Tip daily, not at checkout. Housekeeping staff rotate — the person who cleans on day 1 may not be there on your last day. Leave $3–5 cash each morning before you leave your room.
Split tip with travel companions
Per-night tip guide by hotel type
| Hotel type | Min/night | Standard ★ | Generous | 3-night total |
|---|
How much should you tip hotel housekeeping?
Unlike most tipped services, hotel housekeeping uses a flat rate per night rather than a percentage. The standard is $3–5 per night at a standard hotel and $5–10 per night at a resort or upscale property. For a 3-night stay at a mid-range hotel, budget $9–15 total.
The most important rule: tip daily, not just at checkout. Housekeeping staff rotate, meaning a different person may clean your room each day. A single tip left at checkout goes only to the last day's housekeeper. Leave $3–5 in cash on the pillow or nightstand each morning before you leave your room.
Hotel housekeeping is one of the most overlooked tipping situations in travel — surveys suggest fewer than 30% of hotel guests leave tips. These staff clean multiple rooms per shift, often earning close to minimum wage with no guaranteed gratuity.
Factors that affect how much to tip
- Hotel tier: Budget motel ($2–3/night), standard hotel ($3–5/night), upscale hotel ($5–7/night), luxury resort ($7–10+/night). The tip scales with the level of service expected.
- Room size and complexity: A suite with a kitchen and living area takes significantly longer to clean than a standard double room. Tip toward the higher end for suites or rooms with multiple beds.
- Length of stay: For extended stays (7+ nights), some guests consolidate tips to every 2–3 days rather than daily — $10–15 per cleaning is appropriate.
- Do Not Disturb usage: If you declined daily service, only tip for days the room was actually cleaned. Leave a consolidated tip at checkout for serviced days only.
- Messiness: If your room requires extra work — lots of towels, room service dishes, or a generally messier-than-average cleanup — tip toward the higher end or add a few extra dollars.
Hotel housekeeping tip etiquette
Always leave cash — hotel housekeeping cannot be tipped via the front desk or your hotel bill in most properties. Place the tip visibly on the pillow, nightstand, or in a provided tip envelope with a note that says "Housekeeping — Thank you" to make it clear the money is intentional and not forgotten cash.
Tip separately from other hotel services: bellhop ($1–2 per bag), room service (18–20% if gratuity not included), concierge for special requests ($5–20). Each service is tipped independently.
For resort fees: even if your hotel charges a resort fee, this does not go to housekeeping staff. Continue tipping per night as normal — resort fees cover amenities and facilities, not staff gratuity.