How much to tip movers in 2024: Three easy calculations to use

Key points

• It’s standard practice to tip professional movers, but the amount you tip is at your discretion.

• There are three basic ways to calculate your movers’ tips.

• The amount you tip should reflect the job’s difficulty and the quality of service provided.

Whether planning a move across town or hiring cross-country movers, we recommend tipping your professional movers for their hard work. While it’s customary to tip for most services in the United States, tipping etiquette across industries isn’t consistent.

Technically, tipping isn’t required, and how much to tip your movers is at your discretion, but reliable experienced movers deserve to be compensated. However, you can follow a few general guidelines outlined below to calculate how much you should tip to show appreciation for a good move.

How much should I tip movers?

If you’re satisfied with your moving services or your movers exceed your expectations, you should show appreciation by giving them a good tip. There are three standard options for calculating your movers’ tip.

Percentage calculation

The first option is to tip your movers 10%–20% of your total moving costs. Choose your percentage, starting at 10% for satisfactory service and increase the percentage up to 20% for outstanding work. Next, calculate the tip by multiplying your desired percentage by your total bill amount. For example, if your move costs $2,500, you should tip $250–$500 split among crew members.

Hourly calculation

Your second option is to tip each mover at an hourly rate. Common practice is $5–$10 per mover per hour. Again, if you’re happy with your movers’ service, tip them $5 an hour, then increase the hourly rate incrementally to $10 per hour if they’ve gone above and beyond during your move. For example, if your move takes seven hours, you would tip each mover $35 to $70, depending on how happy you were with their service.

Daily calculation

Your final option is to tip each mover at a flat rate of $20–$40 daily. The lower end of the range works for a half-day move, and the amount would increase to $40 for a full day of work.

As a project manager for a professional moving company, clients often ask me how much to tip the moving crew. I typically recommend they use the daily calculation method. This way, they don’t have to do any complicated math, and each crew member gets their allocated tip on each day of the move.

What should I consider when tipping?

Professional movers are usually paid hourly, regardless of any difficulties during the move. When calculating your tip amount, you should reflect on the level of service your movers provided and any challenges they encountered during your move.

The following sections cover all the aspects you should consider when formulating an amount.

Heavy and fragile items

You’ll notice your movers’ level of care while handling your furniture and belongings. Fragile items demand extra attention and a slower pace to prevent damage. Heavy furniture or oversized items can be physically strenuous and require skillful navigation through doorways and small spaces. Consider increasing your movers’ tip to acknowledge the added care and effort they gave these tasks.

Outstanding service

If your movers provide excellent service and show kindness to you and your family, your moving experience will be smoother and less stressful. An increased tip is an easy way to recognize your movers’ dedication and their positive impact on your move.

Distance

There are two main types of moves: local (generally less than 50 miles) and long-distance (usually more than 50 miles). Local moves typically happen in a single day with one moving crew. Long-distance moves can take several days and may require different crews to complete.

The amount you tip should reflect the difficulty of the move and the level of communication needed. You should give a larger tip for long-distance moves.

Complexity and other challenges

You should also consider additional factors that made your move more complicated than usual. Some circumstances that increase labor are inclement weather, heavy lifting, working overtime, needing to go up or down several flights of stairs, needing elevator access, and disassembling or reassembling furniture.

If your movers experience these difficulties during your move, consider increasing their tip accordingly.

When should you tip more or tip less?

Use your discretion and think about your overall experience throughout the move when deciding if you should ship more or tip less. While exceptional service and increased effort should be rewarded, the opposite is true for bad service.

When to tip more

Tip more if you feel you received good service. Reflect on whether your movers arrived on time, worked efficiently and displayed special care for your belongings. Consider any difficulties they encountered, like challenging weather or multiple flights of stairs.

You might also assess their overall attitude and respect shown to you and your home throughout the process and tip more for top-notch professionalism.

When to tip less

If you feel the movers were unprofessional, showed up late, were rude or took excessive breaks, you should lower their tip amount accordingly.

Moving can be unpredictable. As a general rule, you shouldn’t expect everything to go perfectly. However, the moving company is responsible for taking ownership of any damage caused to your home or belongings. If you notice damage due to the movers’ negligence, such as careless furniture handling or inadequate protection during the move, you should reduce the movers’ tip or not tip at all.

Does providing food count as a tip?

It’s a nice gesture to provide food and refreshments for your movers. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t replace or count as a monetary tip. Though it’s a thoughtful way to show your appreciation, don’t provide food or beverages as an alternative to a cash tip.

At what time during the move do I tip?

Typically, you should tip at the end of a service based on the service provider’s performance, and this is true for moves that take place in one day.

With a local move, you’ll likely know the total cost of your moving and packing services on moving day and have the same moving team who will load the moving truck and unload at your new home. In these situations, it’s typical to tip your movers at the end of the job.

However, with long-distance movers, one moving crew may load the truck, and then another team unloads your belongings at your new home. In these situations, you should tip the first crew when they finish loading your items and the second crew when they drop them off.

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.

Final take: Reward movers for a job well done, but not so much if you feel service was lacking

If you’re happy with your movers’ service, you should show appreciation by giving them a tip. Handling furniture and heavy boxes all day is hard work, and they deserve recognition and appreciation.

Good options for tipping are 10%–20% of your final bill, $5–$10 per hour per mover or $20–$40 per mover per day.

Your movers’ gratuity is at your discretion, so adjust accordingly based on your experience and preferences. If you received outstanding service, reward it with a generous tip. But if the service was sub-par, reduce the tip accordingly.

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