When and How You Should Tip Your Movers

If you're hiring movers to come in and help you get your stuff transported to your new home, you've probably wondered if you should tip them. The answer, in most cases, is yes. The guys will appreciate anything you can hand over, although there is no strict formula in this case, as there is with tipping your waitress or pizza delivery guy. Is it possible to under-tip? Probably. You may not exactly get effusive gratitude if you hand over a five dollar bill to a group of five guys. But beyond the ridiculous, it's really up to you how much you want to hand over. They are making a livable wage without a tip, but it is customary and appreciated to add a gratuity.

It is worth noting that this isn't an industry where tipping is considered nearly mandatory. If you frequently order pizza from the same place without tipping, you're going to quickly find yourself on a list you'd rather not be on. The same goes for a restaurant, and plenty of other establishments where tipping is considered the norm. This is because these workers usually work for less than minimum wage (or just barely at it) and depend on your tips to take home a decent wage. This isn't the case when it comes to movers. If they never received a single tip, they would still be able to keep the job and pay the bills (in most cases).

So why tip? Well, don't, if you don't want to or don't believe in it. You won't get shoddier service because, after all, the service has already been completed and you have no obligation to use them again. But if you want to, you can always judge the team on the job they did. If your belongings were chipped, scratched, and treated recklessly, there's little reason why you should consider handing out some extra money. If the workers took good care of your belongings, however, and did everything in an efficient and careful manner, you may very well choose to reward them with a gratuity.

If you're still unsure about the protocol, ask the moving company yourself. They'll be happy to tell you what their policy is. In some cases, a grocery store will have strict prohibitions on tipping the baggers, for instance. While unusual, there may be a few moving companies around that have the same policy when it comes to their movers. So if you want to feel good about it, ask the people at the desk and see what they have to say. If they clear you to tip, go ahead and give what feels good, whether it be fifty bucks or a hundred. Or you can just make sure the guys get some cold drinks at the end of the day.