How much to tip Movers in Boston in 2024?

Written by Move and Care Team

Edited and Fact Checked by Taras Kim

Updated: September 27, 2024

Tipping movers during a move in Boston is one of the common questions asked: "How much should I tip the movers?". It is customary to give a tip to movers as one way of appreciation for their hard work. Moving is very exhausting, as it involves the carrying of cumbersome items down tight spaces and making sure your belongings are safe.

Boston has its own moving practices. Not to mention, the city has its own challenges, such as narrow and winding streets, heavy traffic, and historic buildings without elevators, which tends to make the moving process more complicated. Understanding how much to tip will help you make sure your movers appreciate their efforts in such an insensitive Boston environment. This guide is sure to help you determine how much to tip your movers in Boston, given the specific challenges they face.

📍 Boston-Based Expertise

Move and Care is a local moving company with deep knowledge of Boston's tipping culture and regional practices.

General Tipping Guidelines

Tipping movers in Boston may be a bit tricky. You may consider a certain percentage or fixed amount based on your moving specifics. Here are basic guideline that will help you determine how much to tip:

Percentage-Based Tipping

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A common practice is to tip movers between 10% to 20% of the total cost of moving. Estimations of the percentage may vary based on how complex the move was and the applicable service level.

Fixed Amounts by Crew Size and Time

Others prefer to tip a flat rate per mover, depending on the size of the crew and how many hours they work. A detailed breakdown for such persons is shown in the table below:

Special Cases

1. Long-Distance Moves: If it's over several days or at a very long distance move, you may have to pay $60-$100 per mover per day. Use the higher end for moves with more challenges such as flights of stairs, oversized items, etc.
2. Heavy or Fragile Items: On moves that require extremely heavy items, such as pianos, or fragile, sensitive pieces, like antiques, a tip of an additional $20 to $50 per mover is appropriate, depending on the difficulty.
3. Above-and-beyond service: If your movers go on and on-let's say, helping you assemble furniture or completing the move significantly faster than expected-a good way to let them know you appreciate their excellence is to tip on the higher end of the spectrum or add a bonus.

Why Tipping Movers is Important

Tipping movers is a great way to recognize that they work really hard, and it is a very physically demanding job. It's not just moving things, but overcoming various obstacles and making sure everything you need is delivered safely. In cities like Boston, every move can be unlike any other, and any mover can face challenges that no one expected. A tip is essentially a way of saying “thank you” for the movers taking extra care in doing their job.

Local Tipping Customs

Tipping customs for movers in Boston vary and are region specific. Understand these local specifics to properly tip and appreciate a job well done.

Boston-Specific Tipping Practices

Generally speaking, tips in Boston are often slightly above average because the city's small roads, old buildings, and high density make maneuvering a bit difficult and time consuming compared to other places. For this good reason, tips for moving in the city are often higher than generally accepted.

• Urban Moving: When moving to Beacon Hill or the North End, some of the most densely populated urban areas where parking can be minimal and most buildings don't have elevators, tip between 15% and 20% of the total cost or in higher fixed amounts. Often movers will have to carry things up and down stairs, so it is better to tip more.
• Suburban Moving: In suburban Boston neighborhoods like Brookline or Newton, where homes tend to be larger but also more affordable, adding 10-15% in the form of a tip or reasonable flat fee is quite common. Easier accessibility usually means less physical strain on the moving team, although the size or scope of the move can still be onerous.

Localized Tipping Examples

These prices represent typical tipping amounts in the Boston area and may be adjusted according to your specific move.

Factors to Consider When Tipping

When considering how much to tip your Boston movers, here are a few factors to consider:

1. Complexity of the Move

• Facility Type: For historic buildings in towns like Back Bay, narrow stairs and cramped quarters are part of the package. If movers handle difficult conditions, consider giving a higher tip.
• Parking and Access: If the movers have to walk a long distance with equipment and heavy items because of limited parking or street access, then tip on the high side.
• Additional Services: movers may offer additional services (like packing or storage). For them, this can mean extra hours of work and hassle. If, for example, the move involves packing complex items like a piano, the extra incentive will make the movers very happy.

2. Quality of Service

• Professionalism: Reward punctuality, politeness, and care with your belongings by giving a higher tip.
• Efficiency: If the movers are especially quick to get the job done without sacrificing care, consider giving them a higher tip.

3. Condition of Items

• No Damage: If your belongings show up to your new home in perfect condition, this was due to careful handling; give a heftier tip for this.
• Fragile Items Handling: If movers were more careful with fragile or too valuable items, you can increase the tip to show appreciation.

4. Distance of the Move

• Local vs. Long-Distance: If moving locally, a standard tip would be appropriate, while the case may differ with long-distance movers as one might be expected to tip these people at the end of each day.

Alternative Ways to Show Appreciation

If you don't feel good about a tip, well, there are other nice ways to show appreciation to movers in Boston:

1. Provide Food and Drinks

• Lunch Options: Give your movers a break and cut loose for lunch on longer, or more labor-intensive moves. Order in from local favorites like Regina Pizzeria in the North End to Santarpio's Pizza in East Boston.
• Snacks and Drinks: You want to make sure that your movers stay hydrated and energized. First of all, provide refreshments like bottled water, Gatorade, and snacks such as granola bars or fruit from a local grocery store like Roche Bros or Trader Joe's.

2. Leave a Positive Review

• Online Reviews: That is good if you leave a good review on Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau. This will not only give credit to the movers alone but to the local business too.
• Mentions on Social Media: This might include giving a shout-out on social media and tagging the company in question in that shout-out. That way, it could also increase their visibility to attract more clients.

3. Recommend Their Services

• Word-of-Mouth: Recommend their business to your friends, family members, or neighbors. The moving businesses depend on personal recommendations to a great deal.
• Community Boards: You can share your recommendation on Nextdoor, neighborhood Facebook groups, r/Boston or other community boards online.

These small gestures show your appreciation and may mean much more to the movers and their business in the intimate setting that Boston is.

Step-by-Step Guide to Tipping Movers

1. Prepare Tips in Advance

• Estimate the Tip: Consult our guidelines below to know how much a tip should be, according to the size of the move and its duration.
• Have Cash Ready: Before the moving day, withdraw small bills so that their distribution may be easier.

2. Think Digital Tipping

• Ask About Apps: Ask if the moving firm accepts Venmo, PayPal, or any other such platform tips.
• Tip Individually: Make sure that the amount reaches each mover directly and personally, either in cash or through any other digital means.

3. Distribute Tips Personally

• End of the Move: Tip after the job is done and you’re satisfied.
• Say Thank You: It involves handing the tip over with a simple, personal word of thanks.

4. Optional: Write a Thank-You Note

• Add a Note: If the service was excellent, then a short thank-you note would serve as a nice gesture.

In this way, the process of a tip becomes quite easy and meaningful for you and the movers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Tipping movers in Boston shows appreciation for their hard work. Use local guidelines to determine the right amount and consider alternative gestures like food or positive reviews. Your satisfaction and recognition go a long way in valuing their efforts.

Key Takeaways