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Blog June 15, 2022

Are You Supposed to Tip Movers When Moving Across the Country?

Posted in Moving Day Tips
Jane Davis

Apart from being a freelance writer and moving expert, Jane is also an art and museum lover.

Relocation day is approaching. You have gathered all documents, said goodbye to relatives, and prepared to start a new life in another state. However, one question has been on your mind for the longest time – are you supposed to tip movers? Do not worry. We got you covered. You will gain all the necessary information about tipping in this article.

Do you have to tip your cross-country movers? It is not mandatory to give the relocation crew any extra money on the relocation day. However, it is customary to do so. It is up to you to decide how much you will give them, but each mover is most commonly paid 4 to 5 dollars per hour.

Are You Supposed to Tip Movers? Here is Why Should You Tip Your Long-Distance Movers?

Finally, it’s time to move. Whether relocating for the eleventh time or moving out for the first time, there’s no denying that moving is stressful and exhausting. There are too many things to do before relocating and too many belongings to transport. But, all is not lost. East Coast movers and the long-distance moving company will come to your rescue.

No one is more knowledgeable about relocation than the professionals who have been relocating people from one state to another for years. They know how to handle cardboard boxes filled with your precious items and memories as well as load the truck, ship your car across the country, and disassemble any furniture you want to move. The crew will do all of this without leaving a scratch on any of your belongings.

They are the only ones who can ensure that you move safely to another location, so are you thinking to yourself – do you tip movers? The answer is yes if you want to reward them for their hard work. Nothing is more precious than getting recognized for your knowledge and hard work.

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What Should Be Taken Into Account When Tipping Movers and Packers?

When you choose a relocation company and invest in cross-country moving services, think about all of the aspects of the move before deciding on the amount you want to give the relocation team:

  • Are there any challenging parts of the move, such as relocating a piano or any large and bulky item?
  • Will the workers have to go down and up the stairs?
  • How many cardboard boxes will have to be packed and loaded into the truck?
  • Will they provide you with full packing service or partial packing service?

If the job is more complicated and challenging, opt for increasing the amount you should give each mover. Giving them a little bit extra than what is considered the unwritten rule will surely boost their confidence and show just how much you appreciate their work.

Movers carrying alarge box down the stairs In case your movers will have a difficult task to taskle during the move, consider tipping them

What Is a Standard Tip for Movers?

You might be wondering – is $20 enough to tip movers? The truth is that it depends on the amount of work and time spent on your move. So if you have trouble deciding what amount should be the most appropriate for the workers, opt for the average tip for movers.

It is customary to give each mover 4 or 5 dollars per hour of work. That means that you’ll give 20 dollars per person if they spend four hours working. However, tips will have to increase if they work for longer hours, packing and loading the truck. If they end up working for eight hours, give each person 40 dollars. But, if they end up working all day, twelve hours or more, they should be rewarded up to 60 dollars.

Person counting money When giving tips, always factor in the amount of time the crew spent working

Is It Possible to Tip the Long-Distance Movers Too Much?

You may have read that paying the workers based on the percentage of your bill is possible, too. However, we recommend that you avoid this way of showing appreciation for the accomplished job. It is less affordable and not convenient for someone who is getting ready to move to a big city.

Long-distance moving services can cost up to 5,000 dollars. If you decide to pay the customary 10% of the total move cost, you will drain your budget completely. Therefore, tipping based on the percentage of the total bill is too expensive for cross-country moves. Also, if the relocation company urges you to pay the team in this way, you might be dealing with a relocation scam. We recommend that you stick to the hourly rate.

Does The Amount Change if It’s a Local Move?

No. It doesn’t matter if it’s a local or a long-distance move. Tips should be based solely on time the workers spent packing, loading, and unloading the truck. Paying them a flat rate is the best method. When relocating to a new home, the only important thing is that your belongings get transported safely and that they arrive intact.

Do You Tip Movers When They Load or Unload? Deciding When to Pay the Workers Is Crucial

If you are asking yourself – do you tip movers on both ends, we will be able to help you. It might be surprising, but the team that was present in your home on relocation day won’t be there to unload the truck when you move into a new home. Most likely, a different team will be assigned to get all of your belongings into the new house or apartment. However, the truck driver might be the only person who will be present at both locations. In this situation, we advise you to pay both teams when they finish the job.

Here Are the Best Ways You Can Determine How Much to Give the Workers When Moving Cross-Country

So, is $100 a good tip for movers? If you don’t know whether you should pay the flat rate or increase the amount of money at the end of the day, follow our relocation tips that will help you determine the best course of action. The following factors play a huge role in determining the amount of money you should pay them.

You can increase tips if they must work in bad weather

Make sure to show appreciation for the crew’s effort in case of terrible weather conditions. If it snows heavily or is extremely cold on the day of the move, consider that when deciding how much to give them. The same applies to moves that have to be carried out during summer heat.

Give the workers extra money if they properly executed a last-minute move

It’s incredibly difficult to get organized to move last-minute. The success of the relocation will depend on how experienced and capable the workers are. If you see that the team properly packs and loads the truck quickly, consider giving them good tips.

If they have to lift and carry large and bulky items

Evaluate your packing list. Do you have to transport big artwork, dressers, bookcases, a grand piano, and important equipment? If the answer is yes, the workers will have a complicated task in front of them. They will require four-wheel dollies, ramps, and furniture moving straps. If they accomplish the task of lifting and transporting large items without any issues, it would be best to reward them.

If they have to navigate narrow hallways and

It can be quite challenging to get all of the bulky furniture and equipment out of the home and into the truck if there are many narrow hallways and stairs. The workers will have to use dollies, planks of wood, and protective material so that they don’t damage your belongings as well as the walls inside the home. If they go the extra mile to protect your belongings as well as the house interior, increase the tips.

If the team behaves kind and caring toward you and your family members

A kind word from the workers who are handling your belongings will mean a lot when dealing with relocation stress. If they make an effort to be friendly towards your children and if they want to answer all your concerns, tipping them would be the best option. You will move efficiently with friendly workers helping you every step of the way.

Is It Ok Not to Tip Movers When Moving Cross-Country?

It is always up to the client to decide whether or not the workers deserve to be tipped. However, not tipping is sometimes understandable, too. There are instances where the crew shows up late, or they forget to pack certain things from the household inventory list and carelessly store your relocation essentials in the truck. When the workers seem to be rude and unpleasant towards the client, not giving tips is acceptable. Also, they don’t have to be tipped if gratuity is included in the relocation bill.

Watch this video and visit the FMCSA website to learn how to choose the best West Coast movers so as to not be disappointed with the service.

YouTube video

Do You Need Help Deciding Who to Give the Money To? We Got You Covered

So, what should be your go-to mover tipping strategy? Should you give the money to just one mover or approach each person and give them their share separately? First, you will have to know how many workers will arrive at your home. Finding accurate information is rather simple. Phone the customer service representatives and request to know how many workers you can expect to handle your move.

Most commonly, there will be a driver, a foreman, and a couple of crew members present. The foreman will be in charge of the whole team and the move, so you can rely on him in case of relocation mistakes or issues. However, don’t just opt for giving one crew member the entire sum of money that they can later share with each other. Instead, approach each mover and give them their share for every hour of work. In this way, you can appropriately show your gratitude.

A foreman shaking hand with a client while two movers carry a couch Do you tip moving companies' workers or just the foreman? It would be ideal to give each person their sum of money

Is There Another Way to Show Your Gratitude?

Relocation is an exhausting and draining process, both physically and mentally. There are many aspects of the move that have to be handled, and doing everything in one day is challenging to say the least. Giving extra cash to each mover will definitely serve as a self-esteem boost, but there is another way you can acknowledge the workers. Order drinks and snacks like pizzas or sandwiches. They will get a chance to freshen up and continue working after resting.

In case you can’t order any food or drinks, make sure to at least have bottles of water for them. Also, they will spend hours loading and unloading the truck. It is likely that they will get dirty easily, so prepare some towels and hand sanitizers.

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Now that You Know the Answer, Are You Ready to Move?

Tipping the moving company’s workers is not obligatory, but acknowledging them for doing a good job should be your goal. The standard amount you can give them is 4 or 5 dollars for every hour spent loading and unloading the truck. They are professionals who will answer any question you have and transport your belongings without damaging anything. If you have anxiety about moving out, ask them for help. They can share some relocation hacks and tricks on how to relocate smoothly to a new home.

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