How much should I tip my movers?

Moving Costs & Budgeting

Feb 08, 2026

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and clarity.

Understanding Tipping in the UK Removals Industry

Tipping is not a mandatory practice within the UK removals industry. Removals professionals are paid for their work, and their compensation does not rely on tips. However, a gratuity is always welcomed as a gesture of appreciation for exceptional service and hard work, particularly when a job has been challenging.

Factors to Consider When Deciding to Tip

Several elements might influence a customer's decision to offer a tip, and the amount given. These often reflect the perceived effort and quality of the service provided:

Service Quality: Movers who are punctual, efficient, careful with belongings, polite, and professional throughout the move are often considered candidates for a tip.
Job Difficulty: A particularly challenging move, such as one involving multiple flights of stairs, carrying heavy items like a fridge freezer, navigating difficult access points, or working in adverse weather conditions, might warrant a tip. Handling specialty items like a grandfather clock or a large aquarium with care also demonstrates significant effort.
Duration of the Move: Longer, multi-day moves might encourage a larger overall tip compared to a short, local move.
Team Size: The total tip is typically distributed among the moving team, so a larger team might mean individual amounts are smaller, or the overall pot is larger.
Additional Services: If movers provide extra assistance beyond the scope of the original quote, such as disassembling unexpected furniture or helping with last-minute packing, a tip can recognise this flexibility.

Recommended Tipping Amounts

There is no fixed expectation for tipping in the UK. If a customer chooses to offer a monetary tip, common practices suggest the following:

For a full day's work with excellent service: £10-£20 per mover is a common guideline.
For a half-day or smaller, straightforward job: £5-£10 per mover.
For particularly demanding or complex moves: Some customers opt for a higher amount, reflecting the significant effort involved.

Alternatively, some customers might consider a percentage of the total job cost, though this is less common for removals than in other service industries. For instance, a small percentage (e.g., 5-10%) of the labour portion of the bill could be considered, but direct per-person amounts are generally more straightforward.

Non-Monetary Gestures of Appreciation

Monetary tips are not the only way to show gratitude. Removals professionals often appreciate other forms of consideration, especially during a long day:

Refreshments: Offering hot drinks (tea, coffee), cold drinks (water, soft drinks), and snacks (biscuits, sandwiches) is always well-received.
Positive Feedback: Leaving a glowing online review or providing direct positive feedback to the moving company's management can significantly benefit the team and their business, helping them attract more customers. For man and van services, this can be crucial for growing their business.
Recommendation: Recommending the service to friends, family, or colleagues is a valuable form of appreciation.

How to Present a Tip

If a monetary tip is decided upon, it is generally best to give cash directly to the team leader at the end of the job, asking them to distribute it fairly among the crew. This ensures the tip reaches the individuals who provided the service.