--- title: How Much to Tip Movers: Etiquette and Timing url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-much-to-tip-movers/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving guides](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/) - How much to tip movers # How much to tip movers A tip is a personal choice and never part of your estimate or bill of lading, so no tipping figure is built into the price. Decide the amount before moving day, keep payment for the tip separate from the move charges, and plan a way to thank every person on the crew. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) People ask about tipping more than almost any other part of a move, because it is the one piece of the day that no document answers. The estimate lists services and charges. The bill of lading is the contract. Neither one mentions a gratuity, and a good crew does not expect you to guess at a formula. ## Tipping is separate from the charges Moving charges come from the estimate you signed and, on interstate moves, from the bill of lading. Federal rules require the bill of lading to state the form of payment the mover and its agents will honor at delivery, so the price you owe is already spelled out in writing. A tip sits outside that paperwork. It is a thank-you you give to the people who carried your belongings, and the amount is entirely yours to set. Because of that, do not wait for the crew to ask. Decide ahead of time, and keep the tip in its own envelope or its own pocket so it never gets mixed up with the payment you owe the company. ## What changes the amount people choose There is no official figure, so most customers think about how hard the day was and how the crew handled it. A few factors tend to matter: - Difficulty of the job: stairs, long carries from the truck to the door, narrow hallways and heavy pieces such as a piano or a safe take more effort than a ground-floor apartment. - Care taken: wrapped furniture, protected floors and doorways, and patience with questions are all part of the service you are thanking. - Length of the day: a crew that works from morning to evening on a large home has earned more thanks than a short load. - Weather: loading in snow, heat or wildfire smoke is harder work, and Northern Nevada gets all three over the year. - Your own budget: a smaller tip given sincerely is better than a large one that strains your move budget. ## Who to hand it to Hand the tip directly to the people on the crew, not to the office. If you are tipping each person, give it to them individually at the end of the job. If you prefer to give one amount, hand it to the crew lead and say plainly that it is for the whole team to share. Ask the lead who worked your move so that nobody who carried a heavy load is left out. The people who scheduled your move and estimated it are not part of the tipping question. A kind review on Google, naming the crew if you remember them, is a thank-you that crews and families value. ## Multi-day moves and storage If your move stretches across two days, or loading happens one day and delivery to a vault or a new home happens later, you can thank the crew each day or all at once at the end. Different people may work each part of the job, particularly when goods go into [vault storage](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/full-service-storage/vault-storage/) first. Tipping at the end of each crew's work keeps the thanks with the people who earned it. Long-distance moves work the same way. The crew that loads in one city is usually not the crew that delivers hundreds of miles away, so a tip belongs to whoever is standing in front of you when their part of the work is done. ## Practical details on the day Confirm in advance what forms of payment the mover accepts for the move charges, as the federal customer booklet advises, and carry a separate way to tip. Cash is the simplest for a crew to share. Cold water, a snack or lunch for a long day is a courtesy many customers offer in addition to any tip, and it costs little. If something was damaged or missing, do not use the tip to settle it. Note it on the inventory at delivery and follow the claim steps on the [moving claim guide](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-file-a-moving-claim/). A tip is for the work done well, and a claim is a separate process with its own paperwork. ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [eCFR, 49 CFR 375.505, what the bill of lading must contain](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-375) - [FMCSA, Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2023-10/FMCSA_R%26R_Handbook_Web_v1.pdf) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [How much do movers cost? What drives the price](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-much-do-movers-cost/) - [How to file a moving damage claim](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-file-a-moving-claim/) - [Moving-day tips from a family mover](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-day-tips/) Moving guides ## Read next - [How much do movers cost? What drives the price](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-much-do-movers-cost/) - [What goes into a long-distance moving cost (weight, distance, services)](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/long-distance-moving-cost/) - [Binding, non-binding and not-to-exceed estimates](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/binding-vs-non-binding-estimates/) - [Released value vs full value protection](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/valuation-released-vs-full-value/) - [Your rights and responsibilities when you move (FMCSA)](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/your-rights-and-responsibilities/) - [The bill of lading, explained](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/bill-of-lading-explained/) - [How to check a mover's USDOT and MC number](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-to-check-a-movers-usdot-number/) - [Mover vs moving broker: how to tell](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/carrier-vs-broker/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### Is tipping movers required? No. A tip is optional, is not part of the estimate or the bill of lading, and the amount is up to you. ### Should I tip the company or the crew? Give it to the crew. Hand it to each person, or to the crew lead with a clear note that it is for everyone who worked on your move. ### Do I tip if my move is covered by an employer? Ask your employer what a relocation package covers. A tip, if you give one, is a personal decision. ### What if I am unhappy with the service? Raise it with the office and write any concerns on the inventory at delivery. A tip is your choice, and so is the amount. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) B Bruce E. December 25, 2024 My family moved exclusively with Bekins when I was young and O'Brien's made it a pleasure to return to this fine local company. I would be pleased to have any members of O'Brien's as friends and highly recommend O'Brien's to anyone needing the services they provide! ### Owner's reply Bruce thank you so much for taking the time to review our company. It was an extreme pleasure to work for you, please do not hesitate to call us for any help you need in the future. L Leticia H. November 1, 2024 O'Brien's Moving and Storage packing crew were great!! They were fast, friendly and most importantly, very professional. Thank you guys. M Michelle C. August 28, 2024 Extremely happy with the moving experience. The moving team showed up on time, friendly and polite. They did a wonderful job moving our boxes and furniture to the new location. We moved a three bedroom home and I could not be more pleased with the employees who assisted with the move. Highly recommend O'Brien moving for your move. ### Owner's reply Michelle, thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. We are so happy to hear about the move experience you had with our company and glad to know we met your expectations! It means a lot to us to know that. Thank you for choosing us as your moving partner. ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070