If you’re planning to move and are hiring professional movers, you’re probably wondering, “Should I tip the movers?” If the answer is “yes,” then how do you know how much to tip? In this guide, we’ll go over whether or not you should tip your movers, as well as how much is appropriate to tip each mover.
Tipping Movers Isn’t Required
First and foremost, know that you’re not obligated to tip movers even if they expect it because a lot of customers opt to tip. When you book the movers, they should even tell you that you’re not required to tip. If the movers don’t do a good job or if you’re extra short on money, don’t feel like you absolutely have to tip – hiring movers is expensive as it is, so it’s understandable if you don’t have extra cash to hand out.
When You Should Tip
- Did the movers show up on time?
- Did they finish moving on the quoted timeline or even early?
- Was the move difficult? For example, did they have to go up and down a lot of stairs or get the furniture around tight corners?
- Did they only move your boxes and furniture or did they also help you pack?
- Did they safely move all of your belongings without damaging anything?
- Did they go above and beyond when it comes to professionalism and customer service?
You should also take into consideration what was promised when you booked the movers in the first place. Did everything go the way you expected it to? If there were some disappointing aspects, you may not want to tip or you may opt to tip less than the best rate.
How Much to Tip Movers
If you’ve decided that you’re going to tip movers, the basic “rule” is to tip each mover a certain amount of money per hour, which can include their travel hours, if significant travel was required. If you’re happy with the job your movers did, you can tip each one $5 or $6 per hour spent, including travel time. If they just did a so-so job, you may want to tip them $3 or $4 each per hour, and it’s up to you whether or not to include travel time. Another way to calculate the tip is to give them between five and ten percent of the total cost of moving, then split that lump sum across each mover.
There’s no straight answer to, “Do you tip movers?” because it depends on how good of a job the movers did. Assuming they didn’t show up hours late, break your furniture or take umpteen smoke breaks, you should consider tipping your movers something, even if it’s a few bucks per hour. Moving is a difficult job and professional movers provide a taxing and important service.
