We recommend tipping movers between 5% and 20% of the total cost of the move, but you aren’t required to tip your movers, especially if you’re dissatisfied with the service. The size of your home and how much stuff you have will determine how many boxes you need. For the average three-bedroom home, we estimate brand-new boxes will cost around $450. This includes a mix of small, medium and large boxes, plus wardrobe boxes and picture boxes. It may not sound like much, but not getting a simple “thank you” in recognition of their hard work can sour the entire experience.
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Regardless of size, you receive the same attention to detail that our Texas neighbors have experienced since 1985. Don’t rush around trying to find cheap supplies at the last minute.
Transporting a vehicle is a specialty service, so you’ll want to look for a company that specializes in auto transport. You can save a significant amount of money by reusing old boxes and collecting boxes from friends, family or local stores willing to give you any they are planning to recycle. Specialty boxes aren’t necessary, so things like wardrobe boxes are optional, depending on your budget and your preferences. While these boxes make it easier to store and transport your clothing, you can also fold and store clothing items in regular boxes or even large trash bags — especially for local moves. Depending on the size of your load, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $8,000 for professional movers to take you more than 100 miles from your current home. Sometimes you don’t realize how many knick-knacks you have until you wrap them up and pack them in boxes. A large-scale job, like a five-bedroom home brimming with furniture, might warrant a tip at the top of the scale.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Moving Company
Most reputable moving companies provide free estimates as part of their service. They may conduct an in-home survey or a virtual walkthrough to assess the volume and nature of items you need to move, which will allow them to provide an accurate estimate. Real experiences from past clients can give you valuable insights into the company’s reliability, professionalism and how they handle issues.
In the end, the total amount really boils down to what you can afford and are comfortable with. We’ll lay out some sample gratuity amounts so that you can get an idea of your options.
In addition to being a contributing editor for Forbes, Corinne is a dynamic digital professional specializing in copywriting, copy editing and content strategy. With over eight years of experience at Bed Bath and Beyond, she has gained invaluable knowledge and expertise on everything related to the home. In her current role as SEO Editor, Corinne oversees the SEO content strategy for sites such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Bed Bath and Beyond Canada, buybuy BABY and Harmon Face Values. Moving often takes several hours, and there’s a good chance you will need to eat at some point during the process. When thinking about how much to tip movers to show appreciation, another way to make them very happy is by feeding them. You’ll also need to consider how accessible your home is for movers.