Tipping your movers is a gesture of appreciation for the hard work they’re doing to help you move from one place to another. While it may not be required by law, as a service industry practice, it’s considered common courtesy. They are likely working long shifts that require great physical effort and an ability to navigate difficult terrain with your belongings. Tipping demonstrates your gratitude for their hard work!
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When to Tip?
After the Move is Complete
Movers should be tipped after the move is complete, not before or during. Moving is strenuous labor that requires careful planning. Every effort should be made to ensure that movers treat your belongings as if they were their own.
When the move is finished and all of your items have been moved into place, you can choose to tip each mover individually or offer a collective tip to the head mover in charge of supervising the job. Usually, any individuals who directly assisted with moving items and setting up your
If the Movers Go Above and Beyond
If your movers provide excellent service, go beyond the call of duty, and leave you a satisfied customer, it’s certainly appropriate to show them your appreciation by tipping. As with any instance of tipping etiquette, you should base your gratuity on the quality of service provided.
Tipping can be particularly important when moving a long distance. If the movers are prompt and professional all day long over multiple days or runs, you may want to recognize those extra efforts with additional appreciation. Consider the difficulty and time involved in completing an especially challenging move and keep that in mind when deciding upon an appropriate tip for these hard-working individuals.
How Much to Tip
Tipping is a great way to show your appreciation for the quality of service that you received from your movers. However, it can be difficult to know how much is the right amount to tip.
Local Moves
For local moves, it’s common practice to tip $10 to $20 per mover depending on the complexity of the move. What factors should you consider when deciding how much to tip?
- How large and heavy were the items being moved? It will require more physical exertion for larger and heavier items.
- How many floors did you have to move items up or down? That can be hard work!
- Did your movers assemble and disassemble furniture for you, such as beds or entertainment centers? This is an extra service that requires additional time and skill.
- Were your movers friendly and professional, while also efficient and respectful of your belongings? An upbeat attitude is appreciated when dealing with such a stressful event!
Ultimately, the amount you decide to tip should reflect just how satisfied you are with their level of service. It’s okay if you can’t afford a large tip – any amount is appreciated by hard-working movers. With a simple thank-you as well as some words of encouragement, let them know how much their effort was valued!
Long-Distance Moves
Long-distance moves can require a lot of effort and time. This is especially true if you’re relocating across the country or further. If you need help moving on a long distance, it’s important to consider how much to tip the movers.
When packing, loading, and unloading services are included in your move total, a 15-20 percent tip is appropriate for appreciating all the hard work they did while helping you transition to your new home.
To make it even easier:
- Tipping $40-$50 per mover for a half-day job or local move is an appropriate way to show appreciation for house removals.
- On the other hand, tipping $80-$100 per mover for a full-day job or long-distance move is recommended.
- If additional helpers (not part of the team) come in to help out with additional tasks such as assembling furniture then consider adding another $10-$20 per helper as an extra thank you.
International Moves
If you’re moving overseas and you’d like to tip your movers there may be a few things that you need to consider first. Depending on the size of your move, you could be dealing with taxes, tariffs, customs fees, and even special restrictions depending on your destination country. Make sure that you research these things thoroughly before attempting to pay anyone a tip in cash or bank deposit form when crossing international borders.
In general, 10-20% of a move’s total cost is considered a standard tip for good service in North America and Europe but laws regarding money transfers vary from country to country so the most important thing you can do when planning an international move is to do your research about what is legal and acceptable at the destination address.
Other Ways to Show Appreciation
Cash is not the only option. There are many other ways to show your appreciation for the extra effort they have put in to make your move a success. Let’s look at the different options you have when it comes to showing your movers your appreciation.
Provide Refreshments
Whether you bring boxed drinks, bottled water, snacks, or sandwiches, it will all be appreciated greatly. Even slices of pizza go far in expressing your gratitude! Delicious treats fuel moving crews, and they can jump right back into hard work with renewed energy after a meal break.
Many people choose to provide pizza and cold beverages midway through the job. If you don’t have time to stop by the grocery store or bakery before the job day, there are delivery services available from most restaurants throughout most cities and towns. Additionally, if there’s a favorite eatery near the destination house that you know of, that could also be a nice gesture for them to receive.
Offer Positive Reviews
Considering the rapid evolvement of online reviews, this could go a long way for them; potential customers who read online reviews would know that the moving company has treated their former customers with respect and professionalism.
Not only can you leave a rave review on the moving company’s website directly, the effects of which may be seen within days, but also on external websites such as Google or Yelp. Furthermore, if you’ve used social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook to search, inquire and book the moving services, you can use the same platforms to thank and recommend them by writing positive posts.
You could also consider stories or photos highlighting your experience with them along with relevant tags that will capture more attention when shared. Not only do they showcase direct gratitude towards your movers but they will also likely pay off in further business via recommendations or referrals from other readers of these wonderful stories as well!
Conclusion
Tipping your movers is not mandatory, but it is certainly appreciated. As a general guideline, you should plan to tip them based on the quality of service and the length of the move. Keep in mind that it ensures that you receive quality service every time. If you have any questions about whether or not to tip your movers and how much to give, feel free to ask ahead of time or wait until after the move to decide if you would like to express your gratitude with a generous tip.