Tipping movers around the world
Tipping movers is customary in 9 of the 15 countries we track, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and 5 more. In the United States, $20–$60 per mover, or 15–20% of total bill. It is unusual or unwelcome in Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
Moving crews and furniture delivery teams. Customs vary widely — here is what to expect country by country.
Europe
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | Appreciated | £20–50 per mover for a good job |
| 🇫🇷France | Appreciated | €10–20 per mover, or €5 per hour each |
| 🇮🇹Italy | Optional | Not customary; €10–20 per mover for a tough job |
| 🇪🇸Spain | Optional | Not customary; €10–20 per mover for a tough job |
| 🇩🇪Germany | Appreciated | €5/hour per mover, or €10–20 each for a longer move |
North America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | Appreciated | $20–$60 per mover, or 15–20% of total bill |
| 🇨🇦Canada | Appreciated | $20–$40 per mover half-day; $40–$60 per mover full-day |
| 🇲🇽Mexico | Appreciated | 100–200 MXN per worker half-day; 200–300 MXN full-day |
Asia
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Japan | Unusual | ¥0 |
| 🇨🇳China | Optional | ¥0; ¥20–50 per worker for stairs, heavy items, or long hours |
| 🇰🇷South Korea | Unusual | ₩0 |
| 🇹🇭Thailand | Appreciated | ฿100–200 per worker |
Oceania
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺Australia | Unusual | No cash tip; offer cold drinks, snacks or lunch |
South America
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇧🇷Brazil | Appreciated | R$20–R$50 per worker local; R$50–R$100 full-day or interstate |
Middle East
| Country | Expectation | Typical amount |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪United Arab Emirates | Appreciated | AED 50–100 per mover; AED 150–200 for villa moves |
Tipping movers: common questions
Do you tip movers?
It depends on the country. Tipping movers is expected or appreciated in 9 of the 15 countries we track — including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Thailand, and 4 more — and is unusual in Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
How much do you tip movers?
In the United States, $20–$60 per mover, or 15–20% of total bill. Across all countries the usual range is 15–20% of the bill. Amounts vary by country — see the table above for each one.
Where should you not tip movers?
Tipping movers is unusual or can cause awkwardness in Japan, South Korea, and Australia. A polite thank-you is enough.
Should you tip movers in cash or by card?
Cash is the safer choice in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, and 7 more, where card tips may not reach staff. Elsewhere adding the tip to a card payment is normally fine.