The average amount to tip movers is $5-$10 per mover per hour, or around 5%–15% of the total cost of your move. Tipping isn’t required in the moving industry, but it’s considered good etiquette because of the tough physical work movers do.
Key Takeaways
- The most common tipping options are a flat hourly rate per crew member, or a percentage of your total moving costs. Percentage-based tipping is more common on long-distance moves.
- In addition to the total bill, consider the professionalism of your movers, any extra services you used, or special situations like dealing with bad weather.
- Cash is usually the preferred payment method for tipping moving crews.
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How Much Should You Tip Movers?
The question of how much to tip movers usually hinges on the number of hours worked and the complexity of the move. That being said, the baseline for calculating moving tips will vary depending on whether you are moving locally or long-distance.
How Much To Tip for Local Moves
Local moves are tipped either a flat rate per mover or an hourly rate per mover. Usually, local movers are tipped at a rate of $5-$10 per mover per hour.
For example, if you had a crew of two movers help you for four hours, you could tip each mover $40 for a total of $80. With a total job tip, you might simply decide in advance that you’re going to tip each mover $50, without worrying about the exact number of hours they spend on the move.
If you’re not sure how long a move will take because of its size or complexity, it’s best to go with an hourly rate.
How Much To Tip for Long-Distance Moves
For long-distance moves, it’s more common to tip moving crews based on a percentage of your total moving costs. With most long-distance moving companies, the standard is to tip a total that equals 5%–15% of your moving costs. This helps ensure the tip is scaled based on the size and complexity of your move. This amount is split among all the movers who helped with your move.
Let’s say your long-distance move was priced at $6,000. With a 10% tip, you’ll be paying $600. That $600 will be split equally among the moving crew. Percentage-based tips make it easy to set a per-job rate for tipping. Remember, you’ll likely need to tip separate moving crews for loading and unloading.
How Much To Tip for Small or Labor-Only Moves
For small load movers and labor-only moves, hourly-based tips are usually best. A tip of $5 to $10 per hour per crew member is a good baseline.
For labor-only moves, it may be easier to pay a flat rate for either a half-day or full day of work. Plan on paying $20 to $30 per mover for a half-day move, and $40 to $60 per mover for a full-day move.
Is It Customary To Tip Movers?
Tipping movers isn’t required in the U.S., but it has long been the custom in the industry. Yet movers are paid hourly or per job, so they don’t depend on your tips to make a living.
Moving professionals perform physically demanding work for hours at a time, while also trying to treat your belongings with care. Movers provide much-needed relief for what can be a time-consuming and stressful job.
How To Calculate Moving Tips
- Start with your move type
- Factor in crew size and hours worked
- Adjust based on difficulty and service quality
| Move Type | Suggested Tip Range | How To Split It |
|---|---|---|
| Local | $5–$10 per mover per hour | Give hourly rate to each mover |
| Long-distance | 5%–15% of moving bill | Divide total amount by number of movers |
| Small/labor-only | $20–$60 per mover | Give flat rate to each mover |
Factors That Should Influence How Much You Tip
- Move complexity: Moves with multiple flights of stairs, long carries, tight spaces, or heavy specialty items require more physical effort and skill, which often justifies a higher tip.
- Service level: If movers handled extra services like packing, careful furniture disassembly, or specialty item handling, tipping more can reflect the added work involved.
- Service quality: Crews that are professional, communicative, careful with your belongings, and respectful throughout the day generally deserve to be tipped at the higher end of the range.
- Duration: Longer moves mean sustained physical labor, so it’s reasonable to increase your tip when movers work extended hours or across multiple days.
When You Could Tip More (Or Less)
Reasons To Tip More
- Care with fragile or antique items
- Finishing earlier than expected
- Friendly and courteous crews
- Bad weather conditions
When It’s Okay To Tip Less
- Late arrival without notice
- Careless handling that causes damage
- Unprofessional behavior
- You had to do the movers’ work
How & When To Tip Movers
Cash vs. Digital Payments
Cash is the preferred way to tip movers. It ensures each crew member receives their share without delays or confusion about how the money will be distributed.
Digital payment platforms like Venmo or Zelle can also be used, but you should check with the crew first. Not all movers are comfortable sharing payment details, and digital tips can sometimes create extra steps or delays compared to handing out cash.
Who Receives the Tip
Generally speaking, it’s best to tip each crew member individually so everyone is acknowledged for their work. This also allows you to adjust amounts based on effort or time spent on the job.
If you prefer, you can give the full tip to the crew leader and clearly state that it’s meant to be divided among the team. This approach works best when there’s a clear supervisor managing the crew.
When To Hand Over the Tip
For local moves, tip at the end of the job once everything has been unloaded and placed where it belongs.
For long-distance moves, tip each crew when their portion of the work is complete. This often means tipping the loading crew at pickup and the unloading crew at delivery, since they are usually separate teams.
Common Tipping Mistakes To Avoid
- Not budgeting for tips
- Assuming tips are included
- Tipping the company instead of the crew
- Not tipping everyone on multi-day moves
FAQ
Is it okay to ask a moving company about tipping expectations?
Yes. Policies can vary between companies. Some have a no tipping policy, while others have formal tipping options that can be added to their invoice. At the very least, they should be able to give a typical range for tipping their movers.
Should I tip movers if they break or damage items?
This is a personal decision. Remember, unintentional damage is possible even with careful packing. On the other hand, you shouldn’t reward movers who handle your items in a careless way that leads to damage.
Should I tip movers in bad weather conditions?
Yes, you should tip movers who have to work in bad weather conditions. Rain, extreme heat, and snow makes their job much harder and more time-consuming. Tipping is a great way to show appreciation for their having to work in difficult conditions.
Is tipping movers tax-deductible?
No. Moving expenses are no longer deductible. The only exception is for active duty military members whose move resulted from a military order, and whose out-of-pocket expenses exceeded the amount they were reimbursed.
Should I tip movers if I already paid for packing services?
Yes, it’s still a good idea to tip movers, even if you already paid for packing services. This is labor-intensive, time-consuming work, and a tip is a great way to show appreciation to movers who packed your belongings with care.
