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Piano Moving

Trust International Sea & Air Shipping, the leading international piano movers, to handle your cherished instrument with care, precision, and expertise.

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Piano Moving Quote Form

Moving From

Country:

City:

Zip:

Move Date:

Piano Type:

Moving To

Country:

Zip:

City:

Crating:

(Check if needed)

Pre-Move Survey Quote Form

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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.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 206 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Michael Mischke-Reeds 
 20 February 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We moved from US to Spain, first time we had ever made an overseas move and International Sea & Air were with us every step of the way. Their online inventory helped us choose the right size container (20' vs 40') and the packing/unpacking crews in both locations were superb. All our stuff arrived with nothing broken. Highest rating, will use again if we ever have the need.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Marina 
 12 February 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The entire team from International Sea and Air Shipping have been great! The packing crew that moved us out were very professional: punctual, courteous, efficient, careful with all the packing, left the place clean afterwards... just super! Highly recommended for your international move!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Michael Tittnich 
 6 February 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I moved from Florida to Leuven, Belgium. International Sea and Air Shipping was great. Niki Tatar was absolutely the best! Increibly responsive, fast replies, as well as Jeanine and the rest of the crew in the US and in Europe. Everyone was professional, prompt, and careful with my stuff. Really well packed. I very highly recommend this team.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Natasha Agolli 
 5 February 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. International SEA &Air Shipping thank you so very much for your excellent service, moving from USA to a country overseas to Eurpe is not a simple task but Janine helped us through the process, much to our amazement we did not have anything broke when it arrived, from booking to packing to shipping to arrival of shipment everything went really smoothly. The entire team was wonderful to work  ,  very professional !
SEA  &  Air Shipping for a prefect move .
Sincerely Natasha !
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   S G 
 26 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I moved my air cargo from the New York area to Baku, Azerbaijan. All 26 boxes arrived, and nothing was lost or broken. One painting arrived slightly deformed, which I believe may have been due to humidity, but overall I was very relieved that the shipment made it safely.

The local agency in Azerbaijan, Globallink Logistics, was excellent. Rana was incredibly responsive, professional, and supportive throughout the entire process. The local crew who delivered, unpacked, and assembled my furniture did a great job, and the team was very helpful with handling customs. The Azerbaijani side really made the arrival process much smoother.

On the U.S. side, Jeanine and Niki were both very responsive, and Jeanine in particular was consistently helpful. There were, however, a couple of stressful aspects. The final cost ended up being about $2,000 higher than initially expected, which was significant. There was also a misunderstanding around furniture disassembly in the U.S. I was told by email that simple furniture disassembly was not included, but both Niki and Roni, as well as the crew at my apartment, said they do disassembly. In the end, my furniture was disassembled at the warehouse rather than at my home, which was not what had been communicated to me from the beginning of the process.

While communication from the U.S. side was generally responsive, I did feel that some parts of the process could have been explained more clearly via email. International shipping is complex, and I often had to do my own comprehensive research to fully understand how the logistics worked.

That said, in terms of delivery, coordination, and especially local support in Azerbaijan, the shipment itself was handled well. I’m very grateful to the Globallink team and to Rana in particular for their professionalism and responsiveness.

Overall, I would recommend International Air&Sea Shipping for international relocation, especially if you are moving to the Caucasus or this region. Many U.S. logistics companies I contacted were unprofessional or did not ship to Azerbaijan at all, so finding a company that could handle this route and execute the delivery was very important.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Olivia Agnew 
 15 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This company was amazing! After months of searching for an affordable option, I'm so glad we found them. We moved about 800 pounds of belongings from the US to Australia and everything went smoothly. Communication was good and staff was friendly. Would definitely use them again!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Magdalena Coll 
 12 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent people! Excellent service!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Milly Sequera Huss 
 10 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great overall experience from pick up to delivery. Good customer service and no issues with the items. They all arrived in good condition. Very happy customer!
  
 
  
  
 
     Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

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 in-home 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 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.