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The Ultimate Guide for Tipping Everyone
Unless you're a real cheapskate (or received bad service), you're probably already tipping your restaurant servers 15% to 20% and your bartenders around $1 a drink. But what about all those other people? What's the right amount to tip the pizza delivery guy? Your hairdresser or barber? Your doorman, if you have one?
The folks at the Emily Post Institute are experts at tipping etiquette. Knowing who to tip and how much can be difficult, the Post experts say; giving too liberally may come across as showy, while not giving at all may seem ungrateful.
One way to be sure your tipping etiquette is on point is to budget for tips. So, for example, Lizzie Post from the Post Institute, and co-host of the Awesome Etiquette Podcast, suggests that if you have $15 in your budget for eating out this week, make sure that $15 covers the tip as well. And the same holds true for holiday tipping for service people you see regularly throughout the year.
"It's so different for everyone," Post said. "You need to look at the service people in your life and decide who you couldn't have lived without. For me, that's my hairdresser … but for some people, it might be their babysitter that they just couldn't do without."
When it comes to budgeting, Post suggests keeping holiday tips in mind and to budget for these important thank you gifts throughout the year. "If you really need to narrow your list because of your budget, you really need to think about who made the biggest difference in your life and make them a priority."
Remember, staying on budget is important considering overspending can affect more than just your bank account. High debt levels (and any missed payments associated with them) can also damage your credit score. (You can see where your currently stands by viewing your free credit report summary, updated each month, on Credit.com.) Here, with the help of the Post experts, we offer some good guidelines for handling virtually all of your tipping needs.
1. Restaurant Dining
Wait service (sit down): 15%-20%, pre-tax
Wait service (buffet): 10%, pre-tax
Host or Maitre d': No obligation for greeting you and showing you to your table
$10 – $20 for going above and beyond to find you a table on a busy night or on occasion if you are a regular patron
Bartender: $1-$2 per drink or 15%-20% of the tab
Restroom Attendant: $0.50-$3, depending on the level of service
Valet: $2-$5, when the car is returned to you
2. Restaurant Takeout
No obligation; 10% for extra service (curb delivery) or a large, complicated order
3. Food Delivery
Ten to fifteen percent of the bill, $2-$5 for pizza delivery, depending on the size of the order and difficulty of delivery
4. Cafes & Counters With Tip Jars
No obligation; tip occasionally if your server or barista provides a little something extra or if you are a regular customer
5. Airport Skycap
For a first bag $2; $1 per additional bag
6. Hotel Doorman
A smile and a "thanks" when he opens the door, plus $1-$4 for carrying luggage; $1-$2 for hailing a cab (add an extra $1 if it's raining);
Plus, $1-$4 if they go beyond the call of duty
7. Bellhop
For a first bag $2; $1 per additional bag; $2-$3 for each additional service, such as room delivery
8. Hotel Housekeeping
Two-to-five dollars per day daily with a note marked "Housekeeping – Thank you"
9. Concierge
No obligation for answering questions; $5-$10 for getting tickets or restaurant reservations; $15 for hard-to-get tickets or reservations (or 10%-20% of the ticket price)
10. Taxi Driver
Fifteen to twenty percent of the fare, but minimally $1; $2 for the first bag carried, $1 per additional bag
11. Hair Salon
Fifteen to twenty percent; ask to be split among those who served you
12. Manicurist
Also 15%-20%
You can see the rest of the ultimate guide for tipping everyone, complete with how much you should consider tipping service providers around the holidays, on Credit.com.
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