Do you tip movers both ways?

The decision to pay moving companies 10% of the total could work perfectly if you only work with a moving team for a few hours. But the total cost you pay to the moving company usually depends on how many hours they spend inside the truck. The general rule of thumb is to base the tip on a percentage of the total cost of moving, with 15-20% being the industry average. Your movers wouldn't mind getting bigger tips than they normally get, but after all, it's your hard-earned money, and you're most likely moving on a tight budget.

If you have hired professional moving agents, they usually work tirelessly during the course of their shift with you, ensuring that your move is incident free and meets your needs. Heavy possessions such as pianos or closets, as well as architectural obstacles such as steep terrains, narrow or winding staircases or multiple flights of stairs can make your move significantly more exhausting for those who move. However, if your movers damage your furniture, are careless, and are late, it may be appropriate to skip tips. It is not recommended to use a standard percentage of the cost when tipping carriers, as the total cost of moving includes both those moving and the distance the van travels.

For example, while you likely have carefully researched and selected your packing and moving company, you may not have considered the final costs of properly paying high-quality moving companies. Once you have the general tipping rule for those moving down, most relocation scenarios follow the exact same rule. Then sign your final paperwork and only then should you take out your wallet to reward each move individually. Now that you can recognize when professional furniture carriers in your home deserve to be tipped for their service or not, let's go over the right way to tip movers.

Don't be afraid to get a quick vote from the workers or ask for the special from that great local restaurant that the move might not know anything about. Moving companies don't factor in or tip the price of your move, so it's a gesture worth considering if you intend to thank your movers for a job well done. Accidents happen, and it's how your movers deal with these situations that should determine if you tip at a reduced rate or don't stop tipping. So, if your move only took 4 hours and you were impressed with the service, tipping $16 to $20 on each move is considered an adequate amount to tip.

The ideal way to tip carriers is to give each move its own tip after relocation. Once, with a different moving company, I didn't tip because the moves were incredibly unprofessional. Keep in mind that moving companies are in the service industry, so your base salary is usually reduced in anticipation of tips.

Matthew Oestmann
Matthew Oestmann

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