How much to tip movers in 2021

Tipping is customary in the U.S. Providing a tip shows appreciation for those who have met or exceeded the standard when it comes to helping and providing us great customer service.

Best practices in 2021 tell us that leaving 15% to 20% of the total amount in gratuity is the ideal range. It could also be more or less, depending on the level of service provided. When it comes to the moving industry, however, do the same rules apply?

If you’re wondering if it’s acceptable to tip movers, the answer is yes! Movers work extremely hard for their tips. Movers put in the blood, sweat, and tears (ok maybe not blood and tears, but you get the picture) to ensure that each customer has been taken care of with the highest level of satisfaction.

If you’re wondering how much to tip movers, continue reading to find out.

How much to tip movers

Tipping movers is encouraged because movers do a ton of manual labor; whether it be carefully & and methodically packing items and belongings, moving heavy objects around, driving from one destination to another, or everything else that happens during moving day.

Movers, especially Meathead Movers, strive to provide the best service possible to every customer. A great way to let your mover know their efforts didn’t go unnoticed is through additional gratuity.

In knowing how much to tip movers, here are some guidelines to consider:

1. Evaluate the overall service – A tip is a token of appreciation, and the mover should have, in essence, earned their extra pay. Keep in mind that just because the level of intensity of the industry is higher than most, that doesn’t always dictate how much to tip movers. Movers also need to be accountable for their effort and can’t assume they’re going to get a certain amount just because it’s expected.

Great service goes a long way not just for getting a tip, but for showing the customers they are cared for and have an amazing experience.

2. How difficult the job was – Some moves are easier than others, including moves that don’t involve several flights of stairs or transporting heavy and valuable items through difficult terrains. Depending on the degree of difficulty involved, this should be reflected in the final gratuity.

3. Don’t simply go by a percentage – When tipping at a restaurant, for instance, you would typically calculate the total gratuity by tipping a percentage of the total bill. However, this is not always the best way for figuring out how much to tip movers. Instead, take into account the total time, difficulty, and other factors throughout the day that the movers face.

The amount of unexpected circumstances when it comes to moving can be a lot higher than most other industries.

So, how much should you tip movers? Here are some tips regarding tipping for all kinds of moves.

How much to tip local movers:

For Meathead Movers, a local move is 100 miles or less. This has a cost savings benefit for many customers because many other moving companies only have a 50 mile range. Those that fall within the moving range of over 50 miles with other moving companies will usually have to fork out more and upgrade to a long-distance move.

The length of time for a half-day move is around 4 hours, while the length for a full-day move is around 8 hours. These numbers may also vary more or less depending on different factors of a particular day.

• Half-Day Move (4 hours) – $15- $20 per mover
• Full-Day Move (8 hours) – $30 – $40 per mover

While these are the acceptable ranges, they can vary based upon overall performance.

How much to tip long distance movers:

A long-distance move for Meathead Movers is over 100 miles. There is no maximum cap to the number of miles needed.

• Full-Day Move (8 hours) – $40 per mover
• Anything 12 hours or more – $50-$60 per mover

Again, this figure can vary based on performance.

How much to tip other moving services:

The same rates apply to any other moving service, including: on-site moving, commercial moving, senior moving, and professional packing.

Every single one of our employees has professional training prior to work in order to ensure that whichever service they specialize in, the results will always be consistently exceptional. Since some moves may require more work, use your best judgment when deciding how much to tip movers that fall within these additional services.

Do you tip movers on both ends?

There are many moving companies that start work with one crew at the beginning of the move, and then there are new faces when it comes to unloading your boxes. This kind of structure may make the moving experience awkward and uncomfortable for some since you have by now developed a trusting relationship and rapport with the first crew, but then you now have to do the same thing with the crew unloading everything.

At Meathead Movers, trust is one of the most important foundational pieces that we place priority on. We never have separate crews, even for long-distance moves! You get the same crew from start to finish.

Do you have to tip movers?

Tipping your movers is not required, but it is highly encouraged. A tip shows the movers that they did a great job during the process. Since movers have many jobs to do within a single move including lifting heavy boxes and items, moving belongings up and downstairs, lots of jogging, driving, organizing, and much more, they have much more responsibility which should not go unrewarded.

Here at Meathead Movers, our professional movers are trained to provide the best service and always go above and beyond expectations. Our guys work hard for tips, and to prove it, here are some things you can come to expect from our movers on moving day:

• Offering a VIP Chair to our clients for them to sit and relax while we do the heavy lifting
• Placing a door jamb and banister pads first thing upon arrival to show our customers that we care about their home and belongings
• Properly positioning the truck to be in a convenient location that does not block the customer or their neighbors (when possible)
• Asking questions to the client to show that you care (walking them through our process, asking which items are most important to them/why)
• Offering to sweep or clean up after the move to help
• Bringing coffee to our customers on an early morning move
• Offering to relocate items within the house or help hang items as needed

The best time to tip movers

Typically, tips come after the job is done. While this is the case for the moving industry, you can also provide portions of tips to the movers while they’re working. This will show them that their immediate efforts are being noticed.

Here at Meathead Movers, we provide our clients and customers with a ‘report card’ after the move that is filled out and given to the team lead. This report card also includes a section from where to include a tip if they have earned it.

Methods for how to tip your movers

There are numerous ways that tips may be able to be provided.

1. Tipping digitally – This is especially true nowadays where you have mobile payment services including Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, and many others.

2. Tipping with a check – While not a common way to tip movers, tipping with a check is doable. This way is helpful for documentation purposes.

3. Tipping with cash – Cash is king (at the moment) and one of the easiest methods to tip your mover.

Other ways to show appreciation

Providing your hardworking movers with a tip at the end of a long moving day is a great practice. However, there are other ways you can show them your appreciation.

1. Beverages, food, & snacks – When movers are hard at work, they get thirsty and hungry! Providing cold water or other non-alcoholic beverages readily available is great to help them rehydrate.

As far as food goes, it’s rare to ever see someone turn down some free food. Whether it be the classic pizza option, burgers, tacos, or even asking what the movers would like to eat is a great way to keep them happy, their stomachs full, and working optimally. You can also shoot for healthier alternatives, such as soups, salads, or sandwiches.

Ultimately, whatever you decide to feed your movers they’ll be happy, grateful, and full nonetheless.

2. Gift cards – Another way to let your movers know they did a great job is to reward them with something fun that they can do in their free time. A gift card for dinner, a movie, or anything else you feel would be appropriate.

3. Providing a great review – Alongside providing comments on our report card, another great way to show that the movers did a great job is to leave a review on our website, and social media including Yelp (search by your local Meathead Movers branch), Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Check out our Honest Company Reviews to see how our customers felt after their move!

Reasons you may not want to tip movers

In the unfortunate case where your movers are not providing the best of services, you may want to reconsider your gratuity. Here are a couple instances:

1. Attitude – If the mover(s) had a sour attitude, or you just felt like they really weren’t there mentally to help. Movers work for their tip, so you should never be hounded to provide a tip. If the movers do ask for a tip, make sure it’s done in a respectful way and their work has proved it.

2. Damage – If the movers(s) damaged your belongings or caused things to break due to poor moving techniques.

3. Wasting time – If the mover(s) took their time, didn’t hustle, took more breaks than necessary, and other factors that ate into your overall moving time and experience.

4. Being late – If the mover(s) were tardy without a legitimate reason when it came to moving your items. Since the moving day is such a big endeavor, timeframes are crucial to making sure everything gets done in a timely fashion.

5. Appearance – While this reason may be subjective for some, having movers that look disheveled, aren’t wearing the proper clothing, or just look like they got out of bed is not a good representation of the moving company. This can also cause injury or damage to your belongings. Meathead Movers takes pride in the appearance of our movers, including being clean-cut, drug-free, and dawning the proper attire for a safe and effective moving experience.

Are moving tips tax deductible?

According to the IRS, having to relocate for work purposes may grant you eligibility for being able to deduce moving expenses (including tips).

Before 2018, this type of expense would have been reported on Form 1040. Now, IRS Form 3903: Moving Expenses is the proper form to use.

There are certain rules and regulations, so make sure you fall within the guidelines.

Looking for a professional moving company that has exceptional service? Meathead Movers is an athlete moving company with several locations across California. With award-winning services including local moving, long-distance moving, commercial moving, and senior moving, our team of dedicated professionals will make your experience unforgettable. Contact us by phone or online for a free quote and see how we can help you.