1. Which instruments are worth shipping by sea, and which are not

Not every instrument deserves a spot in a container. The test is simple: what the instrument is worth against what shipping costs. The more expensive it is, the more sentimental value it carries, and the harder it is to find the same tier locally, the more sense it makes to ship.

Large instruments that make sense by sea

Small instruments better carried on the plane or sent by air

These are small and valuable, and sea freight won't even reach the minimum volume. Carry them with you or send them by air:

💡 How to decide: For a large instrument you can't carry yourself, LCL sea freight is the cheapest option. For anything you can carry, use the cabin or air freight first.

What not to ship by sea

💡 A quick rule of thumb: What would the same tier of instrument cost where you're going? If total shipping comes in under 60% of the local price, ship it. Above 80%, buy new there instead.

2. Special requirements for shipping large instruments by sea

The big difference between an instrument and a piece of furniture: a chipped corner on a table doesn't affect how it works, a knock on a piano can ruin it. Shipping instruments by sea comes with a few requirements, and all of them matter.

1. Packing: a custom crate, not soft wrapping

Packing is the single most important part of the whole shipment:

• Soft wrap plus cardboard (bubble wrap and boxes): allowed, but high risk, and damage isn't covered
• Wooden frame reinforcement: better than cardboard, still not enough for a valuable instrument
• Custom wooden crate: the standard for pianos, cellos, grands, and other valuable instruments

Industry standard for a custom crate:

2. Special handling for pianos

A piano isn't just "put it in a box." It also needs:

• Slackened strings: temperature and humidity swing a lot at sea, and taut strings under days of vibration can warp the soundboard and loosen the tuning pins. The professional approach is to have a technician detune the strings by a semitone to a whole tone before departure, then retune at destination
• Pedals and lid secured: wrap in soft cloth and fix in place so nothing knocks around
• Upright: usually shipped whole, just secure the case. Grand: the lid, legs, and pedals usually come off and travel separately, then get reassembled at destination
• Moisture: an ocean crossing can cross the equator, and humidity swings are large. Put desiccant inside the case

3. Insurance: instrument cover isn't furniture cover

This is where people get caught out:

⚠️ Important: most piano policies are total loss only. That means you get paid only if the instrument is a complete write-off. A chipped corner, a scratched finish, keys that won't press: the insurer generally doesn't pay. Packing quality is your most important insurance. That's also why a custom crate is strongly recommended.

4. Weight and handling

• An upright is 200-300kg and a grand 250-400kg, far beyond ordinary household goods
• Two movers can't lift it. You need a professional crew plus lifting equipment
• Overseas apartments without an elevator, or with narrow stairwells, may add extra handling fees (for a grand especially, confirm the stairwell dimensions in advance)
• Before departure, measure the front door, the stairwell corners, and the elevator: if the instrument can't get through the door, nothing else matters

3. What to do before the shipment

Once you've decided to ship, work through these ahead of time:

1. One to two months before departure

• Contact a professional moving company: give them the instrument type, brand, dimensions, and weight so they can plan and quote
• Photograph everything: exterior, keys, pedals, internal structure, photo and video, as evidence of the condition before shipping
• Keep the purchase receipt or appraisal: for a valuable handmade instrument, the invoice or a professional appraisal is needed for customs and for any claim
• Confirm the dimensions at destination: stairwell, elevator, front door. Can the instrument get in?

2. Two to four weeks before departure

• Have a piano technician visit: slacken the strings, check the soundboard, record the current condition
• Clean and dry: desiccant in the case, and don't pack on a rainy day
• Prepare documents: passport, visa, purchase receipt, and for professional players, performance contracts or proof of study
• Check whether fumigation is needed: solid wood instruments and solid wood crates need it

3. Packing day

• Be there in person: watch how the crew secures the instrument and where they put the cushioning
• Mark the crate: your name, the destination address, "FRAGILE", "THIS SIDE UP"
• Photograph the finished packing: evidence if something goes wrong later

4. After arrival

• Inspect before you sign: if there's damage, note it on the delivery receipt on the spot, or the claim becomes very difficult
• Don't tune it right away: after a long voyage the instrument needs one to two weeks in the destination climate to adjust, then have a local technician come and tune it
• File the claim within 7 days: photos, purchase receipt, and the claim amount

4. How Seapoe handles valuable instruments

Seapoe Relo has a dedicated procedure for instruments. It isn't a matter of finding a cardboard box and sending it off:

1. Custom crates

• For valuable instruments like pianos, a custom crate every time, no soft-wrap shortcuts
• Crates are built to the actual dimensions
• Fumigation-free plywood, with hinges and forklift feet
• Foam, EPE pearl wool, and corner protectors hold the instrument so it doesn't move when the crate is rocked

2. Door-to-door service

• Pickup in China: the crew packs, carries, and loads. You don't move the piano yourself
• Delivery at destination: after customs, straight to your door and into the room you want
• Unpacking at destination: we open the crate and clear the packing materials
• Crate collection: crates can be collected after unpacking overseas, so you don't have to deal with bulky waste

3. The process

4. Insurance advice

• Buy door-to-door insurance: priced as a percentage of declared value
• Note that pianos are usually total loss only, so packing done right matters more than the policy
• New goods can't be insured, so declare the instrument as used

5. Handling by instrument type

Sizes and shipping methods for each type of large instrument are in part one. What follows are the differences in how Seapoe handles them:

• Upright piano: goes in whole, the case wrapped in soft cloth and secured, strings slackened
• Grand piano: lid, legs, and pedals come off and ship separately, reassembled at destination
• Cello/double bass: a wooden crate around the instrument case, gaps filled with foam so nothing shifts when the crate moves
• Large percussion (marimba/drum kit): broken down and packed by category, drum heads wrapped separately to keep moisture out

Cost depends on the instrument, destination, and volume. Contact Seapoe customer service for a quote.

5. FAQ

Q1: Will a piano go out of tune during sea freight?

A: Yes. An ocean crossing moves through different temperature and humidity zones, so going out of tune is close to inevitable. The professional approach is to have a technician slacken the strings before departure, then let the instrument sit for one to two weeks at destination before a local technician tunes it. If it ships at full tension, days of vibration can warp the soundboard and loosen the tuning pins, and that is real damage.

Q2: How much tax do I pay on a piano arriving abroad?

A: Import duty on pianos varies by country. Importing into China runs roughly 15%-20%; going to other countries depends on local policy. If it's declared as personal effects and you qualify for the new-migrant or returning-resident exemption, it may be duty free or cleared as baggage. Check the destination customs rules in force at the time.

Q3: Why is piano insurance total loss only? Doesn't it cover knocks?

A: That's industry practice. Insurers argue it's hard to tell whether a knock, scratch, or tuning problem came from shipping or was already there, so policies usually cover total loss only. That's exactly why packing has to be right: the packing is the best insurance you'll get.

Q4: Can a grand piano ship without disassembly?

A: Generally not. A grand as a whole is too tall and too wide for stairwells and elevators, and moving it in one piece puts more stress on the body. The standard approach is to remove the lid, legs, and pedals, crate each separately, and reassemble at destination.

Q5: Do small instruments like violins need sea freight?

A: No. Small instruments (violins, guitars, winds, Chinese instruments) are better carried on the plane or sent by air. See the classification table in part one.

Q6: How far ahead should I start preparing?

A: Same as any move:

• Asia routes: 2-3 months ahead
• US, Canada, Australia: 3-4 months
• Europe: 4-6 months

Add one to two weeks for the technician visit and the custom crate.

Q7: What if the instrument arrives damaged?

A: Follow this sequence:

1. Inspect before signing: note any damage on the delivery receipt on the spot
2. Photograph and film: the damaged area, the overall condition, the shipping marks
3. Submit documents within 7 days: photos, purchase receipt, and claim amount, then contact the mover to file with the insurer
4. If it's a piano on a total loss policy, only a complete write-off will be paid