Piano Movers in Sacramento
Uprights, grands and everything between. Moved by our own crew — trained, certified and background-checked — not by a general labour crew who'll find out on the day how heavy it is.
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A piano is not just heavy, it's awkward
An upright runs 300 to 500 pounds and a grand can pass 1,000, but the weight isn’t the real problem — it’s that the weight sits unevenly, and the parts you instinctively grab are the parts that break. Legs, pedals and the lyre are what fail, usually on a staircase or in a doorway turn. That’s why this is priced and crewed differently from moving a sofa of the same size.
Not sure how many hours your move will take, or whether your building's rules will slow the day down? Send us the two addresses and roughly what's moving, and we'll tell you straight — no site visit, no sales call.
Why it matters who moves it
The same crew, every time
The people moving your piano are on our payroll — trained, certified and background-checked — never labour hired that morning. Nobody earns commission for adding services, because nobody here is selling.
Covered if something goes wrong
We’re licensed, insured and bonded: MTR0192675 with the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services, USDOT 3810402 with FMCSA, carrying up to $1,000,000 in general liability cover. Ask any mover for those numbers before they touch an instrument worth more than their truck.
What we move
Upright and spinet. The common case — and the one most often damaged by people underestimating it.
Baby grand and grand. Legs and lyre come off, the body goes on its side, and it’s wrapped before it moves an inch.
Digital and console. Lighter, still awkward, and the action doesn’t appreciate being dropped.
Organs and harpsichords. Same principle, different weak points.
Within the home. Up a floor, into a different room, or out of the way while floors are refinished — no truck needed.
Get a piano moving quote
Tell us the type of piano, the two addresses, and what the access looks like — stairs, turns, doorway widths, whether there’s a lift. You’ll have a price online.
What actually changes the price
Not the piano so much as the route. A grand on one level with double doors at both ends is straightforward. An upright down a narrow staircase with a turn at the bottom is the expensive one, because it takes more people and more time.
Measure the tightest doorway and count the stairs before you quote. Those two numbers are what make an estimate hold.
What it costs. The crew is billed hourly from $149, plus a flat $99 truck and fuel charge. Any single item over 250 lbs carries a $200 handling fee, which covers almost every piano — an upright starts around 300 lbs. If your two addresses are more than 10 miles apart, drive time is billed at double.
We’d rather you see those numbers now than on the invoice. A piano move is not the job to be surprised by.
One thing worth knowing: any piano needs tuning after a move, usually a few weeks later once it has settled in the new room’s humidity. That’s the instrument, not the movers.
Related services
A piano is one of several pieces that carry the over-250 lbs handling fee — see heavy item moving for the full list, or gun safe moving if you also own a safe. Antique or concert instruments that need crating rather than just wrapping fall under fine art and delicate items and white-glove service. If the piano is going with the rest of the house, book it as part of a local move.
Further reading
Piano movers for an upright piano · Can movers move heavy furniture safely?
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FAQ
How much does a move cost in Sacramento?
Rates start at $149/hour for two movers and a 16ft truck, $179/hour for three movers and a 26ft truck, $225/hour for four, and $265/hour for five. Add a one-time $99 flat rate for truck and gas, whatever truck size you need. You price the job yourself online — pick your crew, date and addresses and the quote comes back in minutes. No in-home visit, no sales call.
What’s included in the hourly rate?
Labour, a clean fully-equipped truck, and every tool the crew needs — hand trucks, dollies and straps. Furniture disassembly and reassembly. Loading and unloading. Secure wrapping in moving pads, with unlimited stretch wrap and tape. Floor, wall and door-frame protection. TV unmounting and custom packing. Free use of wardrobe boxes. Packing and unpacking service. Removal of packing materials when we’re done. Basic cargo protection for your household goods. Taxes and transaction fees. Stairs and long carries are included as well.
What isn’t included in the hourly rate?
Six things, all of them listed up front: the $99 flat rate for truck and gas; packing supplies such as boxes, paper and bubble wrap; a $200 handling fee for any single item over 250 lbs (piano, gun safe, pool table, treadmill, massage chair); double drive time when your two addresses are more than 10 miles apart; overnight storage; and custom crating or speciality handling for antiques and delicate pieces.
Do you charge extra for stairs or a long carry?
No. Stairs and long carries are part of the hourly rate — there is no stair fee, no elevator fee and no long-carry fee. A third-floor walk-up takes longer than a ground-floor unit, so the clock runs longer, but nothing is added on top of it.
Why is drive time billed at double?
Double drive time is standard for California household goods moves: the travel between your pickup and your delivery is billed at twice the hourly rate, because it also covers getting the truck back. Smoove only applies it when the two addresses are more than 10 miles apart. Closer than that, you aren’t charged for it at all.
Do I need an in-home estimate to get a price?
No. You can price the whole job online in a few minutes. If you’d rather show us what you have, we’ll walk through it with you over video, or come out in person. All three are free, and none of them commit you to booking.
How many movers do I need?
As a rough guide: two movers and a 16ft truck for a room or one-bedroom; three movers and a 26ft truck for a studio or two-bedroom; four for a house or three-bedroom; five for an office or commercial move. A bigger crew costs more per hour but finishes sooner, so the totals are closer than the rates suggest. If you’re between two sizes, size up — a second trip costs more than the extra mover.
How far in advance should I book?
Four to six weeks gives you the widest choice of dates, and it matters most at month-end and over summer weekends, when the calendar fills first. Short notice is still workable — book online and you’ll see live availability rather than waiting for someone to call you back.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Smoove holds MTR0192675 with the California Bureau of Household Goods and Services and USDOT 3810402 with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and carries up to $1,000,000 in general liability cover. Basic cargo protection for your household goods is included in every move. Both licence numbers are public records — look them up before you book, with us or anyone else.
Who actually shows up on move day?
Our own employees. Every mover is background-checked, trained and certified before they work a job — we don’t hire labour that morning and send it to your house. Smoove is owned by movers, which is why the crew standard is the part we’re strictest about.
What areas do you serve?
The Sacramento region and the Bay Area — more than 70 cities, from Auburn and Elk Grove through to San Jose and Walnut Creek. We also handle long-distance and interstate moves originating in either region.
Learn more before your move
23 September 2026
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