Tipping movers in BC is your choice, not a rule. If you want to tip, we suggest about $20 to $40 per mover for a half-day move and $40 to $75 per mover for a full day. A $100 tip per mover is generous. It may make sense for a long, hard move, but no one should expect it.
At President Movers, we have helped people move homes and offices across British Columbia for over a decade, with offices in Vancouver and Burnaby. This guide explains our suggested amounts, when $100 each may make sense, how to divide a tip and other ways to thank your crew.
Do You Have to Tip Movers in BC?
Tipping is a way to recognize good service. If the crew handles your belongings carefully, communicates clearly and works efficiently, a tip can be a way to show appreciation.
Before moving day, review your quote to understand the agreed charges. Check your final invoice for any additional fees so you know what you are paying for.
If the service falls short of expectations, you can adjust the tip based on your experience. For damaged belongings or other issues, contact the moving company and follow its claims process.
How Much to Tip Movers in BC: Our Suggested Amounts
For most local moves, the easiest way is to tip a set amount per mover. These are our suggestions in Canadian dollars. They are not BC rules, industry rates or part of our pricing.
| Type of move | Time | Suggested tip per mover |
|---|---|---|
| Small move or a few items | 1–3 hours | $10–$25 |
| Half-day apartment or condo move | 3–5 hours | $20–$40 |
| Medium home move | 5–7 hours | $30–$50 |
| Full-day house move | 7–9 hours | $40–$75 |
| Long or very hard move | 9+ hours or tough access | $75–$100 or more |
The ranges overlap on purpose. A short move done with great care can earn more than a long move with poor communication. You can go above, below or outside these ranges.
Here are two quick examples:
- Burnaby condo near Metrotown: 2 movers work for 4 hours. You tip $30 each, so $60 in total.
- Vancouver house: 3 movers work for 8 hours. You tip $50 each, so $150 in total.
It helps to add your tip to your budget before moving day. For a sense of the full cost of a move, see our guides to moving costs in Vancouver and moving costs in Burnaby.
Is $100 Each Too Much to Tip Movers?
No, but it is generous. It makes sense for some moves and is more than you need for others.
When $100 Per Mover Makes Sense
Picture three movers spending a full day on your family home. They carry a sectional sofa down a narrow staircase, move a heavy dining table with care, keep your things dry in the rain and unload into a home with tight access. They stay organized and keep you informed all day.
If you are pleased with the service and it fits your budget, $100 each could be a generous way to thank them:
3 movers × $100 = $300 in tips.
When a Smaller Tip May Suit the Move
Now picture a small move. Two movers take a bed, a dresser and some boxes a few blocks away in about two hours. They do a good job, but the work is straightforward.
Tipping $100 each would mean $200 in tips for a two-hour job. You can tip that much if you wish, but our suggested starting range for a short move is $10 to $25 per mover.
$100 for the Whole Crew vs $100 for Each Mover
Before moving day, decide which one you mean. They are very different amounts.
A $100 total tip means something different for two movers than for five. Divide your planned total by the crew size before deciding what feels right.
| Crew size | Total tip | Each mover gets |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers | $100 | $50 |
| 3 movers | $100 | About $33 |
| 4 movers | $100 | $25 |
| 5 movers | $100 | $20 |
For a half-day local move, $100 for the whole crew can be a generous thank-you.
How to Work Out a Tip: Per Mover, Per Hour or Percentage
There are three common ways to work out a tip. None of them is a rule.
Per Mover
Pick one amount for each crew member, such as $30, $40 or $50, based on the size of the job and the service.
3 movers × $40 = $120 in total.
For most local moves in Metro Vancouver, this is the method we suggest. It is simple, and each mover gets the same amount.
Per Hour
Another way is to tip about $5 to $10 per mover for each hour of work. For 3 movers working 6 hours, that comes to:
- $5 per mover per hour: $90 in total
- $10 per mover per hour: $180 in total
Consider the care and communication you received, along with the job’s difficulty. Protective wrapping, safe lifting and difficult access can all take time.
Percentage of the Bill
You can also tip a share of the bill, such as 10%. On a $1,200 move, 10% is $120, which works out to $40 each for 3 movers.
Be careful with this method on bigger bills. A long-distance quote can include the truck, fuel and, for Island moves, the ferry fare. Those costs do not reflect how hard each mover worked, so you don’t need to tip on them. The same goes for taxes.
When to Tip Movers More
A tip is your call, but certain factors can make a move more demanding, and you may want to recognize the extra care and effort involved:
- Stairs: Carrying a fridge or a dresser up a three-storey walk-up is far harder than a ground-floor move.
- Condo and high-rise access: Elevator time slots, loading bays and long hallways in towers near Brentwood, Metrotown or downtown Vancouver require careful timing. Our guide to moving into a Burnaby condo or high-rise explains the challenges involved.
- Heavy or awkward items: Pianos, large sectionals, wardrobes and gym equipment need extra care. These items should be discussed when preparing your quote. A tip is an optional way to thank the crew for handling them carefully.
- Rain: Wet entrances and extra protective wrapping can add time to a move. Crews need to take care to keep belongings dry in wet weather. Our guide to moving in Metro Vancouver rain offers related advice.
- Great care and communication: The crew handles your belongings carefully, protects your floors, follows your instructions and keeps you informed throughout the move.
One thing should never change: a tip should not push a crew to rush or skip safety steps.
How Much to Tip Long-Distance Movers in BC
Base your tip on the people doing the work, not on the distance. You do not need to tip a share of a large long-distance bill.
On our long-distance moves within BC, ask who will handle loading and unloading. If the same crew handles both ends, you can give one tip at the end. If separate crews are involved, divide your planned tip between them.
Think about the full job, including loading, the drive and unloading at your new home.
Should You Tip Packers Separately?
If the same crew packs and moves your things, you can give one tip for the whole job.
If a packing team comes on a different day, you can tip them when they finish. Packing takes time and care. Our packing and unpacking team is trained to pack delicate items such as glassware, artwork and electronics.
Should You Tip Each Mover or Give It to the Crew Lead?
Handing each mover their own tip is a simple option. If you want to give equal amounts, prepare the same amount for each person and thank them individually.
If you give one amount to the crew lead, ask whether the company has a tip-pooling policy if you want to understand how tips are distributed.
What BC Rules Say About Tips
The Government of BC’s tips and gratuities guidance explains how employers can handle and redistribute tips. Employers cannot withhold employees’ tips or require them to give up their tips unless the law requires it. Employers may also require tips to be redistributed through a tip pool.
Employers may redistribute tips through a pool among some or all eligible employees. Restrictions apply to employers, directors and shareholders sharing in pooled tips, including conditions related to the work they perform.
These rules protect workers. They do not set a tip amount for customers.
Can You Tip Movers by Card or E-Transfer?
Cash is the simplest way to tip because you can hand it to each mover at the end of the job. If you plan to tip in cash, get smaller bills ready before moving day.
Card and e-transfer tips depend on the company. Our terms of service list cash, card and e-transfer as possible payment methods for your move. However, accepting these payment methods for the moving bill does not confirm that tips can be paid electronically.
If you would like to add a tip by card or e-transfer, ask our team before moving day how it will reach your crew.
When Is It Okay Not to Tip Movers?
You may choose not to tip if:
- You cannot afford it.
- The service was far below what you agreed to.
- The crew was rude or unsafe.
- Your things were handled carelessly.
- There were long delays with no explanation.
Be fair about delays the crew cannot control, such as traffic, a storm or a broken elevator. Moving heavy or awkward items can also take extra time and care.
If something was damaged, a smaller tip does not fix it. Document the issue and contact the moving company promptly to ask about its claims process.
Other Ways to Thank Your Movers
If a tip is not in your budget, you can still show thanks:
- Offer water: Moving is hard physical work, especially on a warm day.
- Be ready: Packed and labelled boxes, clear paths and a booked elevator help the crew work more efficiently.
- Share key details early: Tell the crew about fragile items, parking limits and building rules before they start.
- Leave an honest review: If our crew did a great job, a Google review helps other families make an informed choice and lets our team know their work was appreciated.
- Recommend the company: Tell friends and neighbours who are planning a move.
These are thoughtful gestures, not obligations.
Plan Your BC Move With President Movers
We provide a written quote before your move, so you can plan your budget, including any tip you choose to give. Whether you are leaving a condo near Metrotown or moving a family home in Vancouver, our residential movers are available seven days a week.
Planning an office relocation instead? Explore our commercial moving services.
Get a free moving quote or call 604-900-5433 to talk to our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you tip movers in Canada?
Tipping movers is a personal choice in Canada, including BC. No law sets a tip amount for customers. If you choose to tip, base it on the hours, how hard the job was and the service you got.
Is $20 a good tip for movers?
Yes, $20 per mover is a good tip for a short move of a few hours. For a full-day move, you may want to give more.
Is $50 per mover a good tip?
Yes, for a full-day local move done with care, $50 per mover sits well within our suggested range.
How much should I tip two movers for four hours?
We suggest about $20 to $40 per mover, or $40 to $80 in total. Go higher if the job was hard, or lower if your budget is tight.
How much should I tip three movers for eight hours?
We suggest about $40 to $75 per mover, or $120 to $225 in total. For an extra hard move with great service, you might give more.
Should I tip if I’m already paying a high hourly rate?
That is up to you. The hourly rate pays for the moving service. A tip is a separate, optional thank-you, and a high bill does not mean you must tip more.
Do I tip movers before or after the move?
Wait until the job is done so you can judge the work. On a move that takes more than one day, you can tip at the end of each day or once at the end.
Should I tip the owner of the moving company?
You don’t need to. If the owner works on your move alongside the crew, you can include them in the tip, just like any other mover.
Should you tip movers for an office move?
Yes, if you’d like to. Base the amount on the time involved, the difficulty of the job and the service you received.
Should I tip movers who only load or unload a truck?
Yes, if you’d like to. Use the same per-mover amounts based on the hours worked and how heavy the job was. Our loading and unloading service is for people who rent a truck or container and only need help with the lifting.