| Location |
Person |
Amount |
|
| Airport |
skycaps |
$1 or more per bag |
|
in-flight personnel |
none |
|
Wheelchair |
$3 to $5 unless the person goes out of their way or the trip is unusually long; in that case be more generous |
|
Electric Cart Transport |
$1 to $2 depending on how nice the driver is |
|
| Barbershop |
hair cutter |
15% of the cost, generally a
minimum of $1. If you do not
get your hair cut often, then
$5 is suggested |
|
owner |
none |
|
person who shampoos or
washes hair |
$1 to $2 |
|
| Beauty Shop/ Hair Salon |
one operator |
15% of bill |
|
several operators |
10% of bill to person who
sets hair; 10% divided
among others |
|
manicurist |
$1 or more, depending on
cost |
|
owner |
none unless he / she is doing
your hair, then follow above rules |
|
person who shampoos or
washes hair |
$1 to $2 |
|
| Buffet Style Restaurant |
Waiter / Waitress |
5% to 10% of the total bill is suggested. This depends heavily on exactly how much work is done by the waitstaff. In some restaurants, the waitstaff does very little. Usually is simply bringing fresh linen and/or utensils. In some other restaurants, the staff brings drinks, and some orders from the kitchen directly. |
| |
| Casino A “check” is a chip |
Blackjack Dealer |
$5 Check (or more) per session. Also it is common to place a bet beside yours for the dealer. This side bet can be as large as 10%
of your bet but usually is a $1 check. |
|
Craps Dealer |
Craps Dealers like to be part of the action with you! It is common to place as much as 10%
($1 Check is common) beside your bet whether betting pass line, Don’t Pass, Place bet or Prop box. Craps Dealers are usually only allowed to
let a “Prop” box bet ride one time (if it hits)
before they have to take it down. The
designation for these “dealer” bets is called “Betting for the Boys”. “$1 ‘Yo for the boys!” |
|
Drink Waiter/Waitress |
$1 Check (or more) per drink |
|
Poker Dealers |
$5 (cash or check) per session,
win or lose. Winners should tip at least $10 (cash or check) but 10% or more is not uncommon. |
|
Roulette Dealers |
$5 Check (or more) per session |
|
Slot Machine Changer |
$1 Check or more per change
serve |
|
| Cruise Ship |
cabin steward |
$3.00 to $3.50 per day per person |
|
waiter |
$3.00 per day per person |
|
bus boy |
$1.50 per day per person |
|
maitre d’ |
your choice, extra for special
occasions like birthdays |
|
cabin boy,
bath steward, |
5% to 7 1/2% % of total
fare divided among them,
paid at the end of each
week |
|
bar steward,
wine steward |
15% tip added to bill
automatically |
|
massage therapist |
Please refer to Personal Services
automatically |
|
| Deliveries |
Pizza
Andy’s Rant Pages
more info |
$1-$2 if short distance
$2-$3 for longer distances
$5 or more for large deliveries |
|
Furniture / Appliances
Large Delivery of
any kind (e.g. exercise
equipment, air conditioner,
refrigerator, etc.) |
$5-$10 per person minimum.
If delivery is large, heavy or
difficult, or requires assembly,
a larger tip is suggested,
perhaps $20 per person. |
|
Flowers |
$2-$5 for flowers
$5-$10 if it is a large plant or for heavy
or large deliveries |
|
| Disc Jockey (DJ) |
Dance Club |
The general rule of thumb is a dollar
to hear a song. If the person wants it IMMEDIATELY, (if not sooner), the
general rule is from $5.00 to $10.00. (In a “Dance Club” atmosphere, since
a bad or strange request can clear a dance floor, the person has to make it
worth the D.J.’s effort for doing this no-no) |
| |
| Food Delivery Service |
Driver / Delivery Person |
No to be confused with a regular delivery person such as for Pizza or Chinese food. This is for people who deliver food for a restaurant and usually deliver large orders such as entire meals. Sometimes this might involve a number of different restaurants. A tip of 15% to 20% is suggested depending on the size of the order and the distance traveled. |
|
| Holiday How to Tip Guidelines |
|
| Apartment Building Staff |
Custodian |
$20 – $30 |
|
Doormen |
$25 – $100 each. Depends on how fancy the building. Take into consideration how nice they are to you. If you get lot’s of visitors or lots of deliveries. If they have actually opened the door for you always. To maintain this level of quality service, you have to pay for it. So just do it. |
|
Handymen |
$20 – $30 each |
|
Superintendent |
$30 – $100 Depends on the type building and how the super has been with you through the year. |
|
|
| Health Club or Spa |
Locker Room Attendant(s) |
$5 – $10 |
|
Trainer(s) |
$50 more or less depending on how much personal attention you get |
|
|
Others – how to tip
|
Baby Sitter |
two nights pay or more, maybe a gift as well |
|
Beauty Salon |
the cost of a regular session plus a gift. No less than $5 per staffer. Depends of course on the setup of the place and how much work you regularly get done. |
|
Cleaning Person |
a weeks pay or more |
|
Day Care Service |
$15 – $25 and a gift |
|
Garbage Collector(s) |
$15 – $20 each |
|
Mail Carrier |
As with any civil servant, government agencies prohibit employees from receiving money as a gift or gratuity. The U.S. Postal Service is no exception, but they do allow people to be nice during the holidays and they accept the fact that it happens. The USPS asks that gratuities have a cash value no more than $20 and a letter of appreciation to the supervisor. |
|
Newspaper Delivery Person |
Daily delivery $15 – $25
Weekend Delivery only $5 – $15 |
|
Parking Attendant(s) |
If you care enough about your car, tip generously to each and every attendant individually. As a rule, you can give each attendant $10 to $20 dollars each. If you have unusual times when you bring your car in or take it out, or if you like to have your car ready when you get there, or any other service where they go out of the way for you, a half month’s rate divided amongst the attendants is considered good practice. If you don’t care much about your car park it in the street. |
|
| Hotel |
chambermaid |
$5 a night minimum. More
if long stays (over a week)
Consider $7 to $9 a night. |
|
room service waiter |
15% of bill |
|
bellhop |
$10 for bringing
you to your room with
luggage; $5 dollars for
opening and showing the
room |
|
lobby attendant |
none for opening door
or calling taxi from
stand; $1 dollar or more
for help with luggage or
finding a taxi on the
street |
|
desk clerk |
none unless special service is
given during long stay;
then, $5 |
|
concierge |
$5-$10 Average. More for
special services or favors |
|
| Limousine |
driver |
20% of the bill |
| |
| Motor Coach Operator and Tour Guide(s) |
Driver |
$1 to $2 per person per day. |
|
Tour Guide |
$1 to $2 per person per day. |
|
| Parking garage |
parking attendant |
$1.
If attendant helps
with luggage/packages
$5 is customary. If attendant
has to go a great
distance to get your car
$2 or more is suggested |
|
| Pet Related Services |
Dog Groomer |
15% of the bill. No less than $2
per dog |
| Personal Services |
|
Massage Therapist
rate suggested by massage
therapist Cathy Forbes |
Typically, for a one hour massage ($50 range) a tip of 10% is acceptable. This can be adjusted following the guidelines for a full service fine restaurant. A 20% tip for a good massage is not uncommon |
|
| Restaurant (it is customary to calculate the tip on the total bill, including the tax) |
waiter or waitress |
15% of bill. 20% If it is
a 4 star + restaurant or
for large parties. |
|
headwaiter/
maitre d’ |
none, unless
special services
are provided;
then, about $5 |
|
owner |
none |
|
wine steward |
15% of wine bill |
|
bartender |
10-15% of bar bill |
|
busboy |
none |
|
servers at counter |
15% of bill |
|
coat check attendant |
$1 for one or two coats |
|
rest room attendant |
50 cents |
|
car park attendant |
$1 |
|
| Sports arena |
usher |
50 cents to $1 per party
if shown to your seat |
|
| Taxi |
driver |
15% of fare, no less than
25 cents |
|
| Train |
Dining car waiter |
15% of bill |
|
stewards/bar car waiters |
15% of bar bill |
|
redcaps |
posted rate plus 50 cents |
