Should You Tip a Moving Crew?
If you’re planning to move, you’re probably wondering whether you should tip your moving crew. In most cases, the answer to this question is yes. However, the specific amount that you should give depends on the services that the crew offered.
But tips aren’t the only thing people are wondering about when it comes to working with a moving crew! Here are a few frequently asked questions about how much and when to tip movers, whether to help them move items and more.
How Much Is Customary to Tip Movers?
If you decide to go by percentages, it’s customary to tip a moving crew anywhere between 10 and 20 percent. However, you may wish to adjust the tip amount based on the services that you received. If you are truly unsatisfied with the services that you received – for example, if your belongings were damaged by the movers – you may be justified in not offering a tip at all.
There are some regional differences to be aware of when it comes to tipping customs. However, the standard rule of 15-20 percent applies anywhere within the US.
Do You Tip Your Movers When They Load or Unload?
With moving, as with so many tippable services, it’s usually best to offer a tip after the job is completed. This means waiting until your belongings have been unloaded at your destination.
Are You Supposed to Help Movers?
While many people do offer assistance to the moving crew, you certainly don’t have to, and it’s often best to simply get out of the way and let the crew do their job. However, there are situations where it may be a good idea to offer assistance or oversee the process, such as these:
- It’s always best to let movers do their job when it comes to lifting and transporting heavy items. However, if you notice that the crew is struggling with a very large item, it may be appropriate to offer them a hand.
- If you have any fragile items, it’s best to give the movers instructions on how to safely transport them. This may include pre-packing them with foam and/or bubble wrap, which will protect them in transit.
- If you feel that some items have been improperly packed, it’s important to let the moving crew know right away. They’ll be able to easily make any necessary adjustments.
What Is a Good Tip for Movers?
If you don’t want to go by percentages, you can just give a tip of approximately $4-$5 per person, per hour of work. You can adjust the amount up or down depending on the performance of individual movers, such as if one of them worked much harder than others. Also, if the crew worked for less than four hours, it’s usually best to offer around $20 per person. This is true even if the number of hours is significantly less than four.
However, if the number of hours that the crew worked is between four and eight hours, a standard tip amount is between 40 and 50 dollars per person. If the crew worked longer than eight hours, it’s best to give approximately $50-$60 per person. It’s almost never considered customary or expected to offer a tip that’s larger than $60 per crew member.
You may choose to offer a larger tip for an exceptionally long-distance move if unusually heavy items had to be transported or you have a large number of fragile items. Furthermore, it’s often best to give a larger than usual tip if the crew had to work multiple days. Also, if significant unexpected setbacks occurred during the process of loading and/or unloading items, you might want to increase the tip amount.
Can I Tip Movers Using a Credit Card?
This will depend on the specific moving company that you choose and its payment processor. However, most moving crews will make it possible to add on a tip if you’re paying with a credit card. It’s important to realize that some companies accept certain credit cards and not others.
Should I Tip My Movers More Based on the Size of My Home/Length of My Move?
There are several factors that you need to consider when you’re determining how much to give as a tip. While the most important variable is the cost of hiring the crew, the distance to your destination, the size of your home, and the number of items that you’re transporting are all important factors to consider.
Another important factor to consider is whether or not the crew will need to transport fragile items. In most cases, it’s best to offer a somewhat higher tip if you need to move glass, ceramic, and/or other easily breakable items. Here are a few other factors that you should take into account when you’re determining how much to tip:
- If heavy furniture or other large items need to be carried up and/or down stairs, you might want to consider increasing the tip amount.
- You should consider offering a larger tip for a long-distance move.
- Consider the amount of time that it takes for the job to be completed. If the crew has to work overtime, you may want to consider offering a larger tip.
You Might Want to Use an Online Tip Calculator
If you’re still unsure how much to give as a tip, you might want to consider using a tip calculator. Not only can you find tip calculators on the web, such as Calculator.net, but you can also download tip calculator apps such as Split, Apple Tip Calculator or Android Tip Calculator.
Whether to tip movers is not a question most of us have to wonder about very often, but it’s important to reward a job well done (and you don’t want to over-tip if the job was not so well done). These tips about tipping can help you and your professional movers to reach an arrangement that makes everyone happy!