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Tipping movers is a common dilemma that many people face during the moving process. Whether you’re planning a long-distance move or just a small local move, understanding the etiquette of tipping can help you show your appreciation for a job well done.
How Do I Tip Movers?
You tip your waitress, hairdresser and driver, but do you tip movers? Adding a gratuity for a job well done is always the customer’s choice, but like going to a restaurant or salon, tipping when the service is complete is sometimes expected. Is a tip for your professional movers customary? And if so, what should you tip them?
When you hire a full-service moving company—such as a National Van Lines agent—you’re entrusting your valuables to a mover backed by the van line Americans have relied on for 95+ years. These professional movers pride themselves on A-to-Z service and satisfaction.
Unlike a restaurant or salon experience, tipping your movers typically isn’t expected. However, recognizing and rewarding superior service is appreciated. Defining a moving-industry standard is a bit tricky, though, so here’s a list of factors to consider when deciding whether to tip your movers.
Did They Do a Good Job?
As your movers finish up, think about the course of the day. Did they arrive on time? Did they listen, ask questions, provide expert advice, and make you feel at ease? Is everything where and how it should be? Did they go above and beyond? If they impressed you or if you answered yes to most of those questions, then you might consider tipping the movers! The amount depends entirely on your satisfaction with their service.
Was it a Difficult Move?
When deciding how much to tip your movers, consider the difficulty of the tasks. Did these hard-working professionals encounter flights of stairs, tight hallways or complex conditions? If you had to move a piano, artwork or other fragile items, you might want to show your appreciation.
Consider the overall weight or how much you moved. Moving furniture across the country is an interstate-moving given, but did your shipment involve particularly large furniture pieces? Did it take a long time? Moving heavy appliances and furniture throughout a long, hot summer day might warrant a larger tip. The more specific your requests, the more you might consider tipping your moving men.
If You Decide to Tip Movers
We usually hear that the going rate for a local move tip is 5% of the total bill from exceptionally pleased customers. For multi-day, cross-country moves, a standard tip can range anywhere from $40-200 per person for a very large job. In the end, how much you tip is completely up to you and your satisfaction with the service.
Determine whether you’d like to give the tip to the foreman or each of the pro movers individually. Some companies might have gratuity policies for your (or the workers’) protection, so check your contract or ask the National Van Lines’ moving company ahead of time. Also realize the crew moving you out might not be the same one moving you in; make sure you tip movers while you have the opportunity. If a few movers have worked particularly hard, feel free to give them a slightly larger tip; otherwise, split the tip equally among the team. Another great way to show your movers that you appreciate their hard work is by offering them cold drinks, especially on a warm day.
After a hard day’s work, a tip signals gratitude and respect for their profession. Plus, it lets them know they did a great job!
At National Van Lines, we make long-distance moving easy. As a national moving company, we’ve helped more than a million families enjoy moving their memories for 90+ years. Contact us online or call 833.686.0911 for answers to your questions—plus a FREE moving quote.