Seasonal Tipping Guides
Navigate holiday tipping with confidence. Learn how much to tip service providers during holidays, special occasions, and year-end celebrations.
Holiday Tipping (November - January)
The holiday season is prime time for showing appreciation to regular service providers with year-end bonuses and gifts.
Regular Service Providers (Year-End Bonuses)
House Cleaner
One week's pay or equivalent to one cleaning session ($75-150)
Hairstylist/Barber
Cost of one regular service ($50-100)
Dog Walker/Pet Groomer
One week's pay or one session ($50-100)
Personal Trainer
Cost of one session ($50-150)
Nanny/Babysitter
One to two weeks' pay ($500-2000+)
Building/Apartment Staff
Doorman
$50-200 depending on building size and service level
Super/Building Manager
$75-200
Garage Attendant
$25-75
Porter
$20-50
Regular Delivery Services
Mail Carrier (USPS)
Small gift only (federal employees can't accept cash)
Newspaper Delivery
$10-30
Package Delivery (UPS/FedEx)
Company policies vary - small gift or cash ($10-20)
Summer & Vacation Tipping
Summer brings unique tipping situations including outdoor services, vacation travel, and recreational activities.
Lawn & Garden Services
Lawn Care/Landscaping: $20-50 per person for crew, or 15-20% of service cost
Pool Cleaner: $50-100 at season start/end
Gardener: Cost of one visit ($50-100)
Vacation & Resort Staff
Beach/Pool Cabana Attendant: $5-10 per day
Resort Activities Staff: $5-10 for group activities
Boat Captain/Crew: 15-20% of charter cost, split among crew
Fishing Guide: 15-20% of trip cost
Tour Guide: $5-20 per person depending on tour length
Summer Camp Staff
Tipping camp counselors is not required but appreciated for exceptional care.
Day Camp Counselor: $20-50 at end of summer
Sleep-Away Camp Counselor: $50-100 at end of session
Camp Director: Gift or card rather than cash
Wedding Season Tipping
Wedding vendors typically include service charges, but additional tips show appreciation for exceptional service.
Always check contracts for included gratuity before tipping!
Venue Staff (Waiters, Bartenders)
Usually included in contract (18-22%). If not, add 15-20%
Photographer/Videographer
Not required (they set their rates), but $50-200 for exceptional work
DJ/Band
$50-150 per musician/DJ, or 10-15% of fee
Hair/Makeup Artist
15-25% of service cost
Florist
Not customary (they set their prices)
Officiant
Fee covers service. Optional gift or donation instead
Delivery/Setup Crew
$10-20 per person
Moving Season (Spring/Summer)
Peak moving season runs May through September. Proper tipping shows appreciation for physically demanding work.
Professional Movers
Standard Tip: $20-50 per mover
Or 10-20% of total moving cost, whichever is higher
Factors That Increase Tips:
- Long distance moves (multi-day)
- Stairs or difficult access
- Heavy/fragile items requiring extra care
- Hot weather (summer moves are exhausting)
- Extremely fast and efficient service
- No damage to property or belongings
Example Scenarios:
📦 Local move (3 movers, 4 hours): $30-40 per person = $90-120 total
🏢 Large home move (4 movers, 8 hours, 3rd floor): $50-75 per person = $200-300 total
🚛 Long distance (2-day move): $100-150 per person
When to Tip
🕐 Best Practice: Tip at the destination when the job is complete
💵 Cash Preferred: Have cash ready to tip each mover individually
🥤 Also Provide: Cold drinks and snacks appreciated but not instead of tips
⏰ Multi-Day Moves: Can tip at end of each day or total at final destination
💡 Seasonal Tipping Tips
Plan ahead: Budget for year-end bonuses starting in November
Cash is preferred: Most service providers prefer cash over gifts
Personal notes matter: Include a thank-you card with holiday tips
Tip individually: Don't give one large tip to split - tip each person directly
Check policies: Some employers prohibit cash gifts (government, large companies)
Track your tipping expenses with PlannerCraft