Piano Removals in Dulwich by Dulwich Removals

Moving a piano safely takes more than muscle. At Dulwich Removals, we provide dedicated piano removals across Dulwich and the surrounding areas, combining specialist equipment, trained crews and careful planning to protect your instrument and your property from start to finish.

Specialist Piano Removal Services

Pianos are heavy, delicate and awkward to handle. We treat every move as a technical job, not a casual lift-and-shift. Our teams are trained in safe piano handling techniques and use purpose-designed equipment to ensure a smooth and controlled move.

Types of pianos we move

• Upright pianos (including tall uprights and studio models)
• Baby grand pianos
• Grand pianos and concert grands (by prior survey)
• Digital pianos and stage pianos
• Organs and similar keyboard instruments (subject to assessment)

We can move your piano within the same property, across Dulwich, elsewhere in London or to anywhere in the UK, as a standalone service or as part of a full house or office move.

Local Piano Moving Expertise in Dulwich

Working daily in Dulwich gives us a practical understanding of local streets, parking restrictions, building layouts and common access issues. From period terraces and Victorian conversions to modern flats and schools, we plan each move around the realities of the property.

We regularly collect and deliver pianos for:

• Homes around East Dulwich, West Dulwich and Herne Hill
• Schools, music rooms and rehearsal spaces
• Local venues, churches and community halls
• Recording studios and teaching rooms

Because we’re local, we can often offer more flexible timing, including short-notice and off-peak moves where access or noise is an issue.

Who Our Piano Removal Service Is For

• Homeowners – moving house, rearranging rooms, or passing a family piano to the next generation.
• Renters – relocating between flats, often with stairs, tight corridors and limited lift access.
• Landlords – removing or relocating pianos between furnished properties or communal areas.
• Businesses – offices, venues, hotels and restaurants with pianos in reception or event spaces.
• Students – music students moving between term-time accommodation and home.

Whether your piano is a treasured heirloom or a working instrument used daily, we handle it with the same level of care.

What’s Included in Our Piano Removals

Items and services included

• Careful assessment of access and route planning
• Use of piano dollies, skids, lifting straps and protective covers
• Doorway, bannister and floor protection where required
• Safe removal and reattachment of legs, pedals and lids (for grands, where needed)
• Wrapping and padding of the piano body to protect the finish
• Secure loading, transport and unloading
• Placement of the piano in your chosen room and position
• Goods in transit insurance and public liability cover

What is not included as standard

• Tuning or internal repairs after the move (we can recommend local tuners)
• Long-term storage (short-term storage may be arranged separately)
• Disposal of pianos beyond economic repair (can be quoted separately)
• Specialist crane or hoist access where windows must be used (available by arrangement and survey)
• Moving unrelated household contents unless booked as a combined removal

We will always make clear what is and is not included in your quote so there are no surprises on the day.

Our Step-by-Step Piano Removals Process

1. Enquiry & quote

Contact us by phone, email or our online form and tell us about your piano, both addresses and any access details you are aware of. We will ask for photos and basic measurements where possible. Using this information, we provide a clear, written quote, outlining what’s included and any assumptions made.

2. Survey (virtual or onsite)

For many upright pianos, a virtual survey using photos and video is sufficient. For grands, flights of stairs, or restricted access, we may arrange an onsite survey. This allows us to check door widths, stair turns and parking, and decide what equipment and crew size are needed. The survey helps avoid delays and additional costs on the day.

3. Packing & preparation

On moving day, our team arrives at the agreed time, walks the route through both properties, and puts protective materials in place. We remove detachable parts where required, wrap and pad the piano, and position it on a dolly or skid. Floors, walls and bannisters are protected as we go, minimising any risk of damage.

4. Loading & transport

The piano is carefully guided out of the property, loaded using ramps or tail-lifts, and secured inside our vehicle with straps and additional padding. Your instrument is covered by our goods in transit insurance while in our care. We drive steadily, avoiding sudden braking and rough roads wherever possible.

5. Unloading & placement

At the destination, we reverse the process, moving the piano into your chosen room and final position. We reattach any parts removed earlier and carry out a final visual check. We can help you consider placement in relation to radiators, direct sunlight and damp to help protect your piano in the long term.

Transparent Piano Removal Pricing

Piano moves are priced according to the type of piano, access at each property, distance travelled and any special equipment required. Once we’ve gathered the necessary details, we provide a fixed price, so you know exactly what you’ll pay.

Typical cost factors include:

• Upright vs baby grand vs full grand
• Number of stairs and tight turns
• Need for additional crew or equipment
• Local move within Dulwich vs longer UK distance
• Timing requirements (evenings, weekends, urgent moves)

We don’t underquote and then add extras on the day. If we’ve surveyed accurately and the agreed information is correct, the price you’re given is the price you pay.

Why Choose Professional Piano Removals Over DIY

A piano can weigh anywhere from 180kg to over 500kg and has sensitive internal components. Attempting to move it with friends, or using a casual man-and-van service without the right training, often results in scratched floors, damaged bannisters, personal injury, or harm to the instrument itself.

By using a professional piano removal service, you benefit from:

• Specialist knowledge of how pianos are built and where they can safely be handled
• Correct lifting techniques to protect both people and the instrument
• Proper vehicle loading and securing to prevent internal damage
• Fully insured cover in the event that something goes wrong

This is a job where cutting corners can become significantly more expensive than doing it properly from the outset.

Insurance and Professional Standards

Dulwich Removals operates to clear, professional standards. Your piano and property are protected by:

• Goods in transit insurance – covering your piano while it is in our vehicle
• Public liability cover – protecting against accidental damage to property or third parties
• Trained moving teams – staff briefed and experienced in safe piano handling

We maintain our vehicles and equipment carefully and review our methods regularly to ensure we are using best practice on every job.

Care, Protection and Sustainability

Our priority is to protect your piano and your property at every stage. We use padded covers, blankets, floor protection and secure strapping to minimise risk. Corners, doorframes and bannisters are guarded where necessary to prevent scuffs and knocks.

We also take a practical approach to sustainability by:

• Reusing protective materials where safe and hygienic
• Planning efficient routes to reduce unnecessary mileage
• Maintaining vehicles properly for fuel efficiency

This balanced approach helps us operate responsibly while still delivering a reliable, high-quality service.

Real-World Piano Removal Scenarios

Moving house with a piano

If you’re moving home, we can include your piano as part of a full household removal. We schedule the piano move carefully within the day so it is handled by the right team at the right time, not rushed as an afterthought.

Office, school and venue relocations

For offices, schools and venues, we can move pianos between rooms or to new premises, often outside standard hours to minimise disruption. We understand that these instruments are often central to rehearsals, performances and events, so timing is planned with your schedule in mind.

Urgent and short-notice piano moves

Sometimes a piano needs to be moved quickly – for example, before building work starts or when a tenancy ends. Where our schedule allows, we can offer same-day or next-day slots in Dulwich and nearby areas. Let us know your deadline and we’ll be honest about what is achievable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a piano removal cost?

The cost of a piano removal depends on several factors: the type of piano, the distance between properties, and how straightforward the access is at each end. Upright pianos on the ground floor with easy access are usually at the lower end of the price range, while grands, multiple flights of stairs or difficult turns cost more. After we’ve gathered details and, if necessary, completed a survey, we’ll provide a clear fixed price so you know exactly what to budget.

Can you move my piano at short notice or the same day?

Where our schedule allows, we can often accommodate short-notice or same-day piano removals within Dulwich and nearby areas. Availability depends on crew and vehicle capacity, as we only send suitably trained staff for piano work. If you have an urgent deadline – for example, keys being handed back or renovation works starting – contact us as early as possible. We’ll always be upfront about what we can realistically achieve and will offer the nearest suitable slot if same-day isn’t possible.

Is my piano insured while it is being moved?

Yes. Your piano is covered by our goods in transit insurance while it is in our care and on our vehicles, and our public liability cover protects against accidental damage to property or third parties. This insurance is in addition to our focus on prevention through careful planning, proper equipment and trained staff. If you have a particularly high-value instrument, let us know so we can confirm cover levels and any specific requirements in writing before the move goes ahead.

What exactly is included in your piano removal service?

Our standard piano removal service includes assessment of access, route planning, provision of the right equipment, protective wrapping and padding, safe removal from the property, secure loading and transport, and careful placement at the destination. For grands, we’ll remove and refit legs and pedals where needed. Insurance cover is included as standard. What’s not included is tuning, internal repairs, long-term storage or crane work, although we can often help arrange these separately or recommend trusted local specialists.

How is a professional piano removal different from a man-and-van?

A professional piano removal service uses trained crews, specific equipment and structured planning designed around the instrument. A casual man-and-van may not have piano skids, proper padding, securing points in the vehicle, or insurance that actually covers damage to a piano. The risk of harm to your property, the instrument or the people moving it is significantly higher. With Dulwich Removals, you’re using a professional, fully insured service that handles pianos regularly and understands how to move them safely.

How far in advance should I book a piano removal?

For the best choice of dates and times, we recommend booking at least one to two weeks in advance, especially if you’re moving at busy periods such as weekends, month-end or during school holidays. That said, we understand that piano moves are not always planned far ahead. If you need a move sooner, contact us and we’ll check our schedule; we can often find space for smaller, local piano jobs within a shorter timeframe, particularly on weekdays or off-peak slots.