Piano & SpecialtySeptember 18, 20262 min read

Moving a Piano in Los Angeles: Stairs, Access, and What It Takes

Uprights, baby grands and full grands move on measured routes with the right equipment. Here is what an LA piano move actually involves.

A piano is heavy, delicate and unforgiving of shortcuts. The soundboard and finish damage easily without the right technique, and LA housing adds its own obstacles: stairwells, hillside driveways, tight turns and buildings that were not designed around a grand piano. A piano move starts with the route, not the truck.

Know what you are moving

Uprights run roughly 300 to 500 pounds; baby grands and full grands go higher, and they come apart — legs, lid, pedal assembly — before they travel. The type, size and both addresses decide the equipment, the crew and the plan.

The route is measured first

Every doorway, stair turn, landing and hillside grade on the route gets measured before the piano moves. Tight corners are planned — the carrying angles, the padding positions, where the crew stands. HOpefully nothing on the route is a surprise, because surprises with a piano are damage.

The equipment and the carry

Piano boards, straps and dollies do the real work. The instrument is wrapped in thick pads, secured and carried on the planned route — with walls, door frames and floors protected along the way. At the destination, the piano is placed where you want it and set level; tuning afterward is arranged with your technician, because every move knocks a piano out of tune regardless of how well it travels.

What we will tell you honestly

If a route genuinely cannot be made — a spiral stairwell that will not clear, a landing that will not fit the turn — we say so on the estimate and discuss the options, rather than discovering it with the instrument on the stairs.

Frequently asked questions

Do you move grand pianos?

Yes — uprights and grands. The crew is experienced with the weight, balance and logistics of doorways and stairs.

How far ahead should I schedule a piano move?

Piano moves need extra lead time for equipment and crew. Reach out as soon as your dates are set.

Should I do anything to the piano first?

Keep it closed and locked if it has a lock, and share the model and size. Tuning afterward is handled with your technician.

What if the route has tight stairs?

The route is measured before the move. If a turn genuinely cannot be made, we say so on the estimate and plan the alternative honestly.

Customer reviews

Moving experiences with Eagle One Movers

The long-distance move - went smoothly and communication was somewhat disjointed but in the end worked out.

The crew did an exceptional job with our local residental move today. They were on time and extremely efficient while taking great care of each piece of furniture! Highly recommend them and would definitely use them again. Angela T.

The crew were AWESOME! We moved on a stormy day, tornado sirens blaring. This crew had the best vibes all day long! They were funny, kind, and took excellent care of our things.

Have to say. . . Our move was out of state. The following are a few observations; Very Professional, Considerate of time, Very willing to help with extra placement/location of furniture. Over all highly recommend. Special Thanks to the crew who worked together like “ ‘Peas and Carrots’ “ ! This move which was in 100’ weather went as smooth and timely as possible. Thanks to Eagle One Movers and the guys. Nicely done! And Thank You! Highly Recommend!!!!

The crew were amazing! I cannot say enough good things about them. We really appreciate them. They took great care of my mom! Thank you so much! I will definitely recommend Eagle One Movers and this crew especially!!!💕

While Eagle One Movers did a great job with my move, my experience getting them to handle resulting damage has not been great. They have not responded to my calls or emails, didn't respond to a complaint I filed with a consumer complaint organization and even removed my post from their social media page. Damage happens; it's how you handle it that counts. Thus far, Eagle One Movers has failed miserably in that department and I now have no choice but to file a complaint with the appropriate state regulator and see if they will intervene.