Tipping the movers is not a hard decision, and if you keep the following suggestions in mind, you can be sure you will find a suitable answer for your particular moving job situation. Perhaps because consumers rely so much on the movers doing a good moving job that they do not consider them as service professionals. But they actually are, and proper etiquette requires that they should be treated as such – it is appropriate to offer a tip, whether it is cash or buying the crew lunch and drinks, or even both. You would base your moving tips on the moving job overall performance. If you think your crew was helpful and professional, then give them what you believe is fair.

Moving is a stressful process including hundreds of small details that need particular attention. One of those is how to treat the crew moving your life’s precious belongings.

A quick reference that should keep the movers happy and moving:

  • Moving is hard and stressful work so it would only be common decency to have cold bottled water, coffee, soda or whatever is suitable to the weather and time of day on hand in the fridge.
  • You may provide food if the move takes a longer and extends over the lunch time; pizza, sandwiches, something quick they can eat while on the move. Some people prefer to buy the crew lunch instead of a tip and this is perfectly fine. Some do both. Whatever you are comfortable with. If you do offer to buy the crew lunch, make sure to ask if they have a preference as to food choice.
  • Avoid giving the guys beer or alcohol at the end of the day. Make the tip cash so the movers can spend it how they wish.

How much should you tip the movers?

You will hear various advices on how much is common to tip. Percentage do not really work as in a restaurant for example. Basically, if it is a half-day 3-4 hours moving – $15 per mover is considered appropriate tip and if it is a 7 hours move – $25 is the right tip. If you have a lot of heavy furniture pieces and narrow or winding stairs, you should consider increasing the tips amount. If the crew works above the 12 hours to get your precious belongings packed and loaded, consider $50 as fair. If you received absolutely amazing professional moving service, tips can reach up to $100 and even more. But the movers need to be really good, really helpful and do the extra step, such as helping with last minute packing, taking their time to carefully wrap fragile expensive items, or helping catch an escaped cat. This is definitely a sign of really good movers that deserve gratitude.

After all, tipping the movers depends on your own evaluation. You should tip what you believe the movers deserve. If you are satisfied with the whole moving process, then giving a tip is just a genuine action proving that everything went right.