heavy & awkward

400 to 800 lbs of cast iron in a wooden box

An upright piano is not a case of getting enough friends together. Almost all of that weight is a single cast iron plate, and the wrong technique on a staircase breaks a foot, a floor, or both.

A wooden upright piano against a plain wall

Same story for safes, pool tables, cast iron tubs, hot water tanks, treadmills and arcade cabinets. If it is heavy, awkward, and the last three companies said no, that is usually why people end up calling us.

What we do

  • Uprights, baby grands and full grands
  • Safes, pool tables, cast iron tubs, treadmills, arcade cabinets
  • Stairs and tight turns — the normal case, not the hard one
  • Piano dollies, straps and enough crew that nobody is improvising
  • Floor and doorframe protection on the way out

Everything we take in this category

Upright piano
400 to 800 lbs, almost all of it the cast iron plate inside, and the wrong technique breaks a foot, a floor or a stair tread. Before paying to move one, know that most old uprights have no resale or donation value.Also: Piano, Spinet piano, Console piano, Studio piano
Grand piano
Legs and lyre come off, and the body travels on its side on a piano board. A full grand can pass 1,000 lbs.Also: Baby grand, Baby grand piano
Organ
Heavy, and electric organs go through electronics recycling as well.Also: Electric organ, Church organ, Pump organ
Pool table
A slate table is three slabs of stone totalling several hundred pounds. It comes apart first, and the slate is the heavy part.Also: Billiard table, Snooker table, Slate pool table
Safe
Tell us the size and whether it is bolted down. Gun safes can pass 500 lbs and must be empty, and we need to know that before we arrive.Also: Gun safe, Fireproof safe, Floor safe
Cast iron tub
300 lbs or more, usually on the second floor of an old house. Sometimes the fastest safe way out is in pieces.Also: Clawfoot tub, Cast iron bathtub, Cast iron sink
Arcade cabinet
Heavy, top-heavy and full of electronics. The glass comes out before it moves.Also: Arcade machine, Pinball machine, Jukebox
Vending machine
Commercial refrigeration contains refrigerant and goes the certified route. These usually need a freight path and a pallet jack.Also: Pop machine, Commercial freezer, Commercial fridge, Walk-in cooler
Commercial kitchen equipment
Gas equipment has to be disconnected by a licensed fitter first, and deep fryers must be drained of oil.Also: Restaurant equipment, Commercial range, Deep fryer, Commercial dishwasher
Granite slab
Stone countertops are carried on edge because they are brittle across their length. Priced by weight.Also: Granite countertop, Stone countertop, Marble slab, Quartz countertop
Grandfather clock
The weights and pendulum come out first so nothing swings loose on the way down.Also: Longcase clock
Aquarium
Completely empty and dry first. A large tank is heavy glass and awkward to carry.Also: Fish tank, Terrarium
Church pews
Long, solid and heavy, and usually leaving a building with a tight corner somewhere on the way out.Also: Pews, Long benches

Not on the list? Check everything we take, A to Z, or text us a photo and we will tell you straight.

What it costs

Quoted on the instrument and the access — how many flights, how tight the turns, how far to the truck. Tell us those three things and we can usually price it over the phone.

Get a free quote

Try to rehome it first — realistically

If your piano is genuinely playable and holds a tune, try to rehome it before calling us. But be realistic: most old uprights have no resale value, and schools and churches turn them down routinely. If it has been in a damp basement for fifteen years, it is a removal job, not a donation.

Piano removal questions

How heavy is a piano really?

An upright runs 400 to 800 lbs, a baby grand 500 to 700, and a full grand can pass 1,000. Almost all of that is a cast iron plate. It is not a case of getting enough friends together — it is a case of the wrong technique breaking a foot or a floor.

Can my piano be donated instead?

Be realistic: most old uprights have no resale or donation value, and schools and churches turn them down routinely. If yours is genuinely playable and in tune, try to rehome it first. If it has been in a damp basement for fifteen years, it is a removal job.

Can you get it down a flight of stairs?

Yes. Stairs are the normal case, not the hard one. Tell us how many flights and how tight the turns are when you book so we send enough people.

What other odd items do you take?

Safes, pool tables, cast iron tubs, hot water tanks, treadmills, arcade cabinets, commercial kitchen equipment. If it is heavy, awkward and everyone else said no, that is usually why people call us.
Call Now Text a Photo