fbpx

Mover Etiquette: How to Treat Your Movers on Moving Day

Moving day is finally upon you! After weeks of packing, sorting, cleaning, organizing and coordinating, the day you’ve prepared for is officially here. The movers are knocking at your front door when a sense of panic suddenly ensues because you completely forgot about taking care of THEM. There’s no going back now and you don’t have any cash on hand for the tip, there’s not even a drop of drinkable water anywhere to be found, and the snacks can be found in the pantry box buried in the garage! If you’ve ever been faced with this gut wrenching reality, you’re not alone! There’s a lot of speculation regarding how much to tip, what to provide your movers, and sorting out the details, so, we’re here to provide the official etiquette ensuring you’re fully prepared!

Tipping

Mover etiquette | Mover Etiquette: How to Treat Your Movers on Moving Day | Amazing Spaces Storage Centers

As a service professional who works exceedingly hard to move and manage your most prized possessions, proper etiquette absolutely suggests that you tip your moving crew. Here’s the “inside scoop” on tipping your movers:

  • Tipping amounts for movers vary, however, it should be based on the size project they’re managing for you. If you have a limited amount of goods and it only took a half day, around $10 per person is considered acceptable. However, if you have an extensive move with exceptionally large furniture, long walking distance to the truck, and it’s a full day move, then, $20 per person is recommended. Sources have also confirmed 5%-10% of the total moving bill is also a fair rate.
  • When tipping, be sure to present the tips to each individual, rather than giving them all to the foreman to distribute. It’s a sign of respect toward each person and their specialized role in your move. Having the tips organized in individual envelopes at the beginning of the day, helps you avoid scrambling last minute.
  • Always tip your movers in cash.
  • Something else to consider when tipping is the quality of the service they provided. Did they do a mediocre job and cut corners or did they do an AMAZING job and pay attention to all the details? This often will dictate just how generous you would like to be. Movers should be on time, treat your things like their own and be organized.
  • Tipping is almost always allowed by moving companies. However, just to be sure, check with the moving company ahead of time, to ensure you’re respecting their guidelines.

Food & Drinks

Treats for Movers | Mover Etiquette: How to Treat Your Movers on Moving Day | Amazing Spaces Storage Centers

When it comes to food and drinks, it’s really up to the discretion of the homeowner, however, here are a few easy parameters to consider:

  • The general consensus is that at the very least, you are expected to provide your movers with cold, bottled water or a jug with plastic or paper cups, if you prefer. In addition to bottled water, it’s a nice courtesy to have additional cold drinks on hand like Gatorade or lemonade.
  • Some people prefer to purchase the moving crew lunch as their only “tip”, while others provide a monetary tip in addition to lunch! It’s important to note that if you do plan on providing lunch, be sure to provide them with a few different food choice options, rather than just assuming one or the other. Also be sure to ask if any of the crew members have specific allergies.
  • If you opt out of providing a full lunch, snacks for the crew members are a great alternative. Things like snack size cracker pouches, fresh grapes, orange slices, and granola bars are great options!
  • Always avoid giving beer or any other form of alcohol to the crew at the end of the day. Many companies have strict policies about drinking on the job and you are best off avoiding any potential liability issues.

Showing Appreciation & Respect

Treating Your Movers | Mover Etiquette: How to Treat Your Movers on Moving Day | Amazing Spaces Storage Centers

Showing appreciation for your movers doesn’t have to stop at a tip or providing food and drink. Simple kindness also goes a long way. Here’s some simple but thoughtful ways to express your gratitude:

  • Recognize them by name to their supervisor or even just saying a personal thank you goes a long way too.
  • Write an online review on Google or the company’s social media account, and mention specific crew member’s names who went above and beyond.
  • Offer for the movers to take your unwanted furniture. If you have old furniture you are disposing of or that won’t fit, offer for one of the movers to take it.
  • Offer them a place to rest during their breaks. This can be as simple as putting a few lawn chairs out in a shaded area of your lawn.
  • Point them to the restroom when they first arrive and be sure it’s stocked with liquid soap and paper towels.
  • Make yourself available. Be available to answer any questions, show them around and overall assist in making their job easier however you can!

Whether you’ve moved one time or ten, there’s one thing for sure, you don’t need added stress on moving day! Being prepared ahead of time takes the stress off of you, the movers and everyone involved. Use this guide and share it with your family and friends so you can count on an AMAZING and efficient moving day from this day forward!

14 Responses to “Mover Etiquette: How to Treat Your Movers on Moving Day”

  1. Packing service
    October 31, 2022 at 10:23 am

    Amazing write up! Thanks for this submit

    Reply
  2. Olivia Smart
    November 15, 2022 at 11:05 am

    Thank you for explaining about tipping movers. I’ve been wondering how to go about this whole thing since we started looking at our options for this move. I’ll be sure to keep this in mind as we get closer to our move.

    Reply
  3. Jessie Holloway
    December 6, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    Thanks so much for pointing out that tipping should be based on the size of the project you hired movers for. My aunt is moving and she wants to hire movers for the house. We’ll have to look into finding a local company she can hire so she can move as quickly as she wants.

    Reply
  4. Daisy James
    January 3, 2023 at 1:13 pm

    It’s good to know that you should tip them in cash. My close friend was at my house last night for dinner, and she told me about how she and her husband want to hire a moving company for their move at the end of this month. I’ll pass this information along to her so they can know how to find a good moving company. https://www.innovativemoverswi.com/

    Reply
  5. Varsha
    March 2, 2023 at 12:17 am

    Lovely! nowadays hardly people notice these small small things and show humanity after getting work done specially when they are shifting their house or moving to new house. The Packers and Movers team get so tired at the end of the process that these tips will help customers to treat them nicely after shifting. Please keep on sharing such information.

    Reply
  6. IRONVAN LIVING COLLECTION
    March 27, 2023 at 1:56 am

    Mover etiquette is something that we don’t often think about, but your post sheds light on the importance of being a courteous client. Your tips, such as offering refreshments and being present during the move, are practical and thoughtful. I especially appreciated the suggestion to tip generously if the service was exceptional. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

    Reply
  7. Azalea Mckenna
    March 29, 2023 at 9:07 am

    Thank you for sharing such excessive information. When hiring a moving company, it’s customary to tip the appropriate amount to each mover.

    Reply
  8. M. Nordstrom
    April 15, 2023 at 9:27 pm

    Great advice! Very informative and useful.
    Helps reduce a lot of worries and make moving day a better experience for people moving and the movers.
    Thank you very much!

    Reply
  9. Sheena
    May 17, 2023 at 7:43 am

    I appreciate your clear explanation regarding tipping movers. Since we began exploring our options for this move, I have been uncertain about the proper protocol. Your guidance has provided valuable insights, and I will certainly remember this as we approach our moving date.

    Reply
  10. Olivia Jade
    June 20, 2023 at 2:01 am

    Contact several long distance movers and request detailed quotes for your specific requirements. Make sure to provide accurate information about the items you need to move, including their quantity and any special handling requirements. Compare the quotes, taking into consideration factors such as services offered, pricing, insurance coverage, and estimated delivery timeframes.

    Reply
  11. Shreya
    July 4, 2023 at 4:47 am

    This is really a nice write up. Everyone should be treated with kindness.

    Reply
  12. Puja
    July 14, 2023 at 4:21 am

    People should always be treated with respect and appreciated. You are right.

    Reply
  13. Michael Noah
    February 16, 2024 at 5:27 am

    What an insightful post on mover etiquette! It’s refreshing to see a discussion on the importance of courtesy and professionalism during a move, which can often be a stressful time for all involved. As someone who’s currently planning a cross-country move, I found the tips here incredibly helpful. Thank you for sharing such valuable insights!

    Reply
  14. abdullah
    August 25, 2024 at 1:46 pm

    Thanks so much for pointing out that tipping should be based on the size of the project you hired movers for. My aunt is moving and she wants to hire movers for the house. We’ll have to look into finding a local company she can hire so she can move as quickly as she wants.

    Reply

Leave a Reply