When it comes to gratuities, they are not mandatory during the moving process. You have the freedom to decide on the right amount to give your moving agents. You can either give them a fixed tip or a percentage of the total cost of the move. Most moving companies accept tips and it is generally considered to be a proper gesture.
To make sure, you can check the policy of your moving company in your contract, on their website or with the booking agent. Alternatively, you can quietly ask the foreman on moving day if they have any specific guidelines, suggests Sharon Schweitzer, international etiquette expert and founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide. As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended to base the tip on a percentage of the total cost of moving, with 15-20% being the industry average. Trainor recommends tipping each moving company individually at the end of each day to avoid any potential dishonest practices.
It is important to keep in mind that moving companies are in the service industry, so their base salary is usually reduced in anticipation of tips. Therefore, if your customers don't tip them properly, they may end up paying for you out of their own pocket. You can also skip tips if it was already included in your moving cost, which is a practice adopted by some moving companies for long-distance moves. It is recommended to tip those who move because they do a lot of manual labor; whether it's carefully and methodically packing items and belongings, moving heavy objects, driving from one destination to another, or everything else that happens during the day of the move.
If your movers were unprofessional, late, careless, inefficient, or lost family heirlooms, it's only fair to adjust your tip based on these factors to reflect their level of service. However, if your movers damage your furniture, are careless, and are late, it may be appropriate to skip tips. If you are satisfied with the service you received, let each worker know by giving them a tip and saying “Thank you” with a smile. If calculating an appropriate tip amount for your moving team has been stressing you out, you've come to the right place. It is not recommended to use a standard percentage of the cost when tipping carriers as the total cost of moving includes both those moving and the distance the van travels.
