Packing up your life and heading to a new location? Here's how, when and how much to tip movers.
Here’s How Much to Tip Movers in Every Situation
Updated on Nov. 18, 2024
Moving from one place to another sounds like it should be simple, but if you’ve ever moved, you know how quickly things get complicated. It’s so stressful, in fact, that when moving company College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving asked 2,000 Americans about their moving experience, 25% of people guessed moving was more stressful than landing a plane in an emergency or running for president! That’s because moving your stuff from one place to another isn’t the only stressor. All the little details—like how much to tip movers—can make the process of moving so incredibly draining.
“How much to tip often feels like a gray area with constantly changing rules, and it can feel frustrating when you don’t know what to expect,” says Valerie Sokolosky, an etiquette and tipping expert and author of Do It Right.
To add even more confusion, tipping policies can vary from company to company. Some don’t accept tips, while others welcome them. “It’s best to ask the company rep you’re working with ahead of time what the expectation for tipping is,” says Jan Goss, an etiquette and tipping expert and founder of Show Up Well consulting. If it feels a little weird to ask that straight out, don’t worry: It’s not. “It’s never bad etiquette to ask if people usually tip in this situation and if so, how much,” she says.
To help you get a feel for the etiquette rules for tipping movers, we asked Sokolosky and Goss, along with professional movers, to share everything you need to know about how much to tip movers. That way, you can focus your energy on the big things that need your attention, like boxing up your best dishware without chipping a single plate.
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Do you have to tip your movers?
You don’t have to tip your movers, but it is a good idea, even if your company is paying for the move, says Sokolosky. “Like a lot of etiquette rules, it comes down to empathy and putting yourself in the other person’s shoes,” she says. “Many movers will say they don’t require or even expect tips, but moving is a tough, physically demanding job, and a good tip is a way of showing gratitude.”
OK, but what do moving companies say about tipping? It may depend on the type of move you’re making.
If you’re relocating for work and your employer is paying the moving company, there’s very little expectation that you would tip. Your employer typically won’t tip either—all of it is written into the contracted price, says Dave Cook, vice president of operations for Alexander’s Mobility Services, a national moving company that specializes in corporate moves. He notes that his company’s movers generally don’t receive tips. “We don’t dissuade it, nor do we encourage it. It’s completely up to the customer’s discretion,” he says.
However, if you personally hired movers to help you, whether you’re moving across town or to another state, there is often an expectation that you will tip them. “You certainly don’t have to tip, but moving makes for a long day, and you’re with these people all day, so giving them a tip is a great way to show your appreciation for what they do,” says Drue Chrisman (yes, NFL player Drue Chrisman), who owns Pink Zebra Moving in Hamilton, Ohio. “My guys never expect tips, but they usually get them—mostly because we specialize in white-glove moving services with lots of special, personal touches,” he says.
Why should you tip your movers?
“Hiring movers is a luxury service, and most people recognize this and tip well,” says Chrisman, who worked as a mover before owning his own moving company. “Those tips always make their day and do make up a significant part of their income.”
That’s a good reason for satisfied customers to give a tip. Movers are paid an hourly wage, so tips aren’t factored into their salaries. But what you may not realize is that the moving fee you pay primarily covers the company’s overhead—think truck maintenance and logistical costs. The workers doing all the heavy lifting don’t get much. The average pay for a mover in the United States is $18 an hour, or about $40,000 per year. But it ranges from $16,000 to $65,000 a year depending on the area of the country. (For reference, the poverty line, according to the U.S. government, is just under $36,000.)
“A generous tip helps movers make a living wage,” Sokolosky says, adding that these people are handling all your worldly belongings, so this isn’t the time to be cheap.
How much to tip movers
No matter how quick and seemingly easy your move is, not tipping at all is an etiquette mistake, Goss says. “The standard advice is to tip movers 20% of the final bill,” she explains “But practically speaking, it’s most common to simply tip a round number in cash, normally $5 to $10 per hour per mover, plus a little extra for the supervisor.”
When deciding how much to tip movers, keep in mind the type of move and the work involved. Moving from one small apartment to another across town is a very different endeavor than packing up a large household and going across the country, and your tip should reflect the amount of work the movers are doing, Goss says.
How much to tip for short moves
The average cost for a short move is $800 to $2,150, so a 20% tip would range from $160 to $430, split between all the workers. If you’re choosing the second method, offer $5 per hour to each mover and $10 per hour to the supervisor. So if the company is in your home for six hours, tip each mover $30 and the supervisor $60.
How much to tip for long-distance moves
Longer moves average $2,200 to $5,700 and require more work packing, transporting, unloading and temporarily storing your stuff. So how much should you tip movers for these long moves? Because of the work involved, you should budget for a 20% percent tip as part of your moving costs, especially if the same crew is moving you out of your old home and into your new place, Sokolosky says.
This means tipping $440 to $1,140 for a move that takes longer than one day and/or is farther than 200 miles.
If you have the same moving crew the entire trip, pay the tip at the completion of the move, Goss says. If you’re dealing with a different team of movers at each end, calculate the total tip and give half to the movers at your current location and the other half to the movers at your destination.
Tipping cheat sheet
Here’s how much you’ll spend tipping movers, based on the recommendation to tip $5 to $10 per hour per worker.
| Crew of 2 | Crew of 3 | Crew of 4 | Crew of 5 | |
| 2 hours | $20–$40 | $30–$60 | $40–$80 | $50–$100 |
| 4 hours | $40–$80 | $60–$120 | $80–$160 | $100–$200 |
| 8 hours | $80–$160 | $120–$240 | $160–$320 | $200–$400 |
How to determine how much to tip movers
Just as there are tons of packing tips to make boxing up your house a breeze, there are a lot of variables that help determine whether you should tip your movers more or less, says Sokolosky. Focus on these six:
- Quality of service
- Amount of effort
- Attitude
- Moving time
- Moving distance
- The contract
When to tip movers more
You may want to give your movers a heftier tip when:
- They exceeded your expectations and did a great job.
- They had to move difficult items, like a waterbed or sleeper sofa, or they had to disassemble and assemble furniture. (Of course, there are certain items that don’t belong on a moving truck—we’re looking at you, baby grand piano—so do your research beforehand.)
- They were positive, clear and helpful.
- Your move takes more than one day, leaves your metropolitan area and/or is more than 200 miles.
- They have to spend more than eight hours in your home at one time.
- They had to navigate difficult conditions, such as narrow hallways, steep or winding stairs, or bad weather.
When to tip movers less
Etiquette experts say it’s OK to give a smaller-than-usual tip to your movers when:
- They didn’t meet your expectations, and you were unsatisfied with the quality.
- They were late and didn’t communicate the timing well with you.
- They brought the wrong truck or forgot the necessary supplies.
- They were rude, unkind or short-tempered.
- They worked very slowly and had to be reminded constantly to get back to work.
- Your items got damaged or broken.
The contract
It’s rare, but occasionally moving companies will include the tip in the final cost estimate, so be sure to ask what the company’s policy is and look through your moving contract closely for any extra fees.
Do you tip movers if the contract includes a tip? Nope, you do not need to tip extra. Similarly, if the contract is between the moving company and the company you are employed by, then you don’t need to add a tip (although it’s kind if you do).
Sometimes the contract will specify that tips will not be accepted. In that case, don’t put the workers in an awkward position by trying to tip them anyway.
How to tip movers
Give the money to the movers in person, rather than adding a tip to the final bill. “Cash is always preferred because that means they get it right away, but if you add the tip to the bill, we make sure our workers get it on their next paycheck,” Chrisman says.
Whether you’re tipping hotel housekeeping, a dog groomer, a massage therapist or your movers, cash is king. Not only is it the preferred method, but it may be the only option offered by smaller moving companies. “Giving cash ensures that your tip goes to the people doing the work on the ground,” says Sokolosky. The crew may accept a personal check, but always ask first.
Chrisman and Cook both advise handing the total tip to the lead mover, usually the driver, and allowing him or her to divvy it up among the movers.
When to tip movers
Tip movers at the completion of the job, Goss says. For short moves, you can tip once everything is unloaded at the destination. For long moves, tip half of it after the loading is finished at your current place and the other half after the unloading is finished at your new place. (But as noted above, if the same team is handling your entire long-distance move, you can tip after everything is unloaded at your new place.)
What if you can’t afford to tip?
At the end of the day, a tip is optional and should be based on the quality of service received, Sokolosky says. No one should feel that they have to tip, and heaven knows that moving is already incredibly expensive. If you can’t afford to tip, be sure to offer generous thanks, write a thank-you card and/or leave a glowing review for the company online.
Other ways to show your gratitude
You may want to consider other ways to show appreciation for your movers, Goss adds. Buying the crew lunch, offering cold nonalcoholic drinks and setting out snacks are always nice gestures. “If you’re offering food, choose things that are grab-and-go, don’t require utensils and aren’t too messy,” she says. This could include granola bars, sandwiches, individual packages of chips, cookies or popcorn.
Getting the crew lunch at your home is always appreciated. “It’s a big burden lifted off of our team. Then they don’t have to figure out the logistics of getting food,” Cook says. “Ask the movers what they would like to eat—most movers get way too much pizza and would prefer anything else. Plus, it’s really heavy and unhealthy, and a lot of people prefer healthier options these days.”
It’s also kind to give the movers a gift card or some cash to go to a restaurant for lunch, Chrisman says. “This gives everyone a little bit of a break, which can be much needed, especially on very long moving days,” he says. “One of the nicest things you can do is show movers where the water and ice dispenser is if you have one. It’s a very physical job, and they need to drink a lot of water.”
Goss aims to make the moving process as smooth as possible—including for the movers doing the heavy lifting. “I also make it a point to show them where the bathroom and the refrigerator are and encourage them to make themselves comfortable,” she adds.
But the nicest thing you can do for your movers? “Be prepared,” say both Cook and Chrisman. Make sure you have your things ready for the movers, your pets and children out of the way and any items you don’t want packed stored in your car or elsewhere. “Truly, this is what we appreciate more than anything, as it makes the move run so much smoother,” Cook says.
About the experts
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on how much to tip movers, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest. Then Jacqueline Whitmore, a business etiquette expert and hospitality consultant with more than 30 years of experience who owns the Protocol School of Palm Beach, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Jan Goss, etiquette and tipping expert and CEO and founder of Show Up Well consulting; phone interview, Aug. 15, 2024
- Dave Cook, vice president of operations for Alexander’s Mobility Services; phone interview, Aug. 23, 2024
- Drue Chrisman, owner of Pink Zebra Moving in Hamilton, Ohio; phone interview, Aug. 21, 2024
- Valerie Sokolosky, etiquette and tipping expert and author of Do It Right; phone interview, February 2023
- College Hunks Hauling Junk: “Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Moving: Insights Backed by Data”
- Forbes: “How much do movers cost?”
- Indeed: “Mover salary in United States”
