Do You Tip Movers When They Load or Unload?
Countless people rely on the help of professional moving crews to make their days easier. Being a movers entails lots of hard work, heavy lifting, and patience, and that’s why they often get tips. So, do you tip movers when they load or unload?
Ideally, you should tip movers after they unload and are ready to leave your home for the day. That way, their hands will be free and they won’t be busy moving your belongings. This also gives you a chance to assess their performance when you consider how much you should tip them.
Movers aren’t guaranteed tips, but it’s customary to tip them because of the nature of their work. People often tip at least $10 per person per hour for simple moves, and more for complex, long-distance moves. Follow along as we highlight when and how to tip your movers to show your appreciation.
When Should You Tip Movers?
The best time to tip movers is after they’re done unloading your belongings. Ideally, you should wait until they’re ready to leave your home and head back to their facility. Some people tip movers while they’re loading, which is quite kind.
However, this is when movers are the busiest, so it may distract them. Keep in mind that they may not have a free hand or pocket to accept your tip during this time. Moving crews typically chat with customers before leaving for the day.
This is the best chance to offer them a tip as they’re done working. Simply thank them for their hard work and offer a cash tip to compensate them.
Why Do You Tip Movers?
It’s customary to tip movers because it is a hard job that requires lots of work. Movers work long hours and take great measures to ensure your belongings are safe. Long-distance movers often must leave their homes for up to a few days to haul your belongings to your new home.
Even local moves require hours of heavy lifting and assembling furniture. It’s a rewarding job because it’s a service that countless people require. However, you must consider why you hired movers in the first place.
Many people hire movers because they need help moving all their belongings. Others hire movers because of limited schedules and physical limitations. It’s worth tipping movers to show appreciation for their hard work as they helped you with something that would otherwise be hard.
Do You Tip Movers Separately?
Many people tip movers separately to ensure they each get a fair share of the tip. Granted, this can sometimes be hard if you’re dealing with a large moving crew. In that case, it helps to keep track of everyone to ensure you can tip each of them.
Some people tip the foreman of the moving crew out of convenience. This is acceptable as well, but it’s worth doing it in front of at least one other person. That way, you can make sure the foreman will evenly distribute each person’s share of the tip.
How Much Should You Tip Movers?
Many people tip each mover $20 for local moves and $40 or more for long-distance moves. However, there is no ironclad rule as moves vary when it comes to duration and difficulty. For example, you may only tip $5 to $10 per person per hour for a simple move.
This is appropriate for a studio apartment or 1-bedroom move that only takes 1 to 2 hours. Some people find it easier to base their tip on a percentage of the cost of the move. People typically tip at least 5% when going based on a percentage.
However, many people tip up to 15% to 20% of the cost of the move. This is especially fair for full-service movers and long-distance moves. It’s also common to tip the truck driver slightly more, tipping $50 to $100 for a long drive.
What to Consider When You Tip Movers
When tipping movers, it’s important to consider how difficult your move is. Nobody will blame you if you give a small tip for a simple move without much furniture. That’s especially true if it only takes 2 hours from start to finish.
However, it’s worth tipping $10 or more per person per hour for difficult moves. For example, moving a 4-bedroom house can take 6 to 10 hours or more in some cases. That entails 6 to 10 hours of packing, disassembling furniture, moving boxes, and traveling.
It’s important to consider that moving crews must repeat this process when they get to your new home. That’s especially true with full packing and unpacking services. Other services, like white-glove service, are also physically demanding and worth considering when you tip.
How Much to Tip Movers for a Half-Day
It’s common to tip movers $25 to $40 per person for a half-day of work. That comes out to $10 per hour in most cases, which is a fair tip. Even a half-day still requires hours of hard work and moving heavy objects without many breaks.
Is it Rude Not to Tip Movers?
It’s not necessarily rude if you opt out of tipping your movers. This is a personal choice based on how much value you think the movers provide. There’s no denying that movers work hard, but it’s up to you to decide if tipping them is worth it.
For example, some people forego tipping movers if they feel the movers did a bad job. Making mistakes is one thing, but damaging walls, floors, and several pieces of furniture is another. In that case, nobody will likely blame you for not tipping your movers.
Some renters and homeowners also consider the attitude of the moving crew when they tip them. For example, rude or mean-spirited movers may put a damper on your day. Tensions can run high during difficult moves, so keep that in mind. However, there’s no excuse for your movers to be mean to you.
Hardworking Movers You Can Trust
At Optimum Moving, we take pride in our carefully assembled team of professional movers. Our trust in them is as strong as their performance, and that has kept us working for over a decade. Call Optimum Moving at (855) 315-6683 to set up a consultation and make your move go smoothly.
