How much to tip movers

If you’ve hired a professional moving company — and you’re happy with its service — tipping the crew is important

According to Meyr Aviv, founder and CEO of iMoving, a technology platform for relocation planning, a good tip is $5 to $10 per person for each hour of work. For a large, full-day move, plan to tip each crew member between $50 and $100 for a job well done — it’s not required, but it is appreciated.

Key insights

• You can calculate a tip for a mover a few different ways. Tips may be based on a percentage, an hourly rate or a daily rate.
• A good rule of thumb is $5 to $10 an hour for each mover, which can mean $50 to $100 or so per mover for a full-day move.
• If your move is particularly difficult (lots of stairs, etc.), 20% of the total cost of the move might be a reasonable tip.

How much do you tip movers?

How much you should tip movers depends on several factors, including “how long they've been working and how difficult the move was,” Aviv said. “If they're moving really fragile things that require extra time, care and possibly equipment, it's best to leave 20% of the total cost.”

If you want to go by percentage, consider the cost of hiring movers — it can be a few hundred dollars or less for a small, local move, or it could be thousands if you’re moving a home with multiple bedrooms across state lines.

On the other hand, John Pellitteri, vice president of Colonial Van Lines, said that rather than taking a percentage of your total moving cost to calculate a tip, it’s better to consider how much you’d pay someone for a full day of work.

A recent reviewer on our site tipped their movers $50 each for an eight-hour job, which seems pretty standard for ConsumerAffairs users. Here are some general guidelines to follow when tipping your movers by the hour:

Always consider factors like the difficulty of the move and the level of care the movers put into transporting your belongings. If your movers really go above and beyond, you should consider a tip toward the upper end of the rates above.

A good flat-rate tip is $20 to $30 per person for local moves and $50 per person for cross-country moves.

Proponents of the flat-rate tipping method say it’s standard to tip $20 to $30 per crew member for local moves. You might tip cross-country movers closer to $50 per crew member.

Aviv said how much you tip also depends on the season: “During the busy summer season, when most people are moving and the weather can get quite hot, it's a good idea to give a little extra to show appreciation for their willingness to work during this hectic time. The same goes for winter moves, when cold weather and possibly snowy conditions can make the job even more difficult.”

• How much to tip long-distance movers: $40 minimum per mover
• How much to tip local movers: $20 minimum per mover
• How much to tip packers: $10 to $20 per day
• How much to tip piano movers: $20 to $40 per mover

Do you have to tip movers?

As a general rule, you’re not required to tip your movers, but it’s a good idea. Movers should be on time, treat your things like their own and be organized. They should be courteous, follow your requests and answer any questions that come up about the move.

Most importantly, nothing should show up to your new home damaged or missing. If an accident does happen, your movers should take ownership for anything they damage and help you file a claim with the company.

Remember, movers are in the service industry. You tip for good service and based on job performance. If you have a poor experience with your movers, don't feel obligated to tip.

“Of course, you should always use your best judgment when tipping,” Aviv, the iMoving CEO, said. “If your movers do an exceptional job and go above and beyond what you expected, feel free to give them a larger tip. Conversely, if they damage any of your belongings or are careless, you may want to give a smaller tip or none at all.”

Questions to ask yourself before you tip

When deciding if you want to tip your movers, ask yourself the following questions:

• Were there excessive stairs or multiple levels to climb?
• Did the movers have to make more than one stop, like to your home and an off-site storage unit?
• Was there a lot of heavy furniture?
• Did they take extra care of your antiques or belongings with sentimental value?
• Did they take the time to add extra padding on fragile items or follow special instructions with care?
• Were they pleasant to be around, courteous and efficient?

Another way to show appreciation for your movers is to write an online review that mentions their names. Providing feedback gives others an idea of what to expect on moving day while also highlighting movers that go above and beyond.

How to tip movers

Large national moving companies typically include a tip option as a line item on your bill, meaning you can pay for the tip with the rest of the move. A smaller company may not have this option. If there isn’t a line item, you can tip in cash or ask the moving crew foreman if you can add a tip to the total amount charged to your card (or other payment method).

Tipping with a credit card

Using a credit card is the best way to document to the IRS that tips were part of your moving costs (if you’re able to deduct moving costs from your taxes). Tipping with a credit card is also convenient and saves you a trip to the ATM.

Tipping with a check

If you're trying to document moving expenses, you can also tip with a check (as long as a check is acceptable per company policy). If you tip this way, you can write one check and let the crew foreman distribute the tip among the crew.

Tipping in cash

A cash tip is usually a welcome method of tipping, but you may want to verify with the company or crew foreman in advance that this tipping method is allowed.

Tipping movers with food

Providing refreshments for your movers, whether you're tipping or not, is a nice thing to do. Make sure the drinks are appropriate for the weather: coffee for cold-morning moves; water and lemonade for hot days.

If your move crosses over the lunch hour or takes all day, you can offer your crew lunch. You can just order pizza, but you can also ask your movers what they'd like. Snacks like apples, oranges, chips or cookies are great for half-day moves.

And always have water available. Keep a jug of water and paper or plastic cups on hand. A lot of people ask about tipping with beer — offering beer is a nice gesture, but a good, professional moving service won't let employees drink on the job. You could consider giving your moving team a six-pack to go, but it's probably best to stick with nonalcoholic beverages and treats.

» LEARN: How to make a moving budget

Should you tip movers when they load or unload?

It depends. Sometimes, especially with long-distance moves, you work with two different crews. In this case, you could tip movers half of the total (or whatever makes sense based on each crew’s performance) at both ends or give the tip directly to the company with instructions on how you’d like it split up.

If the crew that loaded your possessions did a truly exceptional job, you might want to tip them before you depart. If you’re tipping in cash, you can give the total tip amount directly to the crew leader, who can distribute it appropriately.

Bottom line

No matter the size of your move, it's almost always a good idea to tip your movers. Tipping between $50 and $100 per crew member for a full-day, larger move is a good place to start. A $20 to $30 tip for each crew member is standard for smaller, local moves that take less time. If the movers are disrespectful, damage your things or try to scam you, it’s fair to not leave a tip at all.

» MORE: How to avoid moving scams

Often, it’s easiest to tip in cash at the end of the day. Consider the complexity of the move, how far you're moving and how much stuff you have. How was the experience? Did the movers go above and beyond? How much heavy lifting was involved? Would you recommend them? If your movers did a great job, let them know with a little something extra once everything is off the moving truck and the job is complete.

Next, learn what to know about moving quotes and how to save money on your next move.