How Much to Tip for a Shoe Shine
$2–5 per shine
Tip $2–5 on top of the price of a shoe shine. Go to the higher end for boots, a full polish on badly worn leather, or a shine at an airport or hotel stand where you were in a hurry and got quick service.
Tip$3.00
Within the usual $2–$5 per shine.
How much to tip, situation by situation
| Situation | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Standard shine | $2–3 |
| Boots or a full restoration | $5+ |
| Airport or hotel stand | $3–5 |
| Hotel shines overnight shoes for free | $2–3 per pair |
Worth knowing
- If the shine is priced around $10, a $2–3 tip is in line with the 20% people give for other personal services.
Working it out by hand? See how to calculate a tip. Travelling? Customs differ abroad: tipping by country.
Questions people ask
Do you tip for a shoe shine at the airport?
Yes, $3–5 on top of the price is typical.
Do I tip if the shoe shiner owns the stand?
Many people still do. A couple of dollars is a normal thank-you.