Piano Moving
Trust International Sea & Air Shipping, the leading international piano movers, to handle your cherished instrument with care, precision, and expertise.
Get a Free Moving Quote Now!
Start Your International Moving Journey
Your piano is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, a repository of family memories and a complex instrument comprised of over 12,000 moving parts. Whether it’s a family heirloom upright, a digital piano or a concert grand, moving it across the street is a challenge, and moving it across the ocean requires a completely different level of expertise.
International Piano Moving: Expert Shipping for Your Cherished Instrument
At International Sea & Air Shipping, we understand that international piano moving is a high-stakes operation. Standard moving procedures simply aren’t enough to protect the delicate internal mechanics, the high-tension strings and the pristine finish of your instrument during a long-haul voyage.
You need a partner who combines the strength of a freight forwarder with the delicacy of a piano technician. If you’re planning a move abroad, trust the international piano movers with over 76 years of experience to ensure your instrument arrives in perfect harmony.
More Than Just Moving: Why Shipping a Piano Requires Specialized Care
Many general movers treat a piano like a heavy table, but the right movers will use specialized techniques to protect both the finish and the structural integrity of the instrument itself. As part of our comprehensive international moving services, we treat your piano as a distinct shipment requiring specialized climate and shock protection.
The Importance of Proper Transport Methods for Your Piano
Pianos are made of wood, felt and metal. The wooden soundboard is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture from the air. Professional moving techniques can prevent these risks:
- High humidity: During sea freight, uncontrolled humidity can cause the wood to swell, leading to sticking keys, rusted strings and a dull tone.
- Low humidity: Rapid drying can cause the soundboard to crack or the pinblock to loosen, making the piano unable to hold a tune.
- Physical shock: Without air-ride suspension and custom crating, the constant vibration of a truck or ship can torque the frame or damage the action.
Our International Piano Moving Services
We offer a white-glove experience designed to mitigate the risks associated with shipping a piano overseas. Our team handles every detail, from the initial measurements to the final placement in your new home.
Climate-controlled storage solutions: If your new home isn’t ready yet, we can offer climate-controlled storage options (available in select locations) to keep your piano at the ideal temperature and humidity while it waits.
Door-to-door white glove service: We handle the professional disassembly, packing, customs clearance and reassembly. You don’t need to lift a finger. If you’re moving your entire household, check out our household goods shipping page for full relocation details.
Custom crating and vapor barriers: We build bespoke wooden crates for every piano. These crates are lined with vapor barriers to stabilize humidity levels and high-density foam to isolate the instrument from physical shock.
How We Ship Pianos Overseas: A Step-by-Step Process
We believe in total transparency. Here’s how to ship a piano overseas with International Sea & Air Shipping.
Step 1: Pre-Move Survey and Assessment
Every piano is unique. We start by assessing the size, weight and access points, such as stairs, elevators and narrow hallways, at both the origin and final destination. Schedule a free pre-move survey today to ensure your quote is accurate.
Step 2: Professional Disassembly
For Grand and Baby Grand pianos, our technicians carefully remove the legs, pedal lyre and music rack. This is critical to lower the center of gravity and protect the legs during transport. All hardware is labeled and packed separately.
Step 3: Wrapping, Padding and Skidding
We wrap the body of the piano in non-abrasive moving blankets and secure it to a specialized piano “skid board,” which is a heavy-duty sled. This board allows us to maneuver the heavy instrument safely without putting stress on its frame.
Step 4: Loading and Secure Transport
Once it is put in a crate, your piano is loaded onto the transport vehicle. You have two main options for overseas shipping:
- Sea freight: The most common and cost-effective method. We use sealed containers to protect against salt air. Learn more about our general overseas shipping options.
- Air freight: The fastest option, ideal for high-value concert instruments that need to minimize travel time.
Step 5: Destination Delivery and Reassembly
Our service doesn’t end at the port. Our network of global partners will deliver the piano to your new residence, uncrate it, reassemble the legs and pedals and place it in the room of your choice on the ground floor.
International Piano Shipping Costs: What to Expect
One of the most common questions we receive is about the cost to move a piano internationally. While every move is different, we want to provide realistic expectations so you can budget accordingly.
Key Factors That Influence Your Quote
Here are some variables that can affect your quote for international piano transport.
Valuation: The cost of insurance is based on the declared value of the instrument.
Volume, weight and type: A 9-foot Concert Grand costs more to ship than a Spinet Upright.
Shipping method: International piano shipping cost via air freight can be higher than sea freight.
Distance and route: Shipping to major ports like London or Sydney is often cheaper than shipping to remote inland destinations.
Access issues: Flights of stairs at either end will affect the final price.
Critical Regulations: Shipping Pianos With Ivory Keys
If your piano was made before the 1970s, there is a high chance the keys are made of ivory. Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), moving ivory across borders is strictly regulated or prohibited in some cases.
Understanding CITES Regulations and Permits
International regulations require specific permits for ivory. Noncommercial musical instruments that contain worked ivory acquired before February 26, 1976, may qualify for a specific exemption if they meet certain criteria. However, they require a CITES pre-Convention certificate or musical instrument certificate before they can be imported or exported.
Having all the necessary documents can ensure a smooth process as your instrument goes through customs. For the most current specific regulations, we recommend checking the CITES website or the guide on ivory import and export rules.
Documentation You Will Need
We’ll help you gather the necessary proof, which may include:
Antique declarations for instruments over 100 years old.For shipping via sea, we go a step further—using moisture-resistant materials to minimize potential harm.
Original purchase receipt or appraisal proving the age of the piano.
CITES re-export certificates.
Protecting Your Investment: Valuation and Insurance Options
We offer comprehensive insurance options to give you peace of mind. Choose between:
- Total loss: Only covers the piano if the entire ship sinks or the container is lost.
- All-Risk (recommended): Cover damage such as scratches, dents or internal breakage. To qualify for All-Risk insurance, the piano must be professionally packed and crated by our team.
Get a Custom Quote for Your International Piano Move
Trust the experts who understand the anatomy of your instrument for safe travel. If you’re ready to start planning your move, get a free moving quote today and let us handle the heavy lifting for you.
FAQs
What are a few important details to note in Piano Shipping?
Pack and pad the overseas skid board. Secure it to a deck or platform so it cannot move, then tag it and ship it on a truck to the freighter.
Insurance – We suggest taking out insurance to cover the replacement value of the goods at the destination.
Ivory Ban – Shipping a piano with genuine ivory key tops may have customs issues. Pianos older than 100 years with documentation may pass. For pianos under 100 years old, consider temporary replacements or protective measures to prevent damage during customs checks.
Who will ship my Piano?
One of the very first steps to shipping a piano is locating someone who does it. If you’ve located a company that’s capable of shipping your piano overseas, the business likely collaborates with a freight forwarder.
How long does it take to move a piano internationally?
International piano moving generally takes 30–60 days depending on destination and method. Air shipments take a few days; sea shipments can take weeks.
How do I prepare my piano for an international move?
Remove personal items, ensure the path for movers is clear, latch down loose parts like covers or benches, and share any special requests with the movers.
Can I ship a piano and other household items together?
Yes. The piano will be in a separate crate for safekeeping. Ensure all additional household items are packed and handled properly.
