Should You Tip Mattress Delivery Staff?

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Getting a new mattress is reason enough for most of us to celebrate. I mean, a good mattress can improve the quality of your back and reduce backache. Hallelujah, right? Of course, most of us don’t just order a mattress and ship it home. We get it delivered right to our doorstep. What about those mattress delivery staff members? Should they get a tip?

Mattress delivery staff generally earn low to fair wages, which is why most people prefer to tip them. To ensure that your crew gets to keep the tip, check with the mattress company before you tip them. A tip of $5 to $10 per person is typical.

Tipping culture is one of those things that can be hard to navigate, simply because there are so many nuances to it. Before you call up a mattress company, let’s talk about how tipping affects staff.

What Does Mattress Delivery Include?

This can vary from business to business and there are no real codified expectations when it comes to mattress delivery. Some stores offer white glove service on everything, others don’t. Here’s what you should know:

  • Generally speaking, most places will make the delivery personnel drop off the new mattress in the room of your choosing. In some cases, mattress delivery people will also remove the old mattress and place the new one on your bed.
  • You should never assume that they will remove the mattress unless that is specifically what the company says they’ll do. Most top-tier companies do offer mattress removal as part of the service. If you ordered white glove delivery, this should be expected.
  • Always ask what’s included with mattress delivery before you prepare your home. The most aggravating thing that can happen is to have a delivery crew leave your mattress outside, where bed bugs could get to it, while you think they’ll put it in your room. Knowing what to expect is vital to a good experience.

Are You Supposed To Tip Mattress Delivery Guys?

In most cases, tipping mattress delivery crewmen will not be something that they’ll say no to. It generally is considered to be good form. Most mattress delivery guys earn minimum wage, or are contracted out by a third party. This means you can’t always assume that they earn a living wage.

Obviously, some companies do have anti-tipping policies. If you are the type of person who has to make sure that they are allowed to get tips, you can always check the company’s site or call their customer service line. In most cases, you should be good to go.

When Should You Tip Mattress Delivery Guys?

Honestly, I want to say that you should always tip them simply because you can’t always determine how much they make. However, you should be especially mindful of tipping in these situations:

  • They really helped you out with the delivery. If they offer exceptional service, arrived early, and even helped clean stuff out, you should tip them.
  • You got more service than you asked for. Did they actually go so far as to help put your mattress on the bed even though you didn’t pay for that service? A tip would be nice.
  • The company they hired encouraged it. This is a matter of reading between the lines. If a company strongly encourages tips, they are probably paying piss-poor wages and won’t be able to keep delivery staff on if they don’t get tipped.
  • You live in an area that is very hard to access. Living out in the middle of nowhere or living in a building that is super high-rise would qualify here.

When Should You Not Tip Mattress Delivery Guys?

There are very few situations where mattress delivery does not require a tip. These are the situations below:

  • The company that you work with has a no-tip policy or only does delivery at a fee. If the company in question has a policy that involves paying for delivery separately or enforces a no-tip policy, you don’t have to tip them.
  • You didn’t get the full service that you asked for. For example, if they dropped off the mattress on your doorstep but you paid for in-room delivery, you shouldn’t tip. (Actually, you should complain to the manager about this. It is not fair to you and managers should be aware.)
  • The delivery staff was extremely late, rude, or otherwise made you uncomfortable. We all have been there.  A bad delivery driver, whether it’s due to extreme lateness or something worse, such as sexual harassment, does not deserve a tip. If anything, it might warrant a complaint to HR.

How Much Should You Tip Mattress Delivery Crewmen?

Unlike most other types of furniture delivery crews, there seems to be a fairly strong consensus on tipping mattress delivery crews. It’s customary to tip between $5 to $10 for mattress delivery, per person. If they do a truly excellent job and remove your old mattress, it’s best to tip $15.

If you still feel a bit lost, we have a whole article on how much you should tip mattress delivery crewmen on our site. It also has a ton of information about why you should tip what you tip, and how to calculate things out.

Will Delivery Crews Remove Your Old Mattress If It Has Bed Bugs?

In most cases, mattress delivery companies will not allow their crewmen to pick up an old mattress if it shows signs of bed bug infestation. You can’t blame them, either. Those bugs could potentially end up infesting a new mattress, potentially destroying the company’s reputation with buyers.

If you had a bed bug case, tell the mattress company before you ask them to remove it. Should they refuse, you will be able to call a proper junk hauling service to adequately remove it. It’s important to remember that this is not always up to the company. Some states and cities have specific rules about proper mattress removal when it deals to bed bugs.

How Do You Prepare For A Mattress Delivery?

Prepping for a mattress delivery is fairly easy. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Get details about your delivery from the company. You should find out whether you need to remove the mattress on your own, and also find out what time they are coming. From there, you can plan accordingly.
  • Clear out a path to your bedroom. You don’t want your delivery crew to trip over a bunch of toys. If you have to move things to get a better reach to your bed, do so at this point.
  • Secure pets in a separate room. If you have a cat or a dog, you need to keep them in a place where they can’t escape. After all, you don’t want Fido taking a walk while your mattress gets carried inside.
  • Make sure that your schedule is cleared up during your delivery window. You have to actually be at home in order to get the mattress delivered. This way, you can sign off on the mattress, unlock the door, and inspect the goods.

What Happens If Your Mattress Delivery Crew Is Late?

Call customer service immediately to find out what they can do to speed things up. If they are egregiously late, it’s okay to reschedule—ideally, with a different delivery crew. After all, most of us cannot stay at home for the bulk of a day, waiting for a mattress to show up.


Related Questions

How do you dispose of a mattress?

It’s best to ask your local municipal office to find out what you have to do. In most cases, the best way to get rid of the mattress is to give your local garbage company a heads up and place it on the curb. If the mattress has bed bugs, you may have to get professional junk luggers or deliver the mattress to a dump yourself.Always mark off an infested mattress before you toss it. You don’t want someone to pick it up and bring it home!


How long does mattress delivery take?

This all depends on the company that you buy it from. Many mom and pop shops offer same-day delivery, often within hours of purchase. However, if you want to order a new mattress online, then things get difficult to determine. Most major online stores will offer delivery within three to five business days post-purchase.If you are short on time, the best thing you can do is ask about delivery times before you buy a mattress. This way, you will be able to get a better handle on when to expect your new sleeper.


How much does mattress delivery cost?

This, once again, depends on the mattress company. A somewhat (but not really) new trend among mattress company owners is to offer free mattress delivery with any purchase. With that said, certain companies still will charge a fee. Usually, companies that charge a delivery fee will ask for anywhere from $15 to $75 per mattress.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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