Furniture delivery can be a big job. Most items are large, heavy, and awkward to maneuver. Getting a new couch, bed frame or dining set into your home often requires some skilled labor. This leads many customers to wonder: Should I tip the delivery guys? Do furniture delivery crews expect a gratuity for their services?
The quick answer is yes, furniture delivery crews do anticipate receiving a tip. Tipping is customary for jobs that involve moving heavy objects, manual labor, and providing personable customer service. Most delivery teams rely on tips as a standard part of their compensation.
However, the exact tip amount is discretionary. There are many factors that go into deciding an appropriate tip. Customers should consider the size of the order, difficulty of delivery, professionalism of the crew, and their own budget. Customers are not strictly required to tip a minimum percentage. But most delivery teams expect a reasonable gratuity.
Page Contents
Average Tip Amount for Furniture Delivery
When deciding how much to tip furniture delivery crews, a good reference point is 10-20% of the total order cost. For example, if your new living room set costs $1,000, an appropriate tip would be $100-$200. For large orders or complicated deliveries, tips on the higher end of this range are more appropriate.
Another commonly-used benchmark is $10-20 per crew member. For example, if three workers assisted with your furniture delivery, a tip of $30-$60 total would be typical. This method works well for smaller orders where a percentage tip might be under $10 per person.
Here is a reference table of average furniture delivery tip amounts:
| Order Total | 10% Tip | 15% Tip | 20% Tip |
| $100 | $10 | $15 | $20 |
| $500 | $50 | $75 | $100 |
| $1,000 | $100 | $150 | $200 |
| $2,000 | $200 | $300 | $400 |
| $5,000 | $500 | $750 | $1,000 |
As you can see, the typical tip range is $10-$20 per $100 spent. The higher end is for more difficult deliveries or outstanding service.
Factors That Determine Furniture Delivery Tip Amount
While 10-20% is a good baseline, several factors influence how much you should tip furniture delivery crews:
Size of delivery team
For a large furniture purchase, you may get 2-4 people assisting with your delivery. A larger crew deserves a more substantial tip, as you need to account for multiple workers. Tip at least $10-20 per person.
Heavy lifting required
Did the delivery require heavy lifting, such as maneuvering a 300 lb sleeper sofa down to your basement? Intensive physical work deserves better gratuity.
Stairs or tight spaces
Navigating stairs, tight hallways, tricky corners all make furniture delivery much harder. Be sure to take extra difficulty into account.
Time and care taken
Did the delivery team seem rushed and careless? Or did they take the time to carefully place and assemble each item? Attentive crews deserve higher tips.
Attitude and professionalism
A polite, friendly, and helpful attitude makes challenging delivery jobs much easier. Generous tips help reward great service.
Additional services
Did the delivery crew go above-and-beyond by offering to remove old furniture, setup electronics, assemble complicated items, or perform other helpful tasks? Factor these extras into your tip amount.
Distance traveled
Long distances from the warehouse to your home can factor into tip amounts. Give consideration to substantial mileage.
Your budget
While it’s always nice to tip generously, your personal finances also matter. Don’t feel obligated to over-tip beyond what you can afford. Reasonable tips are still appreciated.
When to Tip Furniture Deliveries
Tipping at the time of delivery is customary. The delivery crew will often wait patiently while you inspect your items, then provide payment. This is the ideal time to present their tip, such as by saying “Thank you for your help. Here is your tip.”
For large delivery teams, it can be helpful to have tip money ready in labeled envelopes with each worker’s name. Hand these out as they are finishing up. This helps ensure a fair distribution of the gratuity.
If you need time to get tip money after the crew leaves, you can follow up with their manager by phone or mail a thank you card with cash/check inside. But immediate tips are always preferred method.
The only case when tipping at delivery is not necessary is if you’ve already pre-tipped the workers. Some furniture stores give the option to add a delivery tip during checkout. If you know you’ve already covered their gratuity through other means, no further tip is needed.
Non-Cash Tip Options
Cash tips are always appreciated by delivery crews. But if you don’t have cash available, consider these other convenient options:
Check
Write a check to “cash” or the head delivery person. Make sure to have ID on hand in case they need to cash it.
Venmo, Paypal, Zelle
Many delivery workers now accept digital peer-to-peer payments like Venmo or Zelle. Just ask for their account handle.
Gift card
A nice gesture is giving a Visa or Amazon gift card they can use anywhere.
Food or drink
Offering waters, sodas, or a food delivery order can be an appreciated gesture.
Additional labor help
If you have heavy furniture to haul away, offer to assist with loading as an in-kind tip.
Furniture Delivery Tip Etiquette
Follow these general etiquette tips when tipping furniture delivery crews:
– Tip each worker individually rather than one lump sum (unless it’s a very small team)
– Hand cash or check directly to each person if possible
– Be friendly, gracious and sincere when providing the tip
– Provide the tip discreetly to avoid embarrassment
– Give the tip at the time of delivery as the job is wrapping up
– If pre-tipping through the store, notify the crew ahead of time
– For outstanding service, let the worker know you gave extra based on their great job
– Avoid undertipping – shorting the tips can come across very rude
– Remember that delivery crews rely on tips as part of their wage
Following these simple courtesies will ensure a smooth, positive experience for both customers and delivery workers.
What If You Get Bad Furniture Delivery Service?
Don’t feel pressured to tip for unsatisfactory service. But avoid taking out frustrations on the crew, who often don’t have control over broader issues.
First, talk to the head delivery person or call the store manager right away if the service fails to meet expectations. See if they can correct issues like lateness, damages, or incomplete assembly before withholding the tip.
If problems clearly fall on the delivery crew, like an unprofessional attitude or carelessness with your home, you’re within your rights to reduce the tip. But still tip something reasonable as they did provide basic services. Retail wages are low, so zeroing out a tip can create hardship.
As a last resort, report unsatisfactory service to the store manager after the fact. A good manager will want to address problems with their delivery staff. If service was exceptionally bad, file a formal written complaint requesting a discount or refund.
Conclusion
Furniture delivery crews absolutely rely on tips as standard compensation for their difficult, labor-intensive work. While tip amounts are discretionary, $10-20 per worker or 10-20% of the total order cost is typical. Factors like crew size, heavy lifting, attitude, and extra services provided should determine where your tip falls in that range.
With furniture delivery, tips are not optional. Workers depend on that income. With fair gratuities, you can show your appreciation for the delivery team’s efforts while supporting hard-working professionals. So remember to tip your furniture delivery crews appropriately!