How Much to Tip Movers?

June 9, 2022 / Posted in Moving Basics
Madison Rogers

Born and raised in Houston Madison is a content writer who loves traveling. She has lived in different states and is always eager to share her knowledge with others.

Tipping your trustworthy workers is a vital part of the relocation process. Even though some would argue that giving extra cash to the professional workers is not a must, it would be best to show gratitude to the crew after the job is finished. So, let’s see how much to tip movers and what can be considered a fair amount of money as tips.

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How much should you tip movers? Not forget this step is essential

So, how much to tip movers for a long-distance move? It is considered customary to pay your long-distance movers 4 to 5 dollars for every hour they spend loading and unloading your belongings. This means that you will have to have at least 20 dollars for each worker for a half-day move. If they have to work longer hours, be prepared to give each person from 40 to 60 dollars.

Why Should You Never Skip Tipping the Workers?

In the case of cross-country moving, the success of the relocation depends primarily on the expertise and knowledge of the professional crew hired to take care of your precious belongings. If you are relocating for the first time, you might not know that it takes skill and knowledge to load the truck properly, unload cardboard boxes, ship a vehicle cross-country, and disassemble and assemble bulky furniture. Expert workers will do everything without damaging your valuable stuff.

What is more, they will guide you through the whole process, so you don’t make any relocation mistakes. They know all of the relocation day tips which they can share with you, so there won’t be any issues regarding the move. This is why it is of the utmost importance to recognize and reward workers for their service.

Two movers carrying a sofa
Is it OK not to tip movers? No - by not tipping, you are showing dissatisfaction with their services

Are You Wondering How Much to Tip Movers? Here is the Right Answer

Upon hiring your cross-country movers, it would be best to evaluate the aspects of the whole move thoroughly. Sometimes it’s not quite simple to determine how to tip the team since not all moves are the same. First, take into account the difficulty of the whole process. Ask yourself questions like:

  • How many boxes will they have to carry and load into the truck?
  • Is it just an office move or a household move?
  • Do they have to go up and down the stairs?
  • How many bulky items have to be transported?
  • Do you require them to move a piano or heavy equipment?
  • How many men will be required for the job?

When you answer these questions, it will be clear whether the relocation is challenging for both you and the workers. If it is complicated to carefully execute the move, it would be wise to pay the workers a little bit extra than usual. But, if you want to stick to the ordinary unwritten rule, bear in mind that for each hour of work, the mover is usually paid about 4-5 dollars. Some workers will have to spend at least eight hours loading and unloading cardboard boxes, and this amount of work should be rewarded with 50 dollars for each person. However, working all day will require you to pay up to 60 dollars.

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Do You Tip Movers on Both Ends For a Long-Distance Move?

When investing in long-distance moving services, you should be aware of some useful information about relocating to a new city. Usually, the crew that packed up your home and loaded the truck would not be present at your new address. Another team will most likely take its place and unload the truck with your cardboard boxes. However, the truck driver can be the only one who is present at both ends. What you should know is that the best thing to do in this type of situation is to pay both crews at the hourly rate of 4-5 dollars. By doing this, you will have a stress-free relocation.

movers carrying boxes
How much will the service cost you? The general rule of thumbs is to give each worker about 4-5 dollars every hour

Can You Tip Too Much When You Pay Based on the Percentage of the Moving Bill?

A lot of people think it’s a good idea to pay based on the percentage of the total bill. But, this method is not convenient or affordable for anyone who is relocating long-distance. An average cross-country move can cost as much as 5,000 dollars. The appropriate percentage for the workers, in that case, is about 20 dollars, which makes the final bill with tips included very expensive.

Keep in mind that if the long-distance moving company emphasizes that you should, by all means, pay the members based on the percentage of the moving bill, you might be dealing with a relocation scam. Therefore, sticking to the hourly rate is recommended if you want to move efficiently.

When Moving Long-Distance, Consider These Factors to Help You Determine the Tip

When asking yourself – how much do I tip movers, we recommend considering the following factors when determining if there is a need for giving them a little extra money. These are factors for tipping when relocating to another state.

The number of large and bulky items you have

If your moving-out list is filled with large items such as tables, bookcases, dressers, expensive equipment, and a piano, the professional workers will have their work cut out for them. They will be required to lift or carry specific items up and down the stairs. When relocating a grand piano, at least four people will be needed to lift it up. These tasks are difficult, so increasing tips would be wise.

Weather conditions

If you are relocating in winter, there is a chance that there will be snow on the relocation day, or it might be freezing cold. On the other hand, moving in the summer can make it terribly difficult to load and unload a truck on a scorching hot day. But when the workers show a willingness to accomplish everything in spite of challenging weather conditions, they should be shown appreciation.

In case you are relocating at the last minute

Expecting the workers to provide you with packing assistance, load and unload a truck in a short period of time may be tough to handle. But experienced workers will know exactly how to go about it. A team that has carried out thousands of moves will ensure that everything goes smoothly. Trusting professionals with these tasks is great, but paying them some extra cash will motivate them to go the extra mile and deliver everything in order.

If they are required to move up and down the stairs

Moving anything up and down the stairs requires skill. Workers who know what they are doing will most likely bring equipment like a four-wheel dolly or a plank of plywood so they can slide the objects with ease. Since relocating anything from the second or third floor is so demanding, tipping the crew would be a great gesture.

The kind and friendly behavior of the workers

During a stressful move, when everything is scattered around and you are trying to make peace with the need to move, it would be helpful to have a caring and smiling team of workers to provide you with excellent service. If you determine that the workers care and want to correctly store your belongings, give them extra cash so they can feel appreciated and valued.

Do You Tip Movers When They Load or Unload?

You don’t want to risk not paying the workers when they first load the truck, thinking you will see them again when they arrive to unload all of the boxes and assemble some items in the new home. Just to be safe, keep in mind that you should give the workers the money at the end of the day after they finish loading (or unloading) the truck. Most likely, the workers that will load and unload the truck will differ.

Make sure that you pay attention to how they handle your stuff. This will give you a hint on how much you should increase or decrease tips. Keep in mind that you should also prepare for the workers and plan everything out before their arrival.

Who Should Receive the Money?

Now that you know the answer to the question “how much should I tip movers,” it’s important to know who to approach and give money to when a hard-working day is done. Therefore, a couple of weeks ahead of your move, contact the long-distance moving company and ask them to provide you with information about the workers that will arrive at your home.

Usually, you can expect a foreman, a driver, and a couple of workers to show up. The foreman will be the one who you can rely on if there are any issues or questions for the movers. Even though he will be designated to answer any question you might have, you should not give all of the money just to the foreman. In order to acknowledge every crew member, it would be best to give each mover their sum of money.

Is It Necessary to Give a Tip When Moving?

Showing gratitude for the accomplished work is one of the primary examples of being satisfied with the services. Still, clients can decide not to pay the workers any money if they notice some irregularities or problems. For instance, a worker that seems unkind, careless, or rude can be left with no extra cash at the end.

For those who are wondering how much do you tip movers who are careless, it is up to you. Still, not tipping in situations where crewmembers damage your belongings, don’t bring the necessary equipment, or arrive late at your home is understandable. Also, if you have invested in a car shipping company and your vehicle arrives with dents and scratches in your new home, you can also decide not to pay them and request financial compensation from the company.

Deciding to Acknowledge the Workers in Another Way? Consider This Helpful Advice

So, is it customary to buy lunch for movers? Yes, the client can always go the extra mile and offer the team cold drinks, fresh juices, bottled water, or quick meals like sandwiches and pizzas. That is nice to do when the workers take a break from disassembling furniture and carrying cardboard boxes, especially if you have a small relocation budget.

However, not every crew will require to sit down and have a meal during work, but there is also another way to make it easier to do the job. It wouldn’t cost a lot to provide them with some clean towels and soap since they can get dirt and dust all over their hands when dealing with numerous boxes at once.

A mover carrying a box labeled fragile
Apart from giving money, buying lunch and offering drinks can be helpful

In the End, Decide to Pay the Workers to Show Appreciation

All being said, it is up to you how you will approach the situation with the workers handling your boxes. The general rule is to pay at least 4-5 dollars at an hourly rate, but new issues and problems might arise, allowing you to spend less or nothing if you are dissatisfied with the service. So, keep in mind that you should hire a reputable auto transport company and relocation company that will do their best to transport your vehicle and belongings safely. If the workers exceed your expectations and you are satisfied with their service, show gratitude with money as well as drinks and meals. The crew will certainly appreciate it.

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