Holiday tipping etiquette: who and how much to tip?

What you’ll learn:

• Who you should be tipping anyways
• Who to tip during the holidays
• How much to tip for the holidays
• Who not to tip

Who you should be tipping anyways

Giving tips during the holiday season can be a great form of gift giving, but there are many professions where tipping is already expected. In these cases, a holiday tip would be less of a gift and more of an expectation for good service. Of course, the holidays can be a great time to give generously: A $20 tip on a $30 dinner, for example, could certainly count as a holiday gift rather than an expected tip.

Here are some common professions you should be tipping regardless, and the percentage of the bill you should generally be tipping:

• Waitstaff: 15-20% of the cost of your meal
• Hotel housecleaning: $1 to $5 per night you stay
• Valet: Around $5
• Rideshare and taxi drivers: 15-20% of the cost of your ride
• Food delivery: 15-20% of your total cost, or $3-5
• Bartenders: 15-20% of your tab, or $1-$2 per drink
• Hairstylist/barber: 15-20% of the total service cost

Who to tip during the holidays

The holidays are the perfect time to give tips or gifts to those you don’t normally tip, but make your life better or easier in some way and you wish to provide extra appreciation for doing so. This could be almost anyone, but there are some common professions people tend to give small tips or gifts to, specifically around the holidays.

• Apartment/condo building staff (doorperson, valet, maintenance, etc.)
• Babysitter/nanny
• Housecleaners
• Pet sitters
• Teachers/professors
• Tutors
• Personal trainer/coach
• Delivery personnel (USPS, UPS, FedEx, Amazon, etc.)

How much to tip for the holidays

If you have a closer relationship with the person you would like to tip, you can also consider giving something other than cash. A gift card to somewhere you know the person will love can be a great way to show thoughtfulness. Additionally, small gifts such as homemade sweets can be much appreciated. If you go that route, keep in mind others may have a similar idea—some service workers end up with way more than they can eat!

Additionally, a thoughtful card or note goes a long way to making your holiday tip feel extra personal and thoughtful. Someone may forget exactly how much you tipped during the holidays, but they likely won’t forget the kind gesture and words you provided.

Because there are quite a few people you could potentially tip, it’s best to create a list of everyone you want to give to in advance. This way, you can see the total amount you plan on giving and whether that’s a realistic amount for your holiday budget.

In cases where you know other people who you might tip the same people, such as a doorperson in a high-rise building, it can be worth seeing if they (your neighbors, in this case) want to pool together for one larger tip or gift rather than a bunch of smaller ones.

Who not to tip

While tips and gifts for the holidays are nearly universally appreciated, there are some professions to avoid tipping, or to be careful of what exactly you’re giving. Some professions have strict ethical standards that prevent accepting tips or gifts. These standards will vary from profession to profession, so if you’re in doubt, it’s best to research if there are guidelines. For example, postal carriers for the United States Postal Service are prohibited by the government from accepting cash or gift cards, but they can receive small items worth less than $20. There are also some professions that should be considered an absolute no-go when it comes to tipping or giving a gift, even during the holidays. Doctors, for example, typically don’t accept tips due to the ethical implications of accepting money directly from a patient. If in doubt, it’s best to research if anyone you plan on tipping or giving a gift has restrictions or general ethical guidelines that could prevent them from accepting it.