Grand vs. Upright Piano Moving

Yes — grand and upright pianos require different equipment, disassembly, and crew size, due to their different shapes and weight distribution. A grand is moved horizontally on a padded skid board after partial disassembly, while an upright moves vertically on a dedicated piano dolly.

Legs, lyre, and pedal assembly are typically removed, and the piano is wrapped and placed on a padded skid board for transport — this disassembly is necessary because a grand’s shape and weight distribution make it impractical to move fully assembled, especially through doorways or up stairs.

Moved upright on a piano dolly, requiring careful handling on stairs given their tall, top-heavy shape — unlike a grand, an upright generally doesn’t need disassembly, but its height and center of gravity still call for specialized equipment rather than a standard furniture dolly. See the full Piano Moving FAQ for details.