Plan your holiday tips
Tick the people on your list. Each amount starts at a typical figure: change it to what you actually pay.
Have a fixed budget? Divide it fairly
Every amount is scaled by the same share and rounded to $5, so the people who do the most for you still get the most. The mail carrier stays at $20 or less.
Total
$0
Nobody ticked yet
Your list stays in this browser only. Nothing is sent anywhere.
How much to tip each person
| Who | Typical holiday tip |
|---|---|
| In your home | |
| NannyCash or check | 1 week's pay |
| House cleanerCash | 1 week's pay |
| Regular babysitterCash | 1 evening's pay |
| Dog walkerCash | 1 week's pay |
| Home health aideGift (agencies often bar cash) | Gift, $25–50 |
| Personal care | |
| Hair stylistCash | 1 visit |
| BarberCash | 1 cut |
| Nail techCash | 1 visit |
| Dog groomerCash | 1 groom |
| Personal trainerCash or gift | 1 session |
| Massage therapistCash | 1 session |
| Building & neighborhood | |
| DoormanCash in a card | $50–150 each |
| SuperintendentCash in a card | $75–200 |
| Porter or handymanCash | $25–75 each |
| USPS mail carrierGift only, never cash | Up to $20 |
| UPS / FedEx driverGift card or small gift | $20–25 |
| Trash & recycling crewCash, where allowed | $10–30 each |
| Landscaper / lawn crewCash | 1 visit, split |
| Pool cleanerCash | 1 visit |
| Newspaper carrierCash | $10–30 |
| Garage attendantCash | $10–30 |
| Kids | |
| TeacherGift card or class gift | Gift, about $25 |
| Daycare staffCash or gift card | $25–70 each |
| TutorCash or gift | 1 session |
The three rules behind every number
People who work in your home get a week's pay. A nanny, house cleaner or dog walker who comes every week does more for your household than anyone else on your list. One week's pay is the standard; long-time nannies often get two.
People you visit get the price of one visit. Your stylist, barber, nail tech, groomer or trainer: give what one appointment costs, on top of the tip you leave each time. If you only go a few times a year, a smaller amount or a card is fine.
Everyone else gets a flat thank-you, scaled to how much they do for you. A doorman who signs for your packages all year earns more than a newspaper carrier you never meet.
People who can't take cash
Some workers are barred from accepting cash by law or by their employer. Give these a gift or a store gift card instead:
- USPS mail carriers may accept gifts worth up to $20 per occasion and $50 a year from one customer. No cash, no checks, and no Visa or Amex gift cards, which count as cash.
- Teachers at public schools are often covered by district gift limits. A small gift, a card from your child, or chipping in on a class gift is the safe choice.
- Home health aides employed through an agency usually may not take cash. Ask the agency, or give a small gift.
- Trash and recycling collectors are not allowed to accept tips in some cities. Check with your local sanitation department first.
When and how to give
Give in the first two weeks of December, at the last visit before the holidays. People are paying for their own holidays then, and you won't miss anyone whose schedule changes late in the month.
Cash in a card with a short handwritten note is the classic form, and for most people it is the most useful. For building staff, hand each person their own envelope rather than leaving one envelope for everyone.
If your budget is tight
You don't have to give everyone the full amount. Put the people who do the most for you first: a nanny, a house cleaner, a doorman. For people you already tip every visit, a smaller holiday amount or a card is reasonable. Use the budget option in the planner above to divide what you have so the proportions stay fair.
A thoughtful note matters more than people expect. Service workers say a card that names something specific you appreciated is remembered long after the money is spent.