How much do you actually tip movers?
Movers generally expect tips between four to five dollars per person per hour, or a flat percentage split across the crew, though long-distance jobs involving multiple teams complicate things. Confusion over these amounts and whether tips are even required leaves people worried about accidentally undertipping or paying twice for relay moves.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Searching forums for advice
- 2Asking movers directly in person
- 3Guessing based on a percentage of the total move cost
- 4Using professional movers to angle the sofa diagonally or upright
- 5Removing the sofa legs
- 6Removing doors or windows to create a larger entry point
- 7Hiring specialized technicians or furniture doctors to disassemble and reassemble the couch
- 8improvising straps or tape to immobilize moving parts
- 9partially disassembling protruding parts and using moving blankets
- 10contacting manufacturer support for transport instructions
- 11Searching online for tipping etiquette information
- 12Choosing not to tip at all
- 13Tipping a flat $10 or $20 based on the quality of service
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My less than a year old (literally my moving date is the anniversary of my sofa's delivery) and beloved sofa is too large to fit through the door of my new place.”source ↗
“If you've dealt with this before, how?”source ↗
“Especially the information on tipping—my husband and I have been having lots of discussions on how much to tip because we have no idea!”source ↗
“The section I went to first was “tips” because no way do I want to undertip on a job this important to me.”source ↗
“How do I tip for a super long distance move? I'm having it taken from Toronto and sent to Victoria British Columbia. I find it doubtful it would be the same people. Do I need to tip at both ends?”source ↗
“I also bought a cough too big and it hung out in my lobby for a few days while I called a couple furniture places.”source ↗
“Hi, wondering if the norm is to tip the driver who drops off / picks up my ubox.”source ↗
“Wasn't able to find info online.”source ↗
“We're moving soon and will need to get our Cradlewise onto a moving truck. What is the best way to immobilize the mechanism? I have the original packaging, but things are coming down to the wire and I don’t think I have time to totally disassemble.”source ↗
Where this came up
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