Come moving day, you’ll probably be running around with your moving crew to make sure all of your things are organized and ready to go before getting loaded onto the truck. It’s going to be a hectic day, and once everything has been loaded up, you might wonder whether you should tip movers and packers, or if you’re not supposed to. 

Especially if you haven’t worked with a professional team before, knowing how much should you tip movers or whether they’re supposed to be tipped at all can be a weird topic to broach if you’re not prepared. So are you supposed to tip movers? We’ll run you through the customary tipping procedure for many professional crews so you’re ready and not left scrambling or worried about etiquette come moving day. 

Are Movers Supposed to Be Tipped?

If you’re wondering ‘is it customary to tip movers?’, you’re not alone. The guidelines around moving etiquette and whether or not to tip your moving crew can differ from company to company. It can also depend on whether or not your moving company uses in-house crews, or contracts or hires outside moving crews for your move. If you’re using Morse Moving & Storage’s expert services, you’ll receive only top-of-the-line service from our experienced moving professionals and customer service staff. 

If you’re looking to show your movers a little extra appreciation for their hard work during your move and for keeping your items safe, know that it is definitely okay to tip your movers. Tipping is never required, but it’s always appreciated to show them a little extra thanks. 

How Much Should You Tip Movers?

Now that you know whether or not it’s okay to tip your movers, you’re now faced with the question of how much to tip movers. After all, there is a usual rule of thumb for tipping movers that there is for more regular services like going to a restaurant, getting your hair done, or places where your tip is usually a percentage of the bill. 

Some people shy away from tipping their movers because they think to tip your crew, you should follow the 20% of the bill standard that many abide by for these other services. However, because movers aren’t an everyday service, they don’t really follow this standard – unless you’d like to! Though we’re sure your crew would appreciate a 20% tip, it’s understandable that that might be extremely costly depending on the size and scope of your move and its overall cost. 

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how much to tip your movers, but the general rule of thumb is to tip your crew around $4-$5 an hour, per mover, or around 5-10% of the overall cost of your move. For example, if your move came to $1000 in total, you might tip $100 and split that between  your crew (depending on how many members in your moving crew there are). Of course, since tipping is optional, your crew will appreciate you tipping more or less than the rule of thumb. 

What to Consider When Tipping Movers

When deciding how much to tip your moving crew, consider how much they’ve done for you, and what conditions they’re working in. For example, if you’re moving on a beautiful, temperate day, and have done all of your packing by yourself, you might tip a bit less than if your movers have completed the packing process for you, and are moving your items in stormy or  excessively hot weather. Also consider how long they’ve been with you during the process, and how many awkward, bulky, or excessively heavy items you have. 

No matter how much you might tip your movers, make sure you’re using a great crew that’s a part of a great company that will treat you right. For all of your relocation needs, check out the complete moving services Morse Moving & Storage provides.