Tipping Protocol

It's a question many a customer has struggled with. Do I tip? How much? Well, I would normally tip 20% at a restaurant, but what if I'm just getting take out? Do I need to slip the server a few dollars for bringing out my bagged food?

They're all good question and luckily, they can be answered relatively simply. Yes, you should tip your movers. Unless your experience is especially terrible, you should be showing your gratitude for the performed service by, well, giving a gratuity.


How Much?
Keep the restaurant analogy in mind. Movers often depend on tips to supplement their income. Oftentimes their wages might be low, much like servers in food industry, to encourage excellent service and subsequently, a good wage for the day. This can get confusing though, especially in larger moves with a large cast of people transporting your items

Your driver/supervisor is usually the person you'll be going to with any problems or questions, so it's probably a good idea to tip this person accordingly (a little more). Pay this person last though, as everyone else should be tipped when they are finished with whatever services they are performing.

The amount you tip is completely up to you and very personal. A tip of no less than $20 a person is customary, but tip up according to how well the service is performed. Keep in mind how large and involved your move is, but the maximum amount you should tip should probably be capped at around $150. Another way to gauge what you're tipping is to think of the amount as a percentage of the overall moving cost. Split a 5to 10% tip among the workers and that should work for you.

While tipping with cash is great and will surely be appreciated, there are definitely other ways that you can show your crew how much you appreciate their hard work. Have cold drinks readily available and offer them up every hour or so. Depending on how long you anticipate your move to take, it may be a nice gesture to have lunch available as well.

Ordering pizza or making other meal arrangements is a nice touch because it's not always feasible for the crew to leave for lunch. This will also probably benefit you in the long run because you're not forfeiting the time it takes for your movers to seek out lunch if you have it available. Make sure you check with the supervisor first to make sure this is okay.

Tipping can be a slippery slope while moving, but remember that showing your movers courtesy in every way is appreciated and goes a long way. There's no arguing with cash though and your movers will surely appreciate the effort, no matter what it is. Take a look at our Moving Squad reviews for some tipping tricks from our loyal customers!