Modern Piano Moving review: Cost, services and customer experience in 2024

Modern Piano Moving at a glance

Like other companies on our list of the best piano movers, Modern Piano Moving has excellent customer service ratings and decades of piano moving experience. Use these details to decide if Modern Piano Moving is right for your needs.

Fast facts

What we like

I love that Modern Piano Moving has decades of experience as a piano mover. The company is mission-driven and staffed by full-time employees, which is always a plus with movers because it means there is a level of accountability among the staff. Like other quality piano movers, Modern Piano Moving handles complex instrument moves. It also provides other piano and musical instrument services, such as piano lessons and piano tuning. You can look up other music services using Modern Piano’s directory. I also love that Modern Piano doesn’t limit its service area to a select few cities like some competitors.

What we don’t like

The company’s website is dated and not as user-friendly as it could be. It doesn’t have many resources explaining the piano moving process, so it may be intimidating to inexperienced customers looking to learn more about what to expect. Similarly, it doesn’t offer online quotes, so it takes longer to get a quote. Modern Piano is also limited in the types of items it moves, so it may not be the right fit for people moving whole households.

*BBB ratings accurate as of August 2024

Modern Piano Moving pros and cons

Modern Piano has a few standout features that differentiate it from other movers in this specialized industry. The company uses climate-controlled trucks with two-person teams used to working as a unit. These teams are always in-house, so you won’t have to deal with subcontracted movers. If you need long-term storage, you can pay for your instrument to sit in a climate-controlled storage unit to reduce the risk of mold, mildew and pest-related damage.

Modern Piano says it has the largest network of piano movers nationwide, so you may find it is more readily available than full-service moving companies that offer piano services as an add-on. I also like that the company offers non-deductible liability insurance options, which further reduces the financial burden of damages should you need to file a claim.

Modern Piano’s website says you can request a quote instantly, but it’s really just a “contact-us” form. Also, the company’s service footprint doesn’t extend to Alaska or Hawaii, so you will need to look elsewhere if you’re hoping to relocate your piano to either state.

Pros

Cons

How much does Modern Piano Moving cost?

Modern Piano Moving doesn’t publicize piano moving price ranges for its services, likely because the piano moving experience is so variable. However, it has a detailed quote form, which can help you get an idea of the factors it uses to estimate its prices.

The company does state that you’ll be charged extra for situations that require more movers, such as staircase charges ($5 - $24) and tricky turns ($40 - $240). When you request a quote from Modern Piano Moving, you must provide:

If you can be flexible with your moving date, you may get preferential pricing. You can also submit a promo code or affiliate ID, which may reduce the cost of your move.

Savings and discounts

While Modern Piano Moving doesn’t offer specific discounts, working with the company can give you access to discounts within its partner network. More specifically, Modern Piano partners with Ship Smart, a specialty mover that handles safes, grandfather clocks, artwork, wine and more. If you contract with Modern Piano Moving, you can also save 10% on Ship Smart’s services.

Modern Piano also partners with Auto & Boat Relocation Services and Air Animal Pet Movers. However, it doesn’t advertise a specific discount for working with either partner.

What services does Modern Piano Moving offer?

Modern Piano Moving’s services are straightforward, but it is not a full-service moving company. So, it won’t handle the logistics if you want to move possessions other than your piano. It will only move or store your piano.

The company has a directory of affiliates you can contact for other piano-related services, including restoration, photography services for auctions, sales, piano technicians and music lessons.

Modern Piano Moving services

Modern Piano Moving add-ons and optional features

Modern Piano will work with you to identify your piano moving needs, has climate-controlled storage for clients’ pianos and can conduct complex piano moves.

Climate-controlled storage

Modern Piano Moving can connect you with climate-controlled storage facilities to securely keep your instrument until you need it again.

Difficult moves

Modern Piano Moving doesn’t back down from complicated moves. When presented with a challenge, company employees will do everything they can to resource and problem-solve, but it may make your move more costly.

Movers have used forklifts to move pianos out of second- and third-story locations and ATVs to shuttle pianos to accommodate long trips to a moving truck. Modern Piano Moving is also unafraid of picking up and transporting expensive pianos.

Casters for easier moving

Modern Piano sells custom casters (caps for your piano’s legs that protect your floor) to match your piano for easier moving. They cost $80 per set, plus shipping. They come in white, satin black, gloss black, cherry, mahogany, brown, dark brown, satin walnut, gloss walnut and gloss dark red.

Modern Piano Moving customer service and experiences

You can contact Modern Piano Moving in several ways, depending on the urgency of your request. If you live near Sullivan, Missouri, you can visit the physical branch at 992 Highway D. You can mail forms to that address or fax the company at 573-860-6887.

You can make a general inquiry to customer service at 800-737-5600 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to noon CT on Saturdays. You can also use the company’s online contact or quote form to send an email reply. I called both available phone numbers during business hours and didn’t have to wait on hold to speak to a live person.

Not surprisingly, given its high customer rating from the BBB, Modern Piano Moving has many 5-star BBB reviews. When the rare 1- or 2-star reviews were received, company representatives responded, sometimes multiple times.

The majority of customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and I had to go back several years to find negative reviews. Here’s what two customers had to say about their experiences with Modern Piano Moving:

Modern Piano Moving liability coverage

During a move, Modern Piano Moving protects your possessions by assigning them a pre-move valuation. Under this agreement, Modern Piano Moving is solely responsible for any damage to your instrument up to the dollar value provided at pick-up. The agreement says the company must empty humidifiers three days before scheduled pick-up. The company won’t accept liability for mechanical, internal, electronic or fragile components beyond its contract. This protection only applies to organs and pianos. If you file a claim, you can file it without paying a deductible.

While Modern Piano Moving has no link to the boilerplate liability coverage it provides, its movers are full-time employees covered by the company’s insurance and policies. If you have any issues with a company employee, you will be able to address them through the company.

I appreciate that Modern Piano Moving has a page on its website that links directly to the FMCSA’s page for moving rights. The page details your responsibilities and rights before, during and after a move.

Modern Piano Moving vs. competitors

Modern Piano was among the highest-rated companies for piano moving. While other companies like American Van Lines, Gentle Giant Moving and All My Sons Moving & Storage offer piano moving as a specialty service, Modern Piano focuses exclusively on instrument moving. For this reason and with its experience, the company may provide added peace of mind for musicians seeking an expert to handle an expensive piano.

Modern Piano goes further than other piano movers because it guarantees that it will use climate-controlled trucks, like food delivery vans, which can minimize issues throughout the moving process.

Competitor comparison

Methodology

To compare dozens of piano moving companies, we developed an unbiased rating system designed to consider the most important factors to potential customers. The companies that fare the best in this system earn a spot on our best piano moving companies of 2024. Each factor was assigned a different weight based on its importance to customers.

We weighted the mover type more heavily because this factor is most likely to affect whether a customer can use the company’s services. We looked at each company’s local, long-distance and international moving availability and whether it offered self-service, hybrid or full-service moving services. Next, we considered how easily a company could customize its services by providing added services, such as junk removal, packing and vehicle shipping.

We also assessed each company’s insurance options and overall reputation. We evaluated reputation by looking up Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration complaints, BBB accreditation and ratings, plus customer reviews. Finally, we looked at state-by-state availability and online service options (virtual assessment, GPS tracking and inventory forms).

Once we scored each company, we awarded an extra point for editorial judgment. Companies earned this point if they showed responsive customer service, quick claims resolution and other green flags that show they care about their customers.

FAQs