International Piano Movers

Whether you need to move a baby grand piano, grand piano, or digital piano overseas, SDC International Shipping provides a reliable solution. As experienced international piano movers, we specialize in the careful and secure transportation of pianos across the globe. Our team understands the complexities involved in shipping a piano overseas and ensures that every step is handled with precision and care.

The Types of Piano We Ship

We can move any type of horizontal and vertical pianos. This includes:

Grand piano
Baby grand piano
Concert grand piano
Ballroom piano
Spinet and studio pianos
Digital piano

No matter the size and style of your piano, we’ll provide a custom packing and moving solution.

How Do You Ship a Piano?

Shipping a piano overseas is a complex process that demands experience and expertise due to the piano’s size, weight, and delicate nature. An average piano can weigh between 500 to 900 lbs, while a grand piano may weigh around 1,200 lbs. With over 1,000 moving parts, pianos are highly susceptible to damage, making professional handling essential.

A piano often holds immense sentimental value for musicians, representing more than just a musical instrument—it embodies their personality and inspiration. This is why it’s crucial to ensure that your piano reaches its destination safely and in perfect condition. Here’s how SDC International Shipping manages this intricate process:

1. Picking Up Your Piano

Our crew will come to your location to carefully load the piano onto a truck, securing it with straps to prevent any movement during transit. The piano is then transported to our warehouse for further preparation.

2. Packing and Crating

Once at the warehouse, your piano will be carefully packed and crated. We start by wrapping the piano in protective padding and placing it on a skid board. The skid is bolted to a platform, and additional sealing is applied to the crate. Packing materials are used inside the crate to ensure the piano remains stationary during transit. The sealed and labeled crate is then ready to be shipped to the seaport or airport.

3. Organizing Customs Documentation

We handle all necessary documentation for exporting your piano from the USA and importing it into your destination country. It’s important to note that pianos with ivory keys are banned in many jurisdictions. If your destination country has such a ban, we can carefully remove the ivory from the keys before the piano goes through customs, ensuring compliance without damaging the instrument.

4. Insuring Your Piano

Given the piano’s value and vulnerability, we strongly recommend purchasing international moving insurance. We offer various insurance options that can cover the full value of the instrument or specific parts of it, providing peace of mind during the move.

5. Delivering to Your New Address

With our extensive international logistics network, we can arrange for port-to-door delivery. Upon the piano’s arrival at the destination port, our dedicated affiliate agents will transport it directly to your new address, ensuring it arrives in the same condition it was shipped.

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Moving Bosendorfer Pianos Overseas

How to Ship a Baby Grand Piano

The procedure for moving a baby grand piano is similar to that of other grand pianos, such as petite grand or medium grand pianos. At SDC International Shipping, our experienced international piano movers are experts in safely dismantling and transporting these delicate instruments.

Here’s how we handle the process:

Lowering and Securing the Lid: The first step involves carefully lowering the piano’s lid and securing it to prevent any movement during transport. This ensures that the most fragile part of the piano is protected from potential damage.
Dismantling Pedals and Legs: Next, our movers will unscrew and remove the piano’s pedals and legs. Each of these components is then wrapped individually in protective packing materials to safeguard against scratches and impacts.
Wrapping the Piano: The sides of the piano, along with the lid, are also carefully wrapped in padding. This additional layer of protection is crucial for preventing any harm to the piano’s finish during the move.
Crating for Shipment: Once all parts of the piano are securely packed, the entire instrument is crated. The custom-built crate ensures that the piano remains stationary and well-protected throughout its journey, whether by sea or air freight.

Once fully secured and crated, your baby grand piano is ready for international shipment, with every precaution taken to ensure it arrives safely at your new destination.

Shipping a Digital Piano Overseas

Shipping a digital piano overseas can vary depending on the size and fragility of the instrument. For smaller, less fragile models, regular couriers like FedEx or UPS can often handle the job efficiently. However, if your digital piano is particularly heavy or bulky, it’s wise to utilize a specialized freight service.

At SDC International Shipping, we specialize in developing the safest methods for shipping valuable items, including household goods and artwork. Our team has the right techniques, tools, and experience to move your digital piano internationally, ensuring it arrives safely at its destination.

For larger or more delicate digital pianos, our services offer the added benefit of professional packing, crating, and handling, which are essential for preventing damage during transit. Whether you’re moving a digital piano or other valuable instruments, we provide tailored solutions to meet your shipping needs.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Piano?

The cost of shipping a piano overseas can vary significantly based on several factors:

Size and Style of the Piano: Larger pianos, such as grand or concert grand pianos, will typically cost more to ship than smaller or digital pianos due to their weight and dimensions.
Distance of the Move: The farther the distance, the higher the shipping cost. International moves across continents will naturally be more expensive than shorter, regional relocations.
Freight Option: The choice between air and sea freight can greatly affect the cost. Air freight is faster but more expensive, while sea freight is more economical but takes longer.
Customs Fees: Import duties and customs fees will vary depending on the destination country’s regulations.
Insurance Cost: Insuring your piano is essential, particularly for high-value models. The insurance premium will depend on the declared value of the instrument and the level of coverage chosen.

For highly valuable pianos, additional measures may be required, such as temperature-controlled crating, specialized packing materials, moving dollies, pads, and locking belts. These extra precautions ensure the piano’s safety during transit but will also increase the overall shipping cost.

Piano Moving Tips

While hiring a professional mover is always recommended for transporting a piano, we understand that you may choose to move it independently due to budget or other reasons. Moving a piano requires careful planning and the right techniques to avoid injury and prevent damage to this valuable instrument. Here are some essential tips to help you move a piano safely:

Cover the Piano with Thick Blankets and Towels: Protect the piano’s surface by covering it with thick blankets or towels. This helps prevent scratches and dents during the move.
Bubble Wrap Internal Parts: Use bubble wrap to safeguard internal components like the keyboard and other delicate parts. This extra layer of protection is crucial to avoid damage during transport.
Use Straps and Screwdrivers: Secure the piano on a board with straps, and use screwdrivers to tighten any loose parts. This ensures the piano remains stable during the move.
Have Enough Helpers: Pianos are heavy and awkward to move, so ensure you have enough people to help maneuver it through your house without causing injury or damage.
Secure Pedals and Keys for Upright Pianos: Before moving an upright piano, make sure to secure the pedals and keys to prevent them from getting damaged.
Consider Using a Freight Lift: If you need to move the piano between floors, use a freight lift instead of stairs whenever possible. This reduces the risk of accidents.
Use a Dolly to Transport the Piano to the Truck: A dolly is essential for moving the piano to the truck. It makes the process easier and helps protect your floors.
Lower and Secure the Top Lid for Grand Pianos: For grand pianos, start by lowering and securing the top lid to protect the instrument during the move.
Disassemble Pedals and Legs: If possible, remove the pedals and legs of the grand piano. This makes the piano easier to move and reduces the risk of damage.
Hold the Piano Steady: Make sure your helpers hold onto the piano securely to prevent it from tipping or hitting anything when removing parts.
Wrap Everything in Blankets and Secure with Tape: After disassembling, wrap all parts in blankets and secure them with tape to ensure they stay protected.
Place the Piano on a Board and Secure with Straps: Put the piano on a sturdy board and use straps to secure it in place. This is crucial for keeping the piano stable during transport.
Use a Plastic Cover in Rainy Weather: If you’re moving the piano in rainy weather, cover it with plastic to protect it from moisture.
Strap the Piano Inside the Truck: Once the piano is in the truck, strap it down securely to prevent it from shifting during transit.

By following these tips, you can minimize the risks involved in moving a piano and help ensure it arrives at its new location in good condition. However, if you’re unsure or uncomfortable with any part of the process, consider hiring professionals to handle the move.

Ship with International Piano Movers

While there are many online resources offering tips on how to move a piano, we strongly advise against doing it yourself—especially if your piano is valuable or fragile. Moving a piano is a complex task that requires specialized knowledge and equipment, and any mistakes could result in costly damage.

Let the professionals handle this challenging task for you. At SDC International Shipping, we specialize in international piano moving and have the experience and expertise needed to ensure your instrument is transported safely and securely.

If you need help with shipping a piano overseas, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can easily estimate the cost by filling out our online quote form. We are fully licensed and insured, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your piano will be in excellent hands from start to finish.

GET A FREE QUOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL MOVING