Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country, packing up your things and moving them into a new space is a lot of work. If you’re hiring movers to help, you’ll want to factor tip into the cost of the move. When you’re calculating tip, there are a few things to consider. Here’s what to expect from professional moving crews, how much you should pay them, and how to adjust depending on the situations you may encounter.
How much tip do you give movers?
You’re not alone if figuring out how to calculate a moving crew’s tip percentage seems like the most overwhelming part of calculating the cost of your move. Tipping by the hour can save you a lot of stress. Tipping movers $4 to $5 per hour of work, per person, offers a good rule of thumb.
Breaking down what standard tipping for movers might translate to in terms of the hours devoted to your move, you can budget for:
- Half-day move (4 hours or less): $20 per mover
- Full-day move (8 hours): $40 per mover
- Longer moves (12 hours or more): $50-$60 per mover
The total cost of your move will include both the movers and how far the moving truck travels, so you’re better off avoiding a standard percentage and tipping movers by the hour instead. Long-distance moving can mean working with different crews.
You may have one truck driver but different crews working at your old and new unit, so using these hourly tipping guidelines can help ensure you appropriately tip each crew member without breaking the bank. After all, the total bill for a longer move can reach into the thousands, so tipping based on a percentage of that huge bill can become unmanageable.
Should you tip movers?
While tipping movers isn’t technically required, tipping is a standard way to show gratitude. Movers don’t necessarily expect a tip but will certainly appreciate it if you give one — they’re doing incredibly hard work for you! A tip recognizes the extra effort movers put in to get the job done.
Take the time and difficulty of your move into consideration when you decide how much to tip your movers. The tip you give should reflect the level of service and difficulty. Factors to think about include:
- Whether movers need to deal with stairs
- The total amount of things you’re moving
- The number of oversized items
- Any other complicating factors that increase the difficulty of your move
How to tip movers
Give each worker their tip directly. Though it may seem more straightforward to give the total to the driver or foreman, giving each member of the crew their own tip shows that you appreciate and recognize their individual effort. And while you worked hard to find a reliable moving company, there’s always a chance you get someone dishonest who will keep the lump sum tip for themselves. So, let each worker know you’re happy with the service they provided by smiling, handing them a tip, and saying thank you.
You may consider providing extra incentive for your movers by promising tips at the end of the process and even giving a portion of the tip to your movers at the start, before they begin unpacking. If that idea makes you uncomfortable, though, it’s totally fine to just stick to the general rule of tipping once the movers complete their job.
When to tip movers
Keep an eye on how your movers treat your belongings and interact with you while they’re packing and moving your stuff. If you think they did a good job, you can’t go wrong by giving them a tip. You will want to consider tipping movers particularly when they:
- Are extra friendly during the moving process
- Handle antique or fragile items with appropriate care
- Help with assembling and setting up furniture
- Move large and/or heavy furniture or other items up multiple flights of stairs
- Move quickly
When not to tip movers
Again, tipping isn’t mandatory for movers. Though tipping is polite and customary, you can feel comfortable withholding the tip if you don’t have a good experience. You might think about adjusting your tip (or not tipping at all) if your movers:
- Ding up your new walls with objects they’re moving
- Put labeled boxes in blatantly wrong places
- Show up late
- Spend more time taking breaks than actually moving your stuff
Remember, accidents happen. How your movers react to and deal with tough situations should also play into your decision about reducing your tip or not tipping at all.
Other ways to treat your movers
You’ll find other ways beyond monetary tips to show movers your appreciation. Additional ways to show movers appreciation (and offer an incentive for doing a good job along the way) include:
- Offering cold beverages like bottles of water
- Offering coffee, tea, or hot chocolate
- Providing cookies and other stacks
- Giving gift cards
- Buying the crew lunch or dinner
Pro-tip: Whether you’re moving long-distance or hiring movers for a local move, you’ll want to avoid providing alcohol to professional moving crews. Sure, pizza and beer may sound like the perfect treat to you after a hard day of work, but many moving companies have strict policies in place that prevent employees from consuming alcohol while they’re on the job. You don’t want to make crew members feel awkward or get them in trouble by offering a gesture of hospitality they can’t accept.
Moving day can come with lots of stress and anxiety, so figuring out how much to tip movers ahead of time can help streamline the process. Whether you’re moving long-distance or just a few blocks, you likely have tipping at the forefront of your mind when the big day comes. Following these guidelines for tipping movers will take the guesswork out of the experience so you can look forward to settling into your new place.
Contenu associé
