Our holiday tipping guide will show you how to tip appropriately during the holidays without having to take out a loan from Santa
Holiday Tipping Guide 2024: How Much to Tip Everyone for Christmas This Year
Published on Dec. 11, 2024
The holidays are all about showing gratitude and giving, and tipping for the holidays is the perfect way to do both of those things. In fact, tipping is called a “gratuity” because it’s about expressing gratitude. But while you want to show appreciation for the people who keep your life running smoothly, let’s face it: There’s a fine line between being generous and needing to write a letter to Santa for a loan. Knowing how much to tip is also super confusing since the normal rules of tipping don’t apply here. That’s why we decided to create this definitive holiday tipping guide.
“Tips are a great way to bring the warm fuzzies over the holidays to those you care about,” says Jan Goss, a tipping and etiquette expert with more than 30 years of experience. “But the emphasis should be on those you care about.”
Called “relational tipping,” this etiquette principle says that you should decide what your budget for tips is in advance and then portion most of it out to the service people you have real relationships with. This will look different for each person, so it’s important to sit down and write out a list of people who have consistently helped you over the past year and focus your tips and gratitude on them.
So what should that look like? To help you navigate that line between tipping correctly and going broke, we asked Goss and etiquette expert Lizzie Post, co-president of the Emily Post Institute, to share the etiquette rules of who to tip, when to tip and how much to tip the various people in your life this year. Read on for our 2024 holiday tipping guide.
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Who should you tip for the holidays?
Contrary to what those tip jars and register screens might suggest, not everyone needs a monetary tip. The rule of thumb, Post says, is to tip people who perform a service well for you and/or you have a relationship with. For instance, that may mean tipping your hairdresser and house cleaner for Christmas but skipping the tip screen at the coffee shop.
For those who don’t make the cut? “A small gift or a heartfelt ‘thank you’ is perfectly appropriate,” says Goss. “Remember, tipping is your choice—don’t let anyone guilt you into it. If it’s not coming from a place of love, kindness or generosity, then don’t tip.” Of course, this isn’t a free pass to skip tipping altogether; good etiquette still means tipping when it’s appropriate.
How much to tip for the holidays in 2024
How much you tip for the holidays depends on your relationship with the person, how much work they’ve done for you and what type of work they do. But according to Goss and the rules of relational tipping, people with whom you have a relationship should be tipped the cost of one service. So if you pay a person $200 for a regular service—like housecleaning or getting a haircut—then you should offer $200 cash to the same person during the holidays.
In most other situations, you should tip as you would any other time of year: 20% to 25% of the final bill. “Consider tipping a little extra because it is the holidays, if you can afford it,” Goss says. When in doubt, ask the worker or the company what is customary—it’s never rude to ask what the tipping policy is.
But there are some people who you should give a holiday tip to that you wouldn’t normally tip during the rest of the year—and some situations where you can tip less or even nothing at all. Check out the holiday tipping guide below for those nuances.
Home services
Delivery drivers: Leave a basket of drinks and/or snacks on your front porch for Amazon, UPS, Fed-Ex and other delivery drivers. They work extra hard during the holiday season to deliver all those packages. If you feel inclined, you can leave a monetary tip for Amazon drivers through the app. “And don’t forget to give the delivery driver a five-star rating,” Goss adds.
Doormen and garage attendants: Tip $15 to $50 in cash or a gift card to each doorman and garage attendant if you live in a place that offers those services. Put it in a holiday card with a thank-you note.
Garbage crew: Tip $10 to $20 to each person on the garbage truck. Give it to them in cash, in person, on the day they pick up your trash. If you’re not home at that time, consider calling the company and asking how to leave a tip for your particular garbage crew.
House cleaners: Tip your regular housekeeper the cost of one cleaning service. Otherwise, the correct Christmas tip for a house cleaner is $25 in cash or a gift card. Put it in a holiday card with a thank-you note.
Mail carriers: Do not give a monetary tip. Mail carriers working for the U.S. Postal Service have strict rules. They are allowed to accept snacks and beverages that are not part of a meal, as well as small gifts worth less than $20; perishable items like large fruit baskets or cookie tins must be shared with the entire branch. They cannot accept cash, gift cards or checks. But they will always appreciate a thank-you note!
Pet groomers and pet sitters: Tip the usual amount for one session of grooming or sitting if you have a close relationship with them and use them often. Otherwise, tip $10 to $20 in cash or a gift card. Put it in a holiday card with a thank-you note.
Salon, spa and fitness services
Hairdressers and barbers: Tip the cost of one service if you are close to them. Otherwise, tip your hairdresser an extra $10 to $20 in cash or a gift card for Christmas.
Massage therapists: Tip the usual amount for one massage session if you have a close relationship with them. Otherwise, tip $10 to $20 in cash or a gift card.
Personal trainers: Tip the cost of one training session if you have a close relationship with them. Otherwise, tip $25 in cash or a gift card. “You can [also] give them a small gift as a token of appreciation, along with a card,” Goss says.
Children’s services
Babysitters: Tip the usual amount for one session of babysitting. So if you normally pay them $50 for an evening out, give $50 in cash with a thank-you note or drawing from your little ones.
Coaches and tutors: Tip the usual amount for one session of tutoring or coaching if you have a close relationship with them. Otherwise, tip $25 in cash or a gift card. Include a holiday card with a thank-you note from you and your kids.
Day-care providers: Tip $25 in cash or a gift card to each provider who works closely with your child. Add in a holiday card with a thank-you note from your family.
Nannies and au pairs: Tip one week’s worth of pay. Because they are like family members, show your gratitude generously. It’s a nice gesture to include something homemade (perhaps with the help of your kids), like a plate of cookies. Add in a holiday card with a sincere thank-you message from you and your children.
Teachers: Contribute to the class gift and/or give a small gift from you and your child—usually under $25, but ask your school administrator what the specific rules are for teacher gifts. Include a holiday card with a thank-you note from you and your child.
Health services
Caregivers: Tip $25 in cash or a gift card or give a small gift to in-home health aides, long-term-care-facility workers and others caring for you or a loved one. Include a note of gratitude from you and from your loved one, if possible. Be sure to check company policy first, though, as some companies don’t allow monetary gifts or gifts over a certain amount.
Contracted health aides: Give a small gift or homemade item to health-care workers contracted with an insurance or medical company, like a visiting nurse. Check the company policy first, as many are not allowed to accept cash tips or expensive gifts.
Should you tip extra at the holidays for a one-off service?
You do not need to tip extra for a regular one-time service, like a massage or a meal out, Goss says. For instance, if you treat yourself to a massage after getting all the gifts wrapped, you would tip the massage therapist 20% of the total bill, as you normally would. If you are feeling generous and have extra in the budget, you can tip a little extra for the holidays, but it isn’t necessary or expected.
Who should you skip a holiday tip for?
People who receive regular tips and who you don’t have a special relationship with—think: servers, bartenders, baristas, hotel staff, valets and UberEats drivers—should be tipped at their regular non-holiday rate. Feel free to add a little extra for the holidays if you’d like, but it isn’t necessary or expected, Goss says.
How else can you express your appreciation during the holidays?
“I would love for people to get away from the idea that money is the only way to show appreciation to a service worker,” Goss says. “Homemade gifts are thoughtful and personal, and they may be even more meaningful than money.”
She suggests things like baked goods, infused olive oils or vinegars, or hot chocolate mix. Small gifts with a personal touch, like a personalized mug or pair of socks, can also be a lovely way to show your thanks.
What if you can’t afford a holiday tip?
“Don’t tip,” Goss says. “[Ideally, you should] include tips in your holiday budget, but don’t feel pressured to tip everyone for everything.”
And remember: A thank-you is free—and always appreciated. “The gold standard of gratitude will always be the written thank-you card,” Post says. “Take a moment and add a handwritten thank-you to your holiday card. People love to hear how they helped you.”
About the experts
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this holiday tipping guide, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Jan Goss, etiquette and tipping expert and CEO and founder of Show Up Well Consulting; phone interview, Dec. 4, 2024
- Lizzie Post, etiquette expert and co-president of the Emily Post Institute; phone interview, Nov. 27, 2024
