Hiring a moving company may be one of the smartest moves you can ever make if you are moving house. That’s because you won’t be left to move heavy furniture or transport box after box down flights of stairs.

However, when your movers go the extra mile to ensure that everything goes according to plan and that nothing is damaged during transportation, how can you show gratitude?

Tipping movers is undoubtedly the best way to reward good service. Tipping movers is considered good etiquette, even though it’s not mandatory. If you’re wondering how to tip professional movers and how much to give, you have come to the right place.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how much to tip movers.

Should You Tip Movers in the First Place?

Before we move on to how much to tip, let’s first talk about the practice of tipping long-distance movers. Is it even customary in San Antonio?

Tipping movers is a good idea. Like you would when working with other professionals who offer a service, such as hotel staff and waiters, it is generally considered good manners to provide a reward for those who take care of the heavy lifting for you while moving house.

The truth is that moving is a difficult task, especially for trips across the country that take many days. Moving crews have to work for many hours to get everything onto a moving truck, transport the items to your new home, and then unpack everything.

Then consider packing if you’ve hired both packers and movers. It’s a lot of meticulous labor. Your gratuity will vary according to your circumstances. If you’re just one individual relocating to a studio apartment down the street, you’ll likely tip less than a large family moving into a five-bedroom home.

Good Practices for Tipping Movers

When it comes to tipping service staff, there is no hard and fast rule. As mentioned previously, the amount you provide will depend on your unique circumstances, financial constraints, and the nature of the work done.

However, there are certain good practices you can keep in mind when determining the amount to tip. One way to do it is to work out the tip as a percentage of the total moving costs. 10 to 20 percent of the final moving cost is a good amount to offer.

If you wish to tip each moving crew member individually, you can divide this amount by the number of people on the team.

Another method that works best if you’re tipping each mover is to calculate an amount per hour. Experts recommend giving each person $5 to $10 per person per hour.

When determining the amount to tip, be sure to check the average wage in that city. According to ZipRecruiter, San Antonio has an average hourly earnings of $18.52 per hour.

It’s also worth mentioning that you should tip your movers at the end of the move and not at the beginning. This will allow you to assess the quality of the crew’s service and the level of care given to ensure that the job is executed flawlessly.

Moreover, tipping offers an incentive for movers, so giving a tip before the move could result in poor service.

Factors to Consider When Deciding How Much to Tip Movers in San Antonio

Now that you know how much to tip movers, let’s look at the factors that might affect the amount you give each mover individually.

The Quality of the Service Provided

In the service industry, providing an excellent experience for the customer is of utmost importance. This is important when moving your personal belongings cross country, as there is potential for damage. While some moving companies do the bare minimum, others go the extra mile to ensure your items are not damaged.

They also aim to ensure that you have one less thing to worry about, which can make moving much easier. When deciding how much to give, consider the service you received. Have some of your items arrived broken? Were your boxes left outside? The level of care given will determine how much you should give.

The Distance Traveled

Long-distance moves undoubtedly warrant a greater tip, as movers must travel long distances and take greater care to ensure that your items are not broken or damaged during transit. If you are moving cross country, you should tip your movers more than you would if you were moving down the street.

Moving Conditions

It’s tough for any moving company to transport all your items long distance, but it becomes even more challenging when there is inclement weather. If you notice that climatic conditions, such as extreme heat, rain, snow, or a storm, have made your move harder, giving the movers a higher tip is best.

Other Issues That May Make Moving Harder

Inclement weather isn’t the only factor that can make moving harder. For example, moving a large couch up three flights of stairs can be a considerable challenge. If moving your items puts strain on the movers or takes longer, then it’s often best to provide a higher tip.

How to Tip Movers

Don’t have cash? Fortunately, there are other ways to tip your movers. Most moving companies offer their customers the option to add a tip to their moving bill. This can be a great option, mainly if you are the kind of person who doesn’t like carrying around cash.

You could also use a cash app like PayPal or Apple Pay if your moving company doesn’t offer this option.

Are There Any Other Ways to Reward Good Service?

Whether for long-distance moves or local relocations, there are many other ways you can show appreciation for the work involved in moving your stuff. Because moving can be tiring, buying your movers something to eat can be a great way to reward their efforts.

Kindness is essential, especially when transitioning to a faraway place. Moving companies work hard to ensure your burden is lessened, and many go the extra mile to ensure the entire process goes smoothly. This requires planning and lots of hard work, so it’s important to thank the team that assisted you.

The moving company that executes the job flawlessly can also be rewarded by posting positive customer reviews and recommendations online and to friends and family. This way, others like you will be able to find good service and the moving company will benefit from more business.

When Is It Okay to Offer a Lower Tip?

Although tipping is a great way to show appreciation for hard work, when you receive poor service, you earn the right to tip on the lower end of the spectrum. Here are some cases where a lower tip may apply:

Showing Up Late

Delays can make moving more time-consuming and put you in a bad position, especially if you have made plans. However, remember that things do go wrong sometimes, so there may be genuine cases where arriving late is acceptable. You probably shouldn’t provide a high tip when your movers arrive late without a viable excuse.

Providing Poor Service

Suppose your movers aren’t polite and handle your items carelessly. In that case, you should provide them with a low or no tip. Having to do most of the work yourself is a classic example of poor customer service, so pay attention to the level of care given when determining how much to tip.

Breakages

Breakages are a sign that your property hasn’t been handled carefully. It could also be a sign of poor planning, as loading too many items into a moving van or stacking them incorrectly could lead to breakages, which warrants a reduction in the tip amount.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a reliable moving company with your best interests at heart, you can count on Apple Moving. Contact us today to learn more about our San Antonio, TX services!

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more? Here are answers to some of the questions we often hear about tipping movers.