How much should I tip my movers?
Is the tip included, how much to tip movers, and who gets it. Real tip data from Spartan moves, a per-mover table, and how to tip by cash or card.
How to tip, and where the money goes
3 items- Cash handed to the crew at the end of the move. You can hand it to the foreman for the whole team, or give each mover a share.
- Venmo directly to a mover, if they offer it.
- Added to your card when you pay the final bill. Card tips are paid out to the crew through payroll.
In all three cases the tip goes to the movers, not to the company. Spartan does not keep any part of it.
What the tip is not
3 items- It is not part of the hourly rate or the minimum charge.
- It does not appear in your quote, and no one should ask you for it.
- It is not a way to fix a problem. If something went wrong, call us at 1-877-417-6060 and David handles it directly.
Is a tip expected?
Tipping movers is not required, but it is customary and appreciated. Most customers tip 10% to 20% of the total price, based on how complex the job was and how happy they are with the crew. The tip is not included in Spartan's hourly rate, and every dollar of it goes to the movers.
On the Spartan moves where a tip was added to the final bill between July and October 2026, not counting account work, the median tip was about $179, about 16% of the bill.
What Spartan customers actually tip
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Local moves closed, Jul 16 to Oct 17, 2026 (not counting account work) | 77 |
| Moves with a tip added to the final bill | 22 |
| Median tip on those moves | about $179 |
| Middle half of those tips | $134 to $372 |
| Median tip as a share of the bill | 16.2% |
These numbers only include tips added through the final bill. Cash tips and tips sent straight to a mover go directly to the crew and are not in our records, so they are not counted here.
Tip per crew at 10%, 15% and 20%
| Final bill | 10% | 15% | 20% | 15% split, 3 movers | 15% split, 4 movers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $600 | $60 | $90 | $120 | $30 each | $22.50 each |
| $1,000 | $100 | $150 | $200 | $50 each | $37.50 each |
| $1,500 | $150 | $225 | $300 | $75 each | $56.25 each |
| $2,500 | $250 | $375 | $500 | $125 each | $93.75 each |
Simple arithmetic for budgeting, not a recommendation for any specific amount.
What usually earns a bigger tip
A tip toward the top of the range makes sense when the job asked more of the crew: several flights of stairs, a long carry from a hillside street, a heavy piano or safe, a hot day, or a crew that packed or rearranged things at the last minute. The low end fits a short, easy move. There is no wrong answer; it is your call.
If you want to say thank you in another way, cold water on a warm day and a short Google review that mentions the foreman's name both go a long way. Every customer receives a review request after the move.
Tipping on long-distance and packing jobs
On a long-distance move the crew that loads may also be the crew that unloads, especially when you reserve the whole truck and the same team handles both ends. If different crews load and unload, you can split the tip between pickup day and delivery day. On a pack day followed by a move day, tip each day's crew for their own work.
A one-line tip calculator
Take your final bill, multiply by 0.10, 0.15 or 0.20, and divide by the number of movers to see each person's share. On a $1,200 move with 3 movers, 15% is $180, or $60 each. Round to whatever feels right.
When to tip
At the end of the move, after the final walkthrough. Before the crew leaves, the foreman walks through both homes with you to check that everything came off the truck and furniture is set where you want it. That is the natural moment to settle the bill and, if you choose, hand over the tip.
Tipping on a short or minimum-charge move
On a small move that finishes within the 3-hour minimum, a percentage of a small bill can feel low, and some customers prefer a flat amount per mover instead. Either approach is fine. A long day of 8 hours or more, which was about 3 in 10 of our local moves in 2026, usually means the crew has carried an entire house, and the top of the range fits that.
Does the package or discount change the tip?
No rule ties the tip to a package or a discount. If you chose the Golden Package and the crew packed your whole kitchen, that is more work, and you may want the tip to reflect it. If you received a returning-customer or referral discount, that discount is from the company; the crew did the same work. The simplest approach is to base the tip on the time and effort you saw.
Questions and answers
Is the tip included in the moving price?
No. Tips are not included in Spartan's hourly rate. Tipping is not mandatory.
How much do you tip movers for a local move?
Usually 10% to 20% of the total price. On Spartan moves where a tip was added to the final bill in 2026, the median was about $179, about 16% of the bill.
Do the movers get the whole tip?
Yes. Tips go directly to the movers, whether paid in cash, by Venmo to a mover, or added to the card.
Can I add the tip to my credit card?
Yes. You can add it when you pay the final bill, and it is paid out to the crew.
Should I tip each mover separately?
Either way works. Many customers give the total to the foreman for the team; others hand each mover their share.
Do I tip on a long-distance move?
It is up to you, as on a local move. If different crews load and unload, you can tip each one on its day; when you reserve the whole truck, the same team handles both ends.
We also move people in Bay Area Moving Cost By Home Size, How Many Movers Do I Need, Moving Checklist, Piano movers and Long Distance.