You’re probably familiar with the practice of tipping at the usual spots: sit-down restaurants, the salon, for your Lyft or Uber ride.
These days, though, many Americans are feeling bombarded with a growing number of opportunities to tip at places like fast food restaurants, self-checkout machines, and pick-your-own orchards. All of these options have a substantial portion of the population confused, understandably. More than seven in 10 of the nearly 12,000 adults surveyed in 2023 by Pew Research confirm that they’re being asked to tip more frequently in the past, and only about one-third of the respondents find it’s “extremely or very easy” to know when and how much to tip.
With the to-tip or not-to-tip conundrum becoming more prevalent, now is the perfect time to equip yourself with the ultimate guide to tipping etiquette. Reading on is completely free—and in this instance, you can definitely keep the tip.
Who You Should Tip, According to Etiquette Experts
If you’re unsure whether to tip or not, consider this guideline from Jacqueline Whitmore, etiquette expert and the founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, Florida: Tip for personalized services that require extra effort or skill.
“For instance, if someone goes out of their way to assist you, provides a service that saves you time or money, or demonstrates exceptional skill or care, a tip is often appropriate,” Whitmore says.
So the aforementioned parties—sit-down restaurant servers, ride share or taxi drivers, delivery drivers, babysitters, and salon and spa staff—all deserve tips. In America in 2025, 20% is the standard. (This is the norm; feel free to adjust—especially up—based on the quality of service and the luxury level of the experience.)
Especially during the holidays or busy seasons, it’s nice to tip any personalized service provider you interact with frequently, such as your personal trainer or fitness instructor, mail carrier, or newspaper delivery person.
“Many in the service industry rely heavily on tips, so it’s the perfect opportunity to activate your generosity. Be prepared with cash,” suggests Lisa Mirza Grotts, a San Francisco, California-based certified etiquette expert and the founder of the Golden Rules Gal. While some businesses and individuals now accept tips via credit card, Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, or Apple Pay, “when it comes to gratuity, cash is still king,” Grotts adds.
Beyond those parties, there are a handful of people or groups you should be tipping with every service. Keep in mind that “all etiquette is local, and who to tip and how much largely depends on where you are,” says Nick Leighton, a New York City-based co-host of the weekly etiquette podcast, Were You Raised By Wolves? “If you’re not sure what’s ‘typical’ in the area where you live or are visiting, it’s okay to ask friends, neighbors, hotel staff, or anyone else who might be able to point you in the right direction.”
As a general rule, besides those mentioned above, here’s who to tip and how much to tip.
1. Hotel Housekeeping
“This is probably the most common person the average American forgets to tip,” Leighton says. Many travelers overlook this much-needed service, “perhaps because it often occurs out of sight,” Whitmore explains. “However, these hardworking individuals ensure your room is clean, comfortable, and well-stocked throughout your stay.”
If possible, leave a small note with the tip to ensure they know the cash is for them—not just left out of your wallet on accident.
- How much to tip: $3 to $5 per night (leave this daily since a different person or group may be cleaning each time)
2. Hotel Concierge
“If their help went beyond small, routine requests, then it’s nice to tip depending on what they did for you and how much time and effort that took,” Leighton says.
Asking “where’s the nearest coffee shop?” is one thing, but scoring you a coveted reservation at an impossible-to-get-into restaurant is quite another. For directions and simple questions, there’s no need to tip. But for any personal assistance and definitely for itinerary planning or over-the-top kindness, leave a tip.
- How much to tip: $5 to $10 for basic services; up to $20 to $50 for acts that require extra effort or entire-day plans
3. Hotel Bellstaff or Porters
This isn’t a courtesy offered at all hotels and resorts, but some whisk your bag from the car onto a cart and roll it up to your room to help you settle in. This experience may include a brief tour of the property and/or your room. If a bellhop or porter assists you with your bags, it’s kind to tip. But no need to fret if you don’t have cash on you at that exact moment.
“Just ask them their name if they’re not wearing a name tag so you can find them later so you can tip them later in the day after hitting up an ATM,” Leighton says.
- How much to tip: $1 to $5 per bag
4. Valets
Whether you’re at a wedding or other event, a posh restaurant, a hotel or otherwise, if you valet your car, it’s ideal to tip each time the car is returned to you. Although “if you have a very nice car and want to ensure it gets a little more TLC, it probably won’t hurt to tip both when you hand over the keys and then again when you get your car back,” Leighton says.
- How much to tip: $2 to $5 when your car is returned to you
5. Coat Check
When the weather gets chilly, you need a coat—but they’re a nuisance to lug around with you. If you wear one to dinner or some other event, you may opt to check it. You get a ticket to hold in exchange, and when you turn that ticket back in to retrieve your jacket, that’s the optimal time to tip the staff, Whitmore says.
- How much to tip: $1 to $2
6. Tour Guides
If your vacation itinerary includes a tour through the city or a specific landmark, it’s a kind gesture to tip your guide. Whitmore recommends scaling up or down based on the length of your time together and the intimacy level of the experience. (In other words, if it was a private tour, tip higher. For a large group tour, feel free to leave the baseline gratuity.)
- How much to tip: $10 to $20 per person for a day tour
7. Musical Artists and Street Performers
“Guests who are new to their local music scene sometimes aren’t sure if it’s even appropriate to tip an artist, and from my experience, it is always a welcomed gesture,” says Amy Whidby, creative director of A. Marshall Hospitality, which owns the live music venue Puckett’s Restaurant. “If you don’t carry cash, it’s becoming more and more common for artists to have ‘virtual tip jar’ information available to make it easier to show love and appreciation digitally.”
For a band or artist you enjoy at a venue, or if you stop to watch a street performer, Whitmore advocates tipping.
- How much to tip: $1 to $5
8. Movers
Each home move is different in terms of its difficulty level, distance, and the amount of heavy lifting involved. Keep your movers well-stocked with water and snacks while they’re in your residence, and plan to tip more for labor- and time-intensive moves or for white-glove service.
- How much to tip: $10 to $50 per mover, depending on the scope of the move
9. House Cleaners
“While tipping isn’t mandatory, it is customary to tip after each cleaning,” Whitmore says.
This is especially true if the staff works for a cleaning company that might not allow them to set their own rates. During holiday season, you can also opt to give a bonus in the form of a tip—$20 up to 100% of a single service, depending on your budget and relationship with the staff—to recognize their efforts and dedication to keeping your place dust-free throughout the year.
- How much to tip: 10% to 20% per visit
Who You Generally Don’t Need to Tip
When in doubt, it can’t hurt to ask or simply leave a dollar or a few. However, you have Grotts’ permission to skip tipping in these instances:
- When you’re dining at a self-service buffet or fast food restaurant
- At automated vending machines or self-service kiosks
- For professionals who perform a trade and earn a salary, like plumbers, doctors, nurses, technicians, and repair people
- Where tipping is discouraged, such as at private clubs
