Holiday tipping guide: who to tip and how much
A holiday tip is a thank-you to the people who helped you all year. There is no official list and no fixed amount.
The ranges below are common guidance from the Emily Post Institute, and they shift with where you live, how often you see the person, and what you can afford. Emily Post's own advice is that nobody should feel obligated to go past their budget, and that any tip or gift should come with a short handwritten note.
Common holiday tip ranges
At home
| Who | Common guidance |
|---|---|
| Housekeeper or cleaner | Up to one week's pay, a small gift, or both |
| Regular babysitter | Up to one evening's pay, plus a small gift from your kids |
| Live-in nanny or au pair | Up to one week's pay, plus a gift from your kids |
| Day care staff | A gift, or $25 to $70 for each person who works with your child |
| Dog walker | Up to one week's pay, or a gift |
| Pet groomer | Up to the cost of one session, or a gift |
| Yard or garden worker | $20 to $50 each |
| Trash and recycling collectors | $10 to $30 each |
In your building
| Who | Common guidance |
|---|---|
| Superintendent | $20 to $80, or a gift |
| Doorman | $15 to $80. With several doormen, $15 or more each, or a gift |
| Handyman | $15 to $40 |
| Garage attendant | $10 to $30, or a small gift |
Hair, fitness, and wellness
| Who | Common guidance |
|---|---|
| Barber | Up to the cost of one haircut, or a gift |
| Salon staff | Up to the cost of one visit, divided among the people who work with you |
| Personal trainer | Up to the cost of one session, or a gift |
| Massage therapist | Up to the cost of one session, or a gift |
Deliveries
| Who | Common guidance |
|---|---|
| Mail carrier (USPS) | A small gift worth $20 or less. No cash. See the rules below. |
| Package delivery driver | A small gift in the $20 range |
| Newspaper carrier | $10 to $30, or a small gift |
Mail carriers have their own rules
The Postal Service sets limits on what its employees can accept, so this one is a rule and not a custom. According to the USPS ethics page for employees:
- A carrier can accept a non-cash gift worth $20 or less per occasion from a customer.
- Gifts from the same customer can't add up to more than $50 in a calendar year.
- Cash is not allowed. Neither are checks, money orders, or Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards.
What people say they plan to give
Bankrate surveyed 2,445 U.S. adults in late October 2025 about their holiday tipping plans. These are the shares who planned to tip each group and the median amount.
| Who | Planned to tip | Median tip |
|---|---|---|
| Housekeeper | 56% | $50 |
| Childcare provider | 47% | $48 |
| Teacher | 47% | $25 |
| Landscaper, gardener, or snow remover | 37% | $50 |
| Mail carrier | 27% | $20 |
| Trash or recycling collector | 21% | $25 |
In most groups, fewer than half of the people surveyed planned to tip at all. If your budget is tight this year, a handwritten note is still worth sending.
For the tips you leave the rest of the year
Holiday tips happen once. Restaurant, bar, and delivery tips happen every week. TipCard is a free iPhone app that suggests a tip based on the service you got, then splits the bill and rounds the total.
Sources
- Emily Post Institute, Holiday Tipping Guide, checked October 28, 2026
- United States Postal Service, Ethics for current employees: gifts from outside sources, checked October 28, 2026
- Bankrate, Fewer Americans Plan to Give Holiday Tips This Year, December 3, 2025. Survey by YouGov, October 27 to 29, 2025.