Holiday Tipping 101

At the holidays, it may seem as if everyone has a hand stretched out, asking for your money. But to say “thank you” for the good service you’ve enjoyed this year and to ensure high-quality treatment for the year ahead, it’s a good idea to tip the people who perform daily, weekly and monthly services for you.

The basic rule is simplicity itself: Give the person the cost of one visit, especially if you routinely treat yourself to his or her service. For example, you can’t go wrong if you tip your manicurist the cost of one manicure and your stylist the cost of one haircut.

But if you already tip at the end of every visit, you can tip less at the holidays. In fact, that’s how many people deal with the end-of-year tipping stress. They give the same tip as they’ve been giving throughout the year.

In general, people in large cities tip more than people in smaller communities. And in some cases, a gift is more appropriate than a tip. For all the information you need to de-stress your holiday tipping, check out the following guide to December generosity.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Office Building and Garage Personnel
In general, you don’t have to tip the management of your office building even if you own your own company or are the CEO of a large firm in the building. But for the service personnel, it is always a good idea to tip for better service.
- Doorman: $10 to $100, depending on the type of building and the service you have received
- Elevator operator: $10 to $50
- Custodian: $20 to $50, depending on the service you have received
- Handyman: $15 to $50, depending on the service you have received
- Garage manager: $30 to $100, depending on the service you have received
- Parking attendants: $10 to $30 each, depending on the service you have received. If you always ask to have your car ready when you come out, get it washed or leave late in the day, tip more.

Office Coffee
If you go to the same coffee shop every morning and get a latte from the same barista, you might want to consider a gift or tip. If you tend to chat with the staff and leave with a smile on your face, remember to tip appropriately. Any business that helps you begin your workday in a good frame of mind deserves thanks.

Office Deliveries
- Newspaper delivery: $10 to $30, depending on if you have daily or weekend delivery
- Package delivery: If you send and receive a lot of packages, give a small gift. Many delivery companies don’t allow their drivers to accept tips.
- Water delivery: If your delivery person lugs the water all the way through your office to the cooler in the back and then puts a new jug into your dispenser, either a tip or a gift is appropriate.

Miscellaneous Office and Business Services
- Daily office cleaner (not hired by building): one day’s pay
- Weekly office cleaner (not hired by building): one week’s pay
- Garbage haulers: If you get great service or special treatment from your garbage haulers, tip them $20 to $50 each.
- Handyman (not hired by your building): $20 to $50, depending on how often you use the services.
- Postal carriers: Federal law does not allow mail carriers to accept tips, but you can present a gift of up to $20 in value. For many postal employees, a letter to their direct supervisor would also be much appreciated.
- Trash collectors (private): $10 to $20 each

PERSONAL SERVICES

Hair
- Barber: The cost of one haircut, $20 to $60. If you’ve gone to the same person for years, you might also include a small present.
- Hair stylist: The cost of one haircut, $25 to $75. If the same person has been styling your hair for years, you might also include a small gift.
- Hair washer (if different): $10 to $50, depending on the salon
- Nail technician: The cost of one manicure, $10 to $60

Health
- Personal trainer: The cost of one training session, $20 to $75
- Health club personnel: $10 to $30 per person
- Massage therapist: The cost of one massage, $25 to $125

Child Care
Involve your children in the purchase of any gifts for child-care workers; they like to be included, and you will be teaching your child to show appreciation to others.
- Regular babysitter: One or two nights’ pay. Also include a small present from your child.
- Occasional babysitter: One night’s pay. If you like, you can include a small gift from your child.
- Day-care workers: $20 to $60 each. Depending on your day-care center, you may want to buy a gift instead. You can also pitch in with other parents to buy a gift for the teacher or teachers. Appropriate gifts include gift certificates for books, coffee, gourmet gift baskets and picture frames. A gift certificate to a local restaurant also makes a nice present.
- Au pair: One week’s pay and a small gift from your child
- Nanny: One week’s pay to one month’s pay, depending on the length of her employment, plus a little something from your child

Teachers
Tipping school teachers may give the impression that you are trying to buy higher grades for your child. Instead, band together with the parents of other students and buy a nice gift from the whole class. If you’re on your own, stick with a tasteful gift from your child. Consider gift certificates for books, coffee, restaurants or arts events.

Cleaning
- Weekly housecleaner: One week’s pay
- Daily housecleaner: One day’s pay
- Maid: One week or one month’s pay, depending on length of her employment

Yard or Home Maintenance
- Weekly or monthly gardener: $20 to $50 per person
- Handyman (not hired by your condo, apartment building or association): $20 to $50, depending on how often you use the services

Deliveries
- Laundry delivery: $10 to $20, depending on the frequency of deliveries
- Newspaper delivery: $10 to $30, depending on if you have daily or weekend delivery
- Package delivery: If you send and receive a lot of packages, give a small gift. Many delivery companies don’t allow their drivers to accept tips.
- Water delivery: If your delivery person lugs the water up your steps and puts it into your dispenser, either a tip or a gift is appropriate.

Pet Care
- Dog walker: One week’s pay if the same person walks your dog every day, $30 to $60. One day’s pay if this person walks your dog only occasionally, $10 to $20.
- Dog groomer: $10 to $50, if you go to the same groomer every visit

Personnel in Your Condo Association, Apartment Building or Garage
- Manager of homeowner or condominium associations: $25 to $100
- Building superintendent: $15 to $100, depending on the service you have received
- Doorman: $10 to $100, depending on the type of building and the service you have received
- Elevator operator: $10 to $50
- Custodian: $20 to $50, depending on the service you have received
- Handyman: $15 to $50, depending on the service you have received
- Garage manager: $30 to $100, depending on the service you have received
- Parking attendants: $10 to $30 each, depending on the service you have received. If you always get your car washed, ask to have it ready when you come out or keep odd hours, tip more.

Miscellaneous
- Nursing home employees: Give a gift based on the service that each person has provided for the person under his or her care.
- Pool cleaner: The cost of one pool cleaning, $30 to $100
- Postal carriers: Federal law does not allow mail carriers to accept tips, but you can give a gift of up to $20 in value. For many postal employees, a letter to their direct supervisor would also be appreciated.
- Garbage haulers: If you get great service or special treatment, tip them $20 to $50 each.
- Trash collectors (private): $10 to $20 each

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