elevators

Updated October 11, 2026

A piano is the one piece in most homes that cannot be split into light parts. In a New York City apartment, the hard part is usually not the weight but the path: the stairs, the turns, the elevator and the doors. Here is how to prepare so the estimate fits the real job. We move upright and baby grand pianos; see our piano moving page.

Upright or grand: two different jobs

An upright piano moves standing up, wrapped in pads, on a dolly. Its height and depth decide whether it fits in an elevator or around a stair turn. A baby grand moves on its side: the legs and the pedal lyre come off, the body is wrapped and strapped to a piano board, and the parts go back on in the new room.

What to measure before you ask for an estimate

The piano: height, width and depth for an upright; length from the keyboard to the tail, and width, for a grand.
Every door on the way: the apartment door, the building entrance and any inner lobby door.
The elevator: door width, and the depth and height of the cab.
The stairs: how many flights on each end, and a photo of the tightest turn.
The new room: where the piano will stand. If you can choose, keep it away from radiators and direct sun.

Elevator buildings

Ask the super whether the piano may use the passenger elevator or must use the service elevator, whether you need a reservation, and whether the building needs a certificate of insurance (COI). Many NYC buildings ask for a COI for any move. Send us the sample; we send the COI your building asks for.

Walk-ups and brownstones

Stairs are where piano moves take time. Tell us the floor on both ends and send photos of the stairs. A stoop, a narrow turn or a low ceiling at a landing changes the plan, and it is better to know before moving day than on the stairs. More on stairs and small elevators: Bronx walk-ups and elevator buildings.

Getting the truck close

A piano travels on a dolly or a board from the truck to the door, so a shorter distance is better. Moving trucks stay off the parkways (NYC DOT: parkway restrictions for commercial vehicles) and use the city’s truck routes; New York City has nearly 1,000 miles of them (NYC DOT: trucks and commercial vehicles (truck routes)). If parking on your block is hard, tell us when you book.

On moving day

Clear the path: rugs, plants and small furniture.
Close the lid and the key cover, and take music, lamps and photos off the top.
Keep children and pets in another room while the piano moves.
Ask your piano tuner when to schedule a tuning after the move.

A piano with the rest of your home, or on its own

A piano can move with the rest of the apartment or by itself as a single-item move (small moves and single items). Either way, mention it when you ask for an estimate, with the measurements and photos above.

Questions we hear

Do you move baby grand pianos?

Yes. We move upright and baby grand pianos in NYC apartments and houses.

Does my building need a COI for a piano move?

Many NYC buildings ask for a certificate of insurance for any move. Ask the management for their sample and send it to us.

What should I measure before a piano move?

The piano, every door on the way, the elevator door and cab, and photos of the stairs and the tightest turn.

How do I get an estimate?

Call (929) 232-3444 or use the quote form on our home page. The estimate is free and in writing.

Free written estimate: call (929) 232-3444 or use the quote form on our home page. Family business since 1999 · U.S. DOT No. 967970 (MC-432549) · NYSDOT 34875 · NJPM 000930 · Company facts

More moving guides

Rules change. We read the official pages linked here in October 2026; check the linked page before you rely on it.

Official sources

Moving guides · October 11, 2026