After running a moving company in Los Angeles since 2020, the question I hear most often isn't about pricing or insurance—it's about tipping. Clients whisper it awkwardly at the end of a move: "How much should I give your guys?" The honest answer depends on several factors, and as someone who sees both sides of the equation daily, I'll break down exactly what's appropriate, when to tip more, and the rare situations where tipping less is justified.
The Standard Tipping Formula
The straightforward answer most people want: $20-50 per mover for a local move, $50-100 per mover for long distance. That's the industry standard in Los Angeles as of 2026, and it hasn't changed dramatically over the past few years. But those ranges exist for a reason—not every move deserves the same tip.
Here's how I think about it from both sides. A two-mover crew handling a standard one-bedroom apartment in Sherman Oaks for three hours deserves a different tip than a four-mover crew wrestling a grand piano down three flights of stairs in a Downtown LA high-rise during August heat.
Quick reference by move type:
- Small apartment (2 movers, 3-4 hours): $20-30 per mover = $40-60 total
- Standard house (3 movers, 5-6 hours): $30-40 per mover = $90-120 total
- Large home (4 movers, 7-8+ hours): $40-50 per mover = $160-200 total
- Long distance moves: $50-100 per mover depending on complexity
A good rule of thumb is 15-20% of total moving cost split among the crew. If your move costs $600, that's $90-120 divided between your movers. This percentage method works well because it naturally scales with the difficulty and duration of the job.
What Your Movers Actually Earn
I'm going to be transparent about something most moving company owners won't discuss openly. Movers in Los Angeles typically earn $15-25 per hour depending on experience and the company. Senior movers and crew leads earn more, sometimes $25-35 per hour. That sounds decent until you factor in the physical reality of the job.
A mover carrying furniture up three flights of stairs in 95-degree San Fernando Valley heat burns through enormous physical energy. Most movers can't sustain this work past their late 30s. The job has one of the highest injury rates in the service industry—back injuries, knee problems, and heat exhaustion are constant risks. Workers' comp helps, but chronic pain doesn't care about insurance paperwork.
Your tip directly impacts their take-home pay. On a good day with generous clients, a mover might add $60-100 to their earnings. On a bad day with no tips across multiple jobs, they've destroyed their body for base wages alone. Understanding this context doesn't obligate you to tip any specific amount, but it should inform your decision. These aren't servers carrying plates—they're carrying your 300-pound armoire down a spiral staircase.
When to Tip More Than Standard
Some moves genuinely earn above-average tips, and your crew will remember your generosity. I've seen clients tip $100 per mover after particularly brutal jobs, and I've also seen crews deliver exceptional service specifically because they recognized a client who valued their work.
Situations that warrant tipping on the higher end:
- Excessive stairs without elevator access. Third-floor walkups in Hollywood and Koreatown are a reality of LA living. Each flight of stairs multiplies physical effort exponentially. If your crew carried a sectional sofa up four flights without complaining, that's $40-50 per mover territory.
- Extreme heat or rain. Moving in July heat through the Inland Empire or during one of LA's rare downpours adds genuine difficulty. Your crew is suffering for your convenience.
- Fragile or high-value items handled perfectly. If they moved your grandmother's china cabinet without a scratch, or wrapped and transported artwork worth more than their annual salary, recognize that skill and care.
- Going above their job description. Reassembling a complicated bed frame, mounting a TV, carefully placing furniture exactly where you want it after three repositioning requests—these extras deserve recognition.
- Unusually long days. Anything past 8 hours gets physically brutal. At SOS Moving, overtime rates apply after 8 hours per CPUC regulations, but your crew's bodies don't care about billing—they're exhausted.
When Tipping Less Is Acceptable
I'm going to say something controversial for a moving company owner: not every move deserves a big tip. If service was genuinely poor, your wallet shouldn't pretend otherwise. Tips reward performance, not just presence.
Legitimate reasons to reduce tips include significant time spent on personal phone calls during your move, careless handling that damaged items (though you should also file a claim), showing up late without communication, or a noticeable lack of effort where you're essentially watching people move slowly while your hourly clock ticks.
That said, I'd encourage you to distinguish between individual performance and circumstances beyond their control. Traffic making the crew late isn't their fault. A narrow Venice Beach apartment doorway slowing things down is a logistics challenge, not laziness. LA parking situations can delay even the most prepared crew. If you're unsure whether an issue was within their control, default to standard tipping—they'll appreciate it, and you'll feel good about it.
Have questions about your upcoming move? Give me a call at 909-443-0004 — I'm happy to chat about your specific situation.
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Cash vs Other Tipping Methods
Cash remains king for tipping movers, and here's why I recommend it. Cash goes directly to the worker immediately—no processing delays, no tax complications for them, no platform fees. Hand it to each mover individually rather than giving a lump sum to the crew lead. This ensures each person receives their fair share and feels personally recognized.
Venmo and Zelle work as alternatives if you don't carry cash. Ask each mover individually if they have a preferred payment app. Most younger movers in LA are comfortable with digital payments. Just make sure to send it before they drive away—promises to "Venmo later" often get forgotten in the chaos of unpacking.
What about adding the tip to your credit card payment? Some moving companies allow this, and at SOS Moving, clients occasionally ask. The issue is transparency—you can't always guarantee that a credit card tip reaches the specific movers who worked your job versus being pooled or handled differently by management. I always encourage tipping cash directly to your crew for this reason.
Never tip with gift cards, leftover food, or unwanted furniture. I've heard stories of clients offering a broken recliner as a "tip." That's not generosity—that's disposal assistance disguised as gratitude.
The Food and Drinks Question
Offering water, snacks, and lunch isn't a replacement for tipping, but it's deeply appreciated and honestly changes how your crew approaches the job. I can tell you from experience that a crew working a house in Malibu during summer heat will be noticeably more careful and enthusiastic when the client puts out cold water and offers to order pizza at lunch.
Here's what works best:
- Water — always. Keep a case of cold water bottles accessible. Don't make them ask. This is the single easiest thing you can do that has the biggest impact on your crew's performance and safety.
- Energy drinks or sports drinks. Gatorade during summer moves is practically medicinal. Your crew is sweating through their shirts—electrolytes matter.
- Lunch for all-day moves. If your move runs past noon, ordering pizza or sandwiches for the crew is a class move. Budget $15-20 per person. Don't make them eat while working—give them 20-30 minutes to sit down and eat properly.
- Snacks throughout the day. Granola bars, fruit, chips—anything easy to grab between loads. A bowl of snacks near the door costs $10 and creates goodwill worth far more.
Think of food and drinks as a supplement to tipping, not a substitute. The best clients I've worked with offer both: water and snacks during the move, then cash tips at the end. That combination produces the happiest, most careful crews.
Tipping Etiquette and Timing
Always tip at the end of the move after everything is unloaded, placed, and you've done a walkthrough. This isn't about withholding—it's about ensuring the job is complete before expressing your final gratitude. Check your furniture for damage, confirm all boxes arrived, and verify nothing was left behind at the origin location.
Hand the tip to each mover individually with a handshake and genuine "thank you." Name recognition matters—if you learned their names during the move (and you should), use them. "Thanks, Carlos, you were great with that dresser" hits differently than a silent cash handoff.
If different crew members performed at different levels, it's acceptable to tip accordingly. The crew lead who solved every problem might deserve $50 while a newer mover who was learning gets $25. This isn't unfair—it's performance-based compensation, and experienced movers understand the dynamic.
Don't announce the tip amount loudly. Hand it discreetly in an envelope or folded cash. This avoids awkwardness if you're tipping different amounts and maintains dignity for everyone involved.
Long Distance Moving Tips
Long distance moves create a unique tipping situation because you often deal with two different crews. The loading crew in Los Angeles packs and loads your belongings. A separate delivery crew, sometimes thousands of miles away, unloads at your destination.
For interstate moves from LA to places like Seattle, Portland, or Denver, plan to tip both crews:
- Loading crew (LA): $50-75 per mover. They're handling the most critical phase—improper loading causes damage during transit. Reward careful work.
- Delivery crew (destination): $50-100 per mover. They're reassembling, placing, and dealing with your "actually, can you move that over there?" requests in an unfamiliar space.
The total tipping budget for long distance should be $200-400. Yes, that's significant on top of a $4,000-8,000 moving cost. But long distance crews work harder, handle more stress, and deal with tighter deadlines than local movers. Your belongings spent days in a truck—the people who safely get them into your new home deserve recognition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude not to tip movers at all?
Tipping isn't legally required, and no professional mover should pressure you. That said, moving is a tip-expected service in the United States, similar to restaurants or hairdressers. Zero tip sends a message that service was unacceptable. If service was genuinely poor, consider addressing it with the company directly rather than simply withholding tips.
Should I tip movers who damage my belongings?
This depends on the overall context. Minor scuffs during an otherwise excellent 8-hour move shouldn't eliminate the tip entirely—accidents happen with heavy furniture in tight LA apartments. However, if damage resulted from obvious carelessness or negligence, reducing or withholding the tip is appropriate. File a damage claim separately regardless of your tipping decision.
Do I tip the moving company owner if they're on the crew?
Yes, if the owner physically worked your move alongside the crew. They're doing the same labor and deserve the same recognition. At SOS Moving, I occasionally work jobs personally, and clients sometimes hesitate—don't. If someone carried your refrigerator, they earned a tip regardless of their title.
How do I budget for tips when planning my moving costs?
Add 15-20% to your estimated moving cost for tips. If you're quoted $800 for a local move with three movers, budget $120-160 for tips ($40-53 per mover). For a $5,000 long distance move, budget $400-600 for tips across both loading and delivery crews. Include this in your overall moving budget from the start.
What if different movers on the same crew performed very differently?
Tip individually based on performance. The experienced mover who problem-solved all day and handled your valuables with care can receive more than a newer crew member who needed constant direction. Hand tips separately and discreetly—this is standard practice and experienced movers expect performance-based differentiation.
Get Started
Tipping is just one part of a successful move. The best tip you can give yourself is hiring professional movers who earn those tips through exceptional service, careful handling, and genuine respect for your belongings and your time.
Schedule Your Free Consultation:
- Call: 909-443-0004
- Visit: 5809 Sheila St, Commerce, CA 90040
- Online: sosmovingla.net/free-estimate
