Specialist movers for upright, baby grand, and concert grand pianos
Pianos are among the most difficult items to move. A single mistake—improper padding, mechanical shock, or temperature exposure—can damage internal mechanisms, crack veneers, or put the instrument permanently out of tune. Standard removal companies and general couriers routinely damage pianos worth R80,000 to R500,000+. At JLog, we treat every piano move as a specialist operation with dedicated equipment, trained crew, and climate-aware transport. Your piano arrives tuning-ready and undamaged.
A piano is not furniture—it’s a precision musical instrument with thousands of moving parts. An upright piano weighs 200–300kg and is fragile; a concert grand weighs 400–600kg and requires careful handling on every single movement. The lacquer finish scratches from improper wrapping. The internal action—hammers, strings, dampers—can shift under shock. Climate changes during transit can cause the wooden soundboard to swell or contract, permanently affecting pitch and tone.
Standard removal teams don’t understand these sensitivities. They’ll use rope instead of rated straps, stack other items on top of the piano, or expose it to rapid temperature changes. The result: a piano that’s technically in one piece but musically damaged and expensive to restore.
Typically 200–300kg, upright pianos fit against a wall and are more accessible in smaller homes and apartments. They’re easier to move than grands, but the narrow width and tall height mean doorway and stairwell access must be carefully planned. Many Victorian Woodstock properties have narrow 1950s doorways that require tilting or window removal. We assess these challenges weeks ahead.
Baby grands (5–6 feet) weigh 300–400kg and are more delicate than uprights because of their open design and exposed action. The lid and fallboard are easily damaged. Hallway and stairwell access is often impossible—these typically require crane or external lift access. Atlantic Seaboard homes often have these situations. We budget for external equipment.
Concert grands (7–9 feet) are 400–600kg of precision machinery. These are rarely moved in Cape Town homes, but when they are (estates, show homes, institutional moves), they require planning equivalent to moving a vehicle. Window removal, floor protection, crew of 3–4, and often crane access. Budget accordingly—these moves take 6–8 hours and cost from a quoted amount.
Digital pianos are lighter and mechanically simpler than acoustic pianos, but they’re still fragile and expensive. They contain sensitive electronics and can be damaged by shock or moisture. We treat them with the same care as acoustic instruments, using proper wrapping and climate-aware transport.
All pianos in transit are insured with JLog’s comprehensive coverage (subject to declared value and condition assessment). We require pre-move photography and condition documentation. If the piano is particularly valuable (concert-grade instruments, antique uprights, or family heirlooms), we recommend you arrange your own all-risks cover with your insurer to supplement our transit protection.
A local upright piano move within Cape Town typically takes 4–6 hours including packing, loading, transport, unloading, and placement. Baby grands take 5–7 hours. Concert grands can take 8+ hours if crane access is required. We quote move duration during the pre-assessment.
Not always. Upright pianos can often be moved through buildings using careful tilting and stairwell navigation if access allows. Baby grands and concert grands frequently require crane access—this is determined during our pre-move assessment. Crane costs vary from a quoted amount depending on the job complexity.
Moving a piano will affect its tuning slightly because the instrument settles into its new location. This is normal. We recommend having your piano tuned 2–4 weeks after the move, once it has acclimatised. If your piano was already out of tune, the move won’t make it worse.
Upright piano moves start from a quoted amount for local transport. Baby grand moves start from a quoted amount. Concert grand moves start from a quoted amount. Prices depend on access complexity, stair work, crane requirements, and distance. We provide a firm quote after the pre-move assessment.
Yes. If the stairwell is wide enough and doesn’t have sharp angles, we can navigate a piano upstairs using tilting, padding, and careful crew positioning. Tight Victorian staircases (like many in Woodstock) sometimes require the stairs to be protected and the piano tilted at specific angles. We assess this during pre-move and may recommend external crane access as an alternative.
We handle piano transport within Cape Town and the Western Cape region. For international moves (shipping pianos overseas), we coordinate with specialised air freight and customs brokers. Contact us to discuss cross-border piano transport.
Call us now for a free pre-move assessment. We’ll measure your spaces, identify any challenges, and provide a firm quote.
Based in Woodstock, Cape Town. Serving all of Cape Town and the Western Cape.