How Much to Tip Furniture & Appliance Delivery in 2026

Tip Per Person, Not Per Order

Unlike a restaurant bill, furniture delivery isn’t tipped as a percentage of what you paid. A $3,000 sofa and an $800 sofa weigh about the same to carry. Tip each worker based on effort: $10–20 per person for a typical delivery, handed to each crew member separately.

For a small item, like a single chair or a boxed side table brought to your door, $5–10 is plenty. For a whole bedroom set or living room delivered and placed, go to the higher end.

Stairs, Tight Spaces, and Heavy Items

Effort is what should move the number. Add $10–20 per person when the job includes any of these:

• Walk-up apartments with two or more flights of stairs.
• Removing doors or hinges to get a piece through.
• Very heavy items: sleeper sofas, solid wood dressers, pianos, gun safes, or French-door refrigerators.
• Hauling away your old mattress or appliance.
• Bad weather, long walks from the truck, or no elevator in a high-rise.

Clear a path, measure doorways, and have pets put away before the truck arrives. A smooth delivery helps the crew stay on schedule, and that matters to them almost as much as the tip.

Appliance Delivery and Installation

Simple appliance drop-offs follow the same $10–20 per person guideline. When the crew also connects water lines, installs a dishwasher, levels a fridge, or hooks up a gas dryer, tip $20–30 each. Installation often involves crawling behind units and troubleshooting fittings, which takes longer than the delivery itself.

If a licensed technician comes separately to install, and that visit is billed as a professional service, a tip is not expected — treat them like any other tradesperson, as covered in our contractor tipping guide.

When the Store Says No Tips

Some retailers and delivery contractors have policies telling crews not to accept tips. Delivery is often handled by a third-party logistics company, so the rule depends on who actually employs the crew. If you’re unsure, just offer — workers who can’t accept will politely decline.

If they can’t take cash, offer cold water, sports drinks, or snacks, especially in summer. Then leave a positive review that names the crew, or mention them in the store’s post-delivery survey. Good feedback can affect their performance evaluations.

Cash Is the Practical Choice

Delivery crews rarely have a way to receive card tips, so have small bills ready before the delivery window. Hand each person their tip directly rather than giving the full amount to the driver to split. For package and food drop-offs, see the separate delivery tipping guide, and if you are moving an entire household, use the movers tipping guide instead.