How Much Do You Tip Movers? (2024)

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Enlisting the help of a moving company for your upcoming relocation? Find how much to tip the movers for hauling your prized possessions to your new house or apartment.

How Much Do You Tip Movers? (1)

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Q: My wife and I are moving to our first house next week and were told that the move would take a full day. Will the movers expect a tip on moving day, and if so, how much do you tip movers?

A: Tipping movers is optional, but most homeowners adhere to the customary practice. After all, relocating heavy belongings can be back-breaking work, and professional movers help eliminate the risk of personal injury and property damage. Ageneral guideline is to tip $10 minimum per mover for a half-day (four hours) of service, or $20 for a full-day (eight hours) of service. Of course, most homeowners adjust this tip based on the quality of service, relocation distance, and difficulty of the move. They may also forgo the practice in scenarios when tipping is not customary. Read on to learn about which factors affecthow much to tip movers after a haul.

Understand that tipping isn’t always necessary.

The question isn’t always, “How much do you tip movers?” but rather, “Do we tip the movers?” Before moving day, call the company to verify that it accepts tips. If their policy prevents tipping, consider showing gratitude by supplying food or non-alcoholic refreshments to your moving crew instead; this is particularly welcome when a move falls on a hot day or overlaps meal times. You can also skip tipping if gratuity was included in the moving cost—a practice adopted by some moving companies for long-distance moves. Finally, tipping is unnecessary ifthe process was excessively delayed, your property or belongings were damaged, or you otherwise received poor service.

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How Much Do You Tip Movers? (2)

Budget for a larger tip.

In the caseof a job well done, you mightextendmore thanthe $10/$20 tipping guideline mentioned above to reward themovers who greatly exceed your expectations. Say, for example, that one mover completed a two-man job on schedule; you may want to adjust the minimum tip to $15 to $20 per four-hour interval to reward him for doing double duty. Other scenarios that call for an increased tip include completing a move well in advance of the quoted schedule and agreeing to disassemble or reassemble furniture.

Decrease thetip for sub-parservice.

Sometimes a relocation may be successful, but the homeowner isdispleased with certain aspects of the service (poor communication, late arrival without explanation, aggressive handling of delicate items, etc.). In this case, unsatisfied customers can offer a tip below thestated guideline.

Increasegratuity formovers whonavigate considerable obstacles or haul heavy cargo.

Heavy possessions like pianos or armoires—as well as architectural obstacles such as steep property lots, narrow or winding staircases, or multiple flights of stairs—can makeyour move significantly more taxing for movers. If the crew must take on extremely labor-intensive work, consider providing an extra incentive by adjusting your tip to anywhere between $20to $50 per mover per four-hour interval. Follow the sameguideline if movers must enlist special equipment, like cranes or furniture lifts, to get the job done.

If making along-distance move, tip the crews involved with both loading and unloading.

When making a local move (less than50 to 100 miles), the same crew will likely load and unload your belongings. Long-distance moves, on the other hand, are often handled by multiple crews: one for loading your belongings at the originating address and another for unloading items at the destination address. In this case, homeowners should tip both the loading and unloading crews separately, relying on the same $10/$20 guideline.

Give each mover a separate tip.

After relocation is complete, stuff the cash tip for each mover into a separate envelope, and pass themoutindividually. Avoid paying a lump sum to the foreman (moving crew supervisor) to be divided up. Tipping each mover individually will ensure that your money gets to its intended recipient immediately uponcompletion of the work.Also, while it’s customary to tip each mover the same amount, you can give a higher gratuity to anyone who performs superior service.

How Much Do You Tip Movers? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Do You Tip Movers? ›

A good rule of thumb is to tip movers a minimum of 5% of the total cost of the move and up to 10% if you feel like they went above and beyond with their service.

Is $100 enough to tip movers? ›

A $100 tip per mover can be a generous gesture for an exceptional job, particularly if the move involves significant challenges, such as heavy furniture or multiple flights of stairs. Is $20 enough to tip movers? A $20 tip per mover is generally considered reasonable for a job well done.

Is $20 enough to tip movers? ›

It is typically recommended that you tip movers between 20% of the total moving cost. If you'd like to tip per movers, consider $20 to $30 per person for a local move and $50 per person for long-distance moves.

Do you tip each mover separately? ›

A good rule of thumb is to tip $5 to $10 per person per hour, paid individually rather than as a lump sum.

Is $200 a good tip for movers? ›

A tip of 5 to 10 percent is often recommended, and this amount should be given to the entire moving team via the foreman. For example, if you've paid $2000 for your moving services, consider tipping anywhere from $100 to $200.

What is a generous tip for movers? ›

A good rule of thumb for tipping movers is to tip 10 to 20 percent of the move amount for each mover. You can also tip based on the work involved in the move. For instance, 20-30 dollars per mover for a basic move is a good place to start.

How much to tip removal for men? ›

If you do decide to tip, the amount you choose is entirely your choice. There isn't a set amount of money that's expected or that you should provide. On average, around 10% of the total removal cost is a reasonable amount to give. You can choose to provide more or less than this.

Should I tip movers in cash? ›

Cash is preferred

Most of the movers I spoke with said cash is king when it comes to the tip. Before moving day kicks off, you should have some estimate of how much you're going to tip the movers. Make a trip to the ATM beforehand and take out smaller bills if you plan on tipping each crew member individually.

What is the proper amount to tip? ›

The appropriate amount to tip servers depends on your service. 15% is appropriate for average service ; 20% if your server is above average. You should feel free to tip above 20% if you received excellent service. If you received poor service, it is better to talk to the manager than skip on the tip.

Do I tip movers twice? ›

During a long-distance move, you may work with two separate crews, one in each location. In that case, dividing the total tip amount between both crews is customary, although you might get better service from one crew over another and want to tip each crew after they provide their service.

Is $40 a good tip for movers? ›

Based on your level of satisfaction and the difficulty of the move, customary tips range anywhere from 10% to 20%. You can also tip by a dollar amount, perhaps offering $20 to $40 per mover. Consider tipping more if your movers went above and beyond on your moving day.

Is 150 a good tip for movers? ›

A good rule of thumb is to tip movers 5-10% of the total cost of the move. So, if your move costs $3,000 in total, you would tip your movers $150-$300. Still, factors like the length of your move and quality of service play into how much you should tip movers.

How much should you leave for a tip? ›

For the wait staff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be 15 percent to 20 percent of the pretax bill. Tips are not necessary at fast-food restaurants.

Should I tip movers with cash? ›

Everyone appreciates a cash tip, but you can also check with your moving company about adding a gratuity with your credit card or other payment form on your final bill.

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