Do you know the right amount to tip movers? If not, then do not worry. There are many different factors that go into figuring out how much to tip your movers. This post will discuss those factors and provide some guidelines as to what is considered acceptable for tipping moving crews. We will also answer common questions like: "How often should I give a tip?" or "What does a typical mover get tipped?".

How much to tip the movers: A complete guide

For many, tips are a confusing part of American culture. There are certain factors that can help you when determining how much to tip your movers. Tips are based on the industry, location, and quality of service.

If you're considering using a moving company for the first time, you probably have many questions. For example, you may not have considered the final costs of properly paying high-quality movers. It's a good idea to know how much to tip movers and packers and should tip them well.

Being prepared to tip ahead of time will leave you and the workers in good standing. Tipping movers is almost always allowed by a company and is generally considered to be proper etiquette. You can check with your moving company and ask if they have a tip policy, tipping is normally not required, however it is appreciated.

The American Moving and Storage Association says a tip is a nice gesture to thank your moving crew and reward them. Read this post to learn how much you should tip with every relocation, whether you're moving near or long distance, or if the company has a policy or guidelines for how much it's allowed to tip your moving crew.

Do you tip movers?

Technically, tipping movers isn't required. Instead, you can tip each member of your moving team individually or give a lump sum for the crew to split evenly. It's important to remember that a tip isn't included in your bill. A quality moving crew saves a considerable amount of time and stress during a difficult move, so a reasonable tip is a great way to reward the team for their hard work. If you're happy with your moving team, you should give a tip if you're satisfied with the service provided.

Factors to consider when deciding how much to tip

The quality of the service provided is a factor in to how much you decide to tip the mover. For example, $20 per mover is standard for a short distance move within the same locale. If you felt the moving service was exceptional, you may want to increase your tip amount. It's nice to tip your mover even if it's difficult, and the conditions the move took place in are important factors in how much time it takes for your move. The conditions surrounding your move which make it harder for example in the cold or bad weather should also be taken into account. If a mover performed exceptionally under these conditions, it's a good way to acknowledge it by adding a bit extra on to your tip.

Tipping Your Movers and Treating Them Well Is Important

A professional moving team saves you from a considerable amount of stress and worry. Knowing how much to tip movers can go a long way in making sure the whole experience is low-stress. Be sure to provide each moving team with a sincere thank you for a job well done and tip based on job performance. Your home has valuable possessions — and even some items you could never replace. Your moving team provides your possessions with the care you may not be able to provide on your own. Make sure that you tip your moving team the best way to show your appreciation for how they treat you, your family, and your possessions, when it comes to the end of your move.

When is it okay to not tip?

If you get a good experience, don't feel obligated to tip your moving company. It's a nice gesture to reward the movers who have done most of the heavy lifting. If they delivered late, damaged things or acted unprofessionally, it's understandable to forgo the tip.

Don't give a tip if you're unhappy with your moving company's service. It's also possible to skip the tip if your movers were rude or careless. Find a trustworthy moving company to avoid this situation. If you're working with a reputable moving company, chances are you're not going to have to worry about any of the above scenarios.

How much should I tip movers?

One good way to figure out how much to tip is considering the total number of hours a mover spends on your move. You could pay up to $40 per person for a half day, and up to 10% to 20% of your moving bill for a full day. If your movers are working well from daylight to dark, you should certainly expect to pay more than $40 per person. $4 per hour is more than sufficient, but a tip over $7 per hour should be generous. A generous tip may be based on how long the move takes would be $10 per person per hour which is a great tip amount for hard 8-hour days. More generally, for a full-day of moving, $50 is acceptable for 8 hours per person, according to the scale of the cost of your move.

Other ways to show appreciation

You can also offer your old furniture you might not want to take to your new home. "Never underestimate the power of your words and your smile,” says Michael Sadvakas, Managing Partner for MyProMovers. You could even make sandwiches and buy them lunch for your movers. The best way to thank each and every person who helped you with your move is to thank the movers for their help, according to Michael: “Compliment a worker to their employer is one of the best ways to reward a mover for a job well done,’ he says. To show your appreciation, call the foreman or moving supervisor or moving company to the supervisor and lay on the praise. A glowing public review online could also be a help towards your moving crew who may get a bonus for being mentioned in a 5-star review.

Should I provide meals for my movers?

If a move takes longer than four or five hours, you can expect your team to have a break for lunch. Pizza is likely the meal that mover people see most often, so we recommend trying to get more creative. Sandwiches, burgers and fried chicken are an easy meal to make. Don't be afraid of taking a vote from the workers or order the special from a great local diner. The goal is to provide much-needed nutrition and a break during a busy day. If you plan on providing food to your team, keep in mind their dietary needs and preferences, and it will keep the day running smoothly. The best thing you can do is pay for your moving team to stay on-site for the meal for a seamless moving day experience.

Drinks provide essential hydration

Water or other beverages should be available during your move. Consider snacks for your movers during the day. No matter what the weather is like expect to have water available at all times. Whether your move lasts a few hours or a full day, consider these benefits for your movers.

Methods of payment for Tipping Your Movers

Cash is the best way to tip movers with when it comes to the end of the day. There are a few instances when you need cash and can't run to a bank. If you have the opportunity to tip each of the workers separately, you can ask them about tipping using mobile phone apps like CashApp or Venmo. It's also the only way to ensure the money is going where you intended and to ensure that all your money goes to the actual moving company's workers.

How much tip should I give to a long distance movers?

Long-distance moves involve different crews — one at the old home and one at new one. If you want to tip your movers based on a percentage of the bill, the tip for a long-distance move may break the bank. The only common person on your crew may be the truck driver. It is probably best to stick to an hourly tip based on the size of the crew at each end of your move. For a long distance moving company, total moving costs can easily reach $4,000-5,000.

Should I tip my movers a percentage?

A percentage of 10-20% can work, but most elect to tip movers for each hour they helped. The tip can reflect the number of hours they spent working for you. In general, you should tip movers $4 to $5. If your move took 4 hours, 16-20 dollars is considered an appropriate amount to tip. If the move was an all-day endeavor, tipping a max of $40 each is a good rule of thumb, but if it took over 8 hours, tip should be more than $40 per move.

Set aside your tipping budget

A $1,000 move would justify a $200 tip, shared between the 2 or 3 movers, if they've shown genuine commitment to your needs throughout the day. Complexity of the move should also be factored into the price. The general rule of thumb is to base your tip on a percentage of your total move cost, 15% – 20% is an industry average. If you need to document your tip for tax or work related reasons, a check or payment to the moving company to distribute would be the other course of action. Make this decision in advance so you're ready either way and not worrying during the move. A guide to pricing is to estimate: 15-20% of a large and long distance relocation.

Calculating your tip on the day

Professional moving companies have procedures to ensure a minimum level of service provided by their movers. Red flags to consider adjusting the tip amount downwards: If you have hired professional movers and they work inefficiently and go too far over the estimated cost. If the movers go over the estimated cost, but worked extremely hard, it's probably not the mover's fault and was the fault of the estimate being undersold.

Work with a professional movers today

MyProMovers offers help to relocate local and long-distance moves in the Northern Virginia area. Our professional movers handles each move with integrity. We know how difficult each move can be. Contact us to get the easiest relocation experience of your life in our local area. If you are considering moving, contact MyProMovers today for details on how to get on the move and the details are smoothed out by a team of professional movers. Contact MyProMovers at for a free moving estimate or call us today at (703) 310-7333.

‍