Unless your moving company already includes gratuity in their quotes, it’s up to you to decide how much compensation will be retained for their crew. Most people base the tip amount off a percentage of total move cost – usually 15%-20% of that full figure.
Your decision will depend on how pleased you were with the service and performance of your movers, and you should consider several key factors when determining a tip amount:
How much?
Tipping movers generally amounts to 15% – 20% of your move price, which may initially seem excessive. But this amount reflects standard industry practice. When calculating this tip amount, consider how complex your move was as well as their quality of work; for instance, if they had to carry heavy or awkward items like grand pianos or hot tubs across or navigate tight doorways or staircases then giving a higher tip might be appropriate.
Tipp sizes depend on the number of movers on your move, too. If multiple teams are involved in your relocation, consider giving each crew member an hourly-based tip based on how complex and long-distance your relocation was. For example, for an apartment-to-house move within city limits, you should tip each crew member an estimated $20-30 an hour on a moving day; more extended distance relocations might require an increased tip amount according to how challenging your move was.
Tipping isn’t required, but showing your appreciation can make your move far more pleasurable and is especially meaningful when your movers have been polite, efficient, and respectful throughout the process. Another way to show this gesture of thanks is to provide snacks or drinks for their crew – something they will surely appreciate.
Cash is always best when tipping movers to ensure that all the money reaches those who deserve it. Some movers may accept credit cards; ask beforehand so there are no surprises! Some get tips through apps such as Venmo or Cash App – the best practice is constantly asking your movers which payment method they prefer.
When disbursing tips to team members, distribute an equal share. If this proves challenging, one large piece of information can also be left for the crew supervisor to distribute to everyone on his or her team.
When to tip
As is customary when dealing with moving crews, giving gratuity upon job completion allows you to give it immediately and ensures it reaches the appropriate people. Instead of providing a lump sum directly to a foreman to distribute among his team members, use individual envelopes with cash tips stuffed inside them for each mover as they complete their work – this prevents dishonest foremen from pocketing it all and allows you to give higher gratuities where applicable.
When determining how much to tip, consider the size, number of rooms, type, and contents of furniture in your home. A larger home with many stairs and additional amenities requires more work than an apartment without other amenities, such as a piano. Furthermore, consider whether your move is local or long distance; longer distance moves require additional manpower resources, gas time, and labor expenses, so increase the tip accordingly.
As with any tipping situation, be sure to judge both team performance as a whole and individual movers on how well they performed for you. Some movers may demonstrate an outstanding attitude and work ethic. In contrast, others might be careless with your belongings or have negative attitudes – If any particular mover’s behavior or attitude is less than desirable, you should adjust their tip accordingly.
Moving can be exhausting, so providing refreshments or snacks for the movers during a lengthy or complex move is always considerate. Consider giving small gifts like chocolates or wine as rewards.
Importantly, if the movers were responsible for an accident or breakage to your belongings, your tip should reflect that. While accidents are rare, your decision as a client is whether the level of service offered justifies taking this risk.
Cash vs. credit card
Providing tips in cash is by far the easiest and most appreciated method when tipping movers, especially if you need to adjust the amount later. Credit card tips may also work but may require more calculation accuracy.
How you pay your movers is entirely your choice, but it is wise to be familiar with basic tipping etiquette before making any decisions. As a rule of thumb, 15%-20% of the total move cost should be given as tips; others may base their information on the quality of service received instead. Either approach may work fine since the total move cost doesn’t always reflect how much work was involved in loading and unloading belongings from storage facilities.
Consider also how friendly and approachable the crew members you hire are since this may warrant more generous tips than if they appear rude or less efficient. Furthermore, factor in the job’s length and any factors that could lengthen or shorten it accordingly.
Your choice in distributing tips between moving team members is entirely up to you; if you opt for the latter method, ensure each member receives an equitable share. Adding water or nonalcoholic drinks as extra refreshment may help your crew remain hydrated during a busy move.
Your tip to your moving company depends entirely on your satisfaction with their service. After all, they work hard to transport your belongings – it is only fitting to acknowledge their efforts by rewarding them accordingly. Please take note of the complexity and distance of your move, along with any level of effort displayed by their crew when making this decision.
Special considerations
As you consider how much to tip, remember that every move varies greatly. Some tips will be higher than others depending on the service your movers provide; this may include helping assemble complex furniture pieces or carefully packing fragile items, warranting more generous tips from you. Another factor worth keeping in mind when determining tip amounts is the length of the move – short-distance moves may take only half a day. At the same time, interstate relocation may involve multiple days and become far more complex than expected.
Many people base their tip on a percentage of total moving cost, but this may not always be an accurate reflection. When hiring professional movers for an extensive long-distance move, prices can fluctuate depending on distance traveled and size of the home; using percentage doesn’t account for these variations, so hourly or flat rate tipping may be better suited.
General guidelines dictate a minimum tipping amount of $25 for four-hour moves and $40 for eight-hour ones; however, additional amounts might be appropriate if your family or furniture weighs heavily.
Another factor when determining how much to tip movers is whether they place themselves in further danger. For instance, if they must transport a hefty piece of furniture up or down an entire flight of stairs, it can be backbreaking work that may put them at risk for injury; transporting something like an expensive sofa may present particular difficulty – therefore, an increased tip may be warranted in such an instance.
After your move, it’s also wise to give your movers a lump-sum tip to simplify their money division. If possible, hand individual cash payments to each mover directly; otherwise, give it all to the foreman, who will distribute it accordingly.
