Bespoke Piano Crating for International Shipping
A piano isn’t cargo. It’s a precision-tensioned wooden instrument with cast-iron internals, fragile action and a soundboard that can crack under shock or humidity swing. The right crate is the difference between a £30,000 grand piano that arrives playable in Singapore and one that arrives needing a £4,000 rebuild.
We engineer the crate around the instrument — measured, drawn, cut, braced, and sealed at our workshop. Then we deliver to the freight forwarder of your choice. You retain the shipping relationship; we own the protection.
What “Bespoke” Actually Means
Off-the-shelf piano crates are a compromise — too big means the piano shifts in transit; too small means the crate splits in handling. Bespoke means each crate is dimensioned to your specific instrument, with internal bracing sized to the piano’s mass distribution.
- Heat-treated timber to ISPM15 — accepted at every international port.
- Internal bracing tailored to the piano’s weight points; no movement under transit shock.
- Cushioning at all soundboard and action contact points.
- Moisture barrier liner to manage humidity through climate changes.
- Forklift bearers integrated into the base.
- Clear external labelling — orientation arrows, fragile markings, weight, dimensions.
- Photo documentation of the piano pre-crate, sent to you for your insurance file.
The Crating Process
1. Quote
Tell us the piano (make, model, size) and the collection address. We quote collection + crating + delivery to your forwarder in one fixed figure.
2. Collection
Two-person specialist team collects, on the fixed day for your postcode. The piano travels to our crating workshop on the same vehicle.
3. Crate Build
At the workshop the piano is measured, the crate is built to fit, internal bracing is positioned, the moisture barrier is sealed, and the instrument is loaded. Total crating time is typically 4–6 hours; the piano remains at our facility during this period.
4. Forwarder Handover
We deliver to the freight forwarder you nominate, with the photographic record and the crate certificate (ISPM15 mark, declared dimensions and weight). Your forwarder takes it from there.
Why We Don’t Ship It Ourselves
International freight insurance, customs brokerage and bill-of-lading paperwork belong with a specialist freight forwarder. We focus on what we’re best at — protecting the instrument. If you don’t have a forwarder, we can recommend three we’ve worked with for piano exports to Europe, North America, the Gulf and Asia-Pacific.
Common Crating Destinations
- Expatriate relocations — Europe, North America, Australia, the Gulf.
- Auction-house sales requiring shipment to overseas buyers.
- Concert venue lease-returns and inter-orchestra transfers.
- Estate exports — inherited instruments shipped to overseas family.
- Private collector consolidations.
See the Process in Detail
Step-by-step walkthrough of how we wrap, brace, and seal each piano: How we crate →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you crate any size piano?
Yes — from upright through baby grand, grand and concert grand. The crate scales to the instrument; the build time and price scale with size.
Is the crate reusable?
In principle yes; in practice most buyers dispose of the crate on arrival. It’s engineered for a one-way trip. If you need return-shipment crating later we can rebuild from drawings.
What’s ISPM15 and why does it matter?
ISPM15 is the international standard for wood packaging used in cross-border shipping. Non-compliant crates get refused at customs. Our timber is heat-treated and stamp-certified.
Do you offer collection from outside the UK?
Currently UK mainland only. For collections in Ireland, Northern Ireland, or the Channel Islands speak to us — we can quote case-by-case via the Pianospeed Group network.
How far ahead should I book?
Two weeks gives comfortable lead time. Last-minute is possible; speak to us.
The Pianospeed Group
PianoStorage.co.uk is the preservation arm of the Pianospeed Group — the UK’s specialist piano lifecycle network. We protect; Pianospeed moves; Pianorecycling retires.
Contact:
Storage enquiries — storage@pianospeed.com
Crating & export enquiries — crating@pianospeed.com