Depending on the services you need, a move can be costly. And yet, as many people will tell you after they’ve moved and are residing comfortably in their new home, hiring a mover is definitely worth it. Does that mean you should tip your movers? In short, yes. But, as with any other service provider, you can base your tip on job performance. Keep in mind, though, that you have a lot more riding on your moving company than you do on, say, a waiter at your favorite restaurant. If he gets your order wrong, he can easily replace it. However, if your movers scratch a prized piece of artwork or drop an heirloom vase, the mistake can’t be fixed so easily.
How Much Should You Tip?
If your movers were courteous and attentive, loaded your items safely, and transported them intact to your new destination, tipping them is a sign that you recognized their effort and appreciated their service. You’re certainly not expected to leave a 15-20% tip like you might for your waiter, however.
If your move is local and you packed everything yourself, $20 per mover is more than sufficient. If you partnered with a full-service moving company that did the packing, or if your move was long distance, $30-50 per mover would be a fair amount. With both local and long-distance moves, you can always increase your tip by a few dollars per person if the job was particularly labor intensive or the service was exceptional.
For more tips about moving etiquette, contact Atlantic Relocation Services. We are a full-service mover that has proudly served customers across the United States for more than a half century. We offer a variety of professional moving services, including residential, commercial, and specialty moves, as well as warehousing in ultra-secure storage facilities.