Tipping is optional
Let us be clear first: you do not have to tip your movers. The price you were quoted covers the work. Tipping is a way to say the crew did a great job — handled your things carefully, worked hard, stayed friendly through a long day. No crew should ever expect it or ask for it.
What is common
When customers do tip, a common approach is a per-mover amount based on how the day went and how long it took — more for a full-day, multi-flight move, less for a quick apartment hop. Some people tip a flat amount per mover; others scale it with the total job. There is no rulebook, and any amount is genuinely appreciated.
Tip each mover, not just the leader
If you decide to tip, hand it to each crew member individually at the end of the day. That way everyone who carried your couch gets thanked directly, and nobody has to wonder how it was split up.
Cash is king
Cash is the simplest and most appreciated form of a tip. If you do not carry cash, ask the crew leader at the start of the day what works — but do not stress about it. A tip given warmly at the end of a hard day lands the same however it arrives.
What crews appreciate besides tips
Cold water and a bathroom they are welcome to use go further than most people realize. A clear path to work, boxes that are actually taped shut, and a quick "take your time with that one" on the fragile stuff all make the day better. And an honest review afterward helps a local company more than anything.