RESTAURANTS:
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Wait service (sit down)
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15-20%, pre-tax
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Wait service (buffet)
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10%, pre-tax
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Host or Maitre d'
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No obligation for greeting you and showing you to your table.
$10-$20 for going above and beyond to find you a table on a busy night or on occasion, if you are a regular patron | |
Take Out
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No obligation
10% for extra service (curb delivery) or a large, complicated order | |
| Home Delivery |
10-15% of the bill, $2-5 for pizza delivery depending on the size of the order and difficulty of delivery
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Bartender
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$1-2 per drink or 15-20% of the tab
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Tipping jars
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No obligation
Tip occasionally if your server or barista provides a little something extra or if you are a regular customer. | |
Restroom Attendant
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$0.50-$3, depending on the level of service
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Valet
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$2-$5
Tip when the car is returned to you. | |
TRAVEL:
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Skycap
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$2 first bag, $1 per additional bag
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Doorman
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A smile and a "thanks" when he opens the door
$1-$4 for carrying luggage $1-$2 for hailing cab (add an extra $1 if it's raining) $1-$4 beyond the call of duty | |
Bellhop
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$2 first bag, $1 per additional bag
$2-3 for each additional service, such as room delivery | |
Housekeeper
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$2-$5 per day, left daily with a note marked "Housekeeping - Thank you"
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Concierge
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No obligation for answering questions
$5-10 for tickets or restaurant reservations $15 for hard-to-get tickets or reservations, or 10-20% of the ticket price | |
Taxi driver
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15-20% of the fare, but minimally $1
$2 for the first bag, $1 for the second | |
SALON/SPA:
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Hair Salon
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15-20%, ask to be split among those who served you
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Manicurist
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15-20%
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Facial, waxing, massage
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15-20%
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End of Summer Tipping Guide
Don’t forget everyone who has made your summer more enjoyable…
Au pair or daily babysitter:
A gift from your family (or one week’s pay) plus a small gift from your child.
Babysitter:
One day or evening’s pay, plus a small gift from your child.Dog walker:
One week’s pay.
Pool cleaner:
$20 to $50, or the cost of one cleaning.
Yard or garden care:
$20 to $50, or the cost of one care session.
Caddies:
A regular caddy, the normal fee for one round. The caddy pool or “backroom” boys’ tip pool: $50 -$100 for a season.
Pool attendant or lifeguard:
$20 - $50, if permitted.
Camp counselors:
Check with the camp administration because most camp counselors are not permitted to accept tips, but a small gift from your child or your family would probably be appropriate.
Regular Tennis or Golf pro:
If you have been taking lessons consistently through the summer, the cost of one private lesson.
Dock attendant:
$20 - $50.
Holiday Tipping Is Really Holiday Thanking
The holiday season is traditionally the time Americans choose to thank those who provide them with year-round services. In these tough economic times it’s important to remember that holiday tipping is truly about saying thank you. With a little creativity you can accommodate everyone on your list this year without blowing your budget.
Here are some things to consider when you're deciding how to thank people, who you will spend money on, and how much you will spend:
Your budget: First and foremost, you shouldn’t feel obligated to go beyond your personal budget.
- If your budget does not allow for tips, consider homemade gifts; and if you’re not good with crafts or in the kitchen, remember that words are always a great way to express your thanks for a year of good service.
- Any gift or tip should always be accompanied by a short handwritten note of appreciation. (Two or three sentences will be enough.)
- Do you already tip regularly? If you tip at the time of service, you may forego an end of the year tip, or give a more modest holiday thank you. You may also choose to give a small gift instead.
- The quality and frequency of the service you receive.
- Your relationship with the service provider.
- Location: Tipping averages tend to be higher in larger cities.
- Length of service: The number of years you’ve been using the service.
- Regional customs.
- Type of establishment: Is it deluxe or moderate?
- When in doubt, ask: Call the front desk and ask what is 1) accepted by the company, and 2) typical for what they see from other customers.
- Common sense, specific circumstances and holiday spirit should always be your guide.
- Don’t buy into the thought that if you don’t tip you won’t get good service for the coming year. If you think you've had bad service for this reason, you might want to consider changing companies or speaking directly with a manager.
Holiday Thanking Recommendations
The table below contains our recommendations for holiday thanking, or tipping. These are not rules. Remember that averages and ranges can vary based on the type of establishment, regional customs, and your own budget. You never have to give cash and a gift, except in a few cases, such as when your child may give a gift to a babysitter in addition to your tip or thank-you. (Read more on the difference between a holiday tip and a holiday gift.) We understand that some people aren’t comfortable picking out gifts for those they don’t know well so there are cash amounts listed below, as a suggestion only.
| Service Provider | Options | Suggested Amount or Gift |
Au pair or live-in nanny
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Cash or consider a gift. This person works closely with your family and you probably know them well.
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One week’s pay and a gift from your child(ren).
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Regular babysitter
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Cash
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One evening’s pay and a small gift from your child(ren).
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Day care provider
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Cash or a gift for each staff member who works with your child(ren).
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A gift from you or $25-$70 for each staff member and a small gift from your child(ren).
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| Live-in help (nanny, cook, butler, housekeeper) |
Cash and a personal gift
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One week to one month of pay as a cash tip, plus a gift from you.
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Private nurse
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Gift
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A thoughtful gift from you.
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Home health employees
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Check with agency first about gifts or tipping policies. If there is a no gifts/tipping policy, consider a donation to the agency.
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A thoughtful gift from you. (If gift-giving is not against company policy.)
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Housekeeper/Cleaner
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Cash and/or a gift
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Up to the amount of one week’s pay and/or a small gift.
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Nursing home employees
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A gift (not cash). Check company policy first.
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A gift that could be shared by the staff (flowers or food items).
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Barber
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Cash or gift
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Cost of one haircut or a gift.
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Beauty salon staff
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Cash or gift depending on whether you tip well after each service.
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The cost of one salon visit divided for each staff member who works with you. Give individual cards or a small gift each for those who work on you.
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Personal trainer
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Cash or gift
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Up to the cost of one session or a gift.
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Massage therapist
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Cash or gift
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Up to the cost of one session or a gift.
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Pet groomer
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Cash or gift (if the same person grooms your pet all year).
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Up to the cost of one session or a gift.
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Dog walker
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Cash or gift
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Up to one week’s pay or a gift.
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Personal caregiver
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Cash or gift
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Between one week to one month’s salary or a gift.
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Pool cleaner
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Cash or gift
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The cost of one cleaning to be split among the crew.
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Garage attendants
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Cash or small gift
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$10-30 or a small gift
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Newspaper delivery person
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Cash or small gift
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$10-30 or a small gift
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Mail carrier
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Small gift only
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Please see below for a detailed description of the United States Postal Service’s gift regulations.*
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Package deliverer
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Small gift only, no cash. (Only if you receive regular deliveries.)
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Small gift in the $20 range. Most delivery companies discourage or prohibit cash gifts.
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Superintendent
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Cash or gift
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$20-80 or a gift
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Doorman
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Cash or gift
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$15-80. $15 or more each for multiple doormen, or a gift.
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Elevator operator
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Cash or gift
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$15-40 each
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Handyman
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Cash or gift
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$15 to $40
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Trash/Recycling collectors
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Cash or gift (for private) check city regulations if it is a municipal service.
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$10-30 each
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Yard/Garden worker
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Cash or gift
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$20-50 each
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*United States Postal Service Gift Regulations:
Mail carriers working for the United States Postal Service are allowed to accept the following items during the holiday season:
Mail carriers working for the United States Postal Service may not accept the following:
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Finer Points of Tipping
Tipping is one of the most difficult and confusing aspects of etiquette today. Tipping is a significant way to show appreciation for a job well done; however, treating the person who has served you with respect is every bit important. Futhermore, praising the person himself, or , when you can, commending him to his supervisor, can go a very long way toward letting him know what constitutes good service. Standard tipping guidelines can be found in our General Tipping Guidelines article, but here is some advice on some of the finer points in tipping.
Always treat servers with respect.
Leaving a generous tip doesn’t make up for ordering someone around or treating them dismissively. While tipping augments servers’ incomes and rewards them for a job well done, treating them kindly is just as important.
Try to carry some cash.
Some places it is not possible to put a tip on a card.
If you are in doubt about whether to tip, ask in advance.
If a department store is scheduled to deliver a new sofa, call and ask someone in the furniture department whether tipping is customary; in a hair salon, ask the receptionist. In some situations, leaving a tip could be seen as demeaning. Taking the time to find out what’s expected can spare you an embarrassing moment.
It is acceptable to tip on the pre-tax amount of the bill.
For large parties this can be quite different than the total.
Tipping discreetly is classy.
Tipping is a private matter. Don’t act like a “big spender” and flash a lot of bills.
Money is the tip of choice.
Sometimes a small gift, usually given during the holidays, can be substituted for cash. In the case of a hairdresser, for example, this gift can “top off” the cash tips you’ve given over the year.
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