Here’s How Much to Tip Hotel Housekeeping
Updated: Aug. 13, 2024
Etiquette experts reveal tipping advice for hotel stays, including when, how and how much to tip housekeeping
First, the good news: 39% of Americans say they usually tip hotel housekeepers, according to a 2023 survey done by The Vacationer website. Now, the bad news: Etiquette rules say that you should always tip workers in the service industry—we’ll cover exactly how much to tip hotel housekeeping below—yet nearly two-thirds of Americans aren’t routinely tipping their housekeepers at all.
“That number really should be 100%,” says Diane Gottsman, a tipping and travel etiquette expert and author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life. “You don’t need to go over the top with the tip, and you should be comfortable with the amount you tip, especially these days, when many of us suffer from ‘tipping fatigue.’ But you should leave some tip. It’s an acknowledgment of their hard work.”
Tipping etiquette—who to tip, when and how to do it, and the proper gratuity for housekeeping at a hotel—can be confusing. The fact is, tipping rules aren’t as clear-cut here as they are in other circumstances. “Unlike waitstaff that is generally tipped between 15 and 20%, this is one area of tipping that is usually not calculated by any percentage,” says Julia Esteve Boyd, an etiquette consultant who has worked with royal families, politicians and business executives.
To help you understand how much to tip hotel housekeeping, we turned to the pros. Below, certified etiquette experts Gottsman, Boyd and Lisa Grotts, founder of Golden Rules Gal, plus two hotel housekeepers, answer all of the questions you’ve been afraid to ask—and perhaps some you haven’t even thought of yet.
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Do you have to tip housekeeping?
Yes, you should, Gottsman says. “Hotel housekeepers are considered part of the service industry, and in the United States, it’s customary to tip workers in the service industry,” she says. “Include tips in your budget when planning a trip.”
The hardworking people who clean and take care of your room during your stay, clean and sanitize it between customers, and answer the sorts of questions you really shouldn’t be asking hotel staff are a key part of your hotel experience. Yet many people forget or overlook this portion of the service industry. This is a big problem, as these workers depend on tips, Gottsman says.
Tips for hospitality workers aren’t just nice—they’re necessary income, says Maria H., a housekeeper with six years of experience at a resort in Florida.
Not all housekeepers agree, though. Elizabeth Hertzler, a former housekeeper for a nationwide chain of three-star inns, says she was rarely tipped, likely because she worked at a budget hotel. “We were paid hourly, so tips were a nice bonus but not considered part of our regular pay. I never expected tips,” she says, confessing that “even though I used to be one, I don’t think I’ve ever left a tip for hotel housekeeping.”
How much to tip hotel housekeeping
The general rule for how much to tip housekeeping is to leave a minimum of $2 to $5 a day, Grotts says. But you may need to tip as much as $25 daily. The recommendation applies to hotels, motels and extended-stay hotels, all of which have regular room cleanings.
So what’s with the wide range in tip amounts? There is no one-size-fits-all amount to leave the housekeepers. It depends on several factors, including how ritzy your hotel room is. You’ll want to tip more if you’re staying at a fancy hotel, for instance. “For five-star or luxury hotels, it’s customary to tip $25 or more per day,” Gottsman says.
Don’t forget the butler! Some luxury hotels have a 24-hour butler as part of the housekeeping staff, and he or she should be tipped $5 a service or more, Gottsman says. “Butlers may unpack your suitcases, take your clothes to get dry-cleaned, get your shoes shined or [perform] other specialty cleaning services—each of these should be tipped,” she explains.
When you should tip housekeeping more
While $2 a day is how much to tip hotel housekeeping at minimum, our experts recommend tipping more if:
- You left the hotel room dirty or messier than what would be expected with normal use.
- You have more than two guests in a room.
- You checked in early or late.
- You had special requests, like for an extra bed or crib.
- You ordered extra deliveries of supplies.
- You’re in a room with a kitchen and/or multiple bedrooms.
- The housekeepers had to deal with any other extenuating circumstance—say, your dog soiled the carpet or your tinted moisturizer exploded all over the bathroom.
“Tip as graciously as you can comfortably afford to,” Gottsman says. Being a respectful guest is another way you can show your gratitude to the housekeeping staff—do that by avoiding those things you should never do in a hotel room, like sneaking in a pet … and forcing the housekeeper to clean up its mess.
When to tip hotel housekeeping
Tip housekeeping daily, Gottsman says. Hertzler explains that housekeepers often rotate days and schedules, so the workers cleaning your room after you check out likely won’t be the same people who cleaned it during the rest of your stay. If you tip a lump sum at the end, the housekeepers who cared for your room earlier won’t receive a tip. Instead, tip every day of your stay, as this ensures the tip goes to the person or people actually cleaning your room, Grotts says.
As for butlers, you can give them cash when they finish the service, such as bringing you your clean clothing, or leave it once per day on the table with a note marked “butler.”
How to tip housekeeping
Cash is still king when it comes to tips, says Grotts. “We prefer you leave the cash on top of a table or counter,” Maria says, noting that some people like to put the tip in strange places, such as under a lamp, as a test to ensure housekeeping is doing a thorough cleaning. “Please don’t ‘hide’ it.”
If you want to make sure the cleaning staff sees your tip, put the cash in an envelope marked “housekeeping.” Place the tip before leaving your room for the day, before housekeeping comes in to clean. If you happen to see your housekeeper in person, it’s fine to hand it to them directly, Hertzler says.
Prefer not to use cash? You can leave a tip through the hotel concierge, asking them to charge the tip amount to your account and give it to the cleaners, Hertzler says. They should be very willing to help you get the money to the right people. In fact, one of the seemingly “polite” habits that hotel workers dislike is not asking the concierge for help.
FAQs
Do you tip housekeeping if they never enter your room?
Yes, you should. “Even if you never utilize housekeeping during your stay, on the final day, it’s a courteous gesture to leave some form of gratuity because the housekeeper will come in to change sheets, clean the bathroom and clean and refresh before the next guest arrives,” Gottsman says.
Tipflation is real, but the staff that cleans your room the day you check out deserves a tip for the cleaning that’s ahead of them.
Do you tip housekeeping if you clean the room?
Absolutely. It would be a major tipping mistake to avoid tipping because you think you did a sufficient job cleaning. “You should still tip, even if you leave your room extra tidy,” Gottsman says. “Regardless of how things look, housekeeping still must come in and clean and sanitize before the next guest.”
Plus, one of the best perks of staying in a hotel is not having to clean—so relax and enjoy being taken care of!
Do you tip housekeeping more during the holidays?
While you’re not required to tip more during the holiday rush, it is a kind gesture, says Grotts. Holiday travel adds extra stress on everyone and extra work for those cleaning hotel rooms. “If you can afford it, it never hurts to be a little more generous,” she says. “The service industry is not paid a lot, and they rely on tips to supplement their income.”
How much do you tip housekeeping at a cabin or rental?
Most timeshares and vacation rentals, including Airbnb and VRBO, have set rates with all the charges built into the final bill, including for cleaning, says Grotts. This means that an additional tip—either to the hosts or the cleaners—isn’t necessary. But if you had a wonderful experience and the place was sparkling clean, a thank-you note or a good online review is always appreciated, she adds.
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. 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. For this piece on how much to tip hotel housekeeping, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Diane Gottsman, MS, tipping and travel etiquette expert, author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life and founder of the Protocol School of Texas; phone interview, July 24, 2024
- Julia Esteve Boyd, etiquette consultant and former teacher at the prestigious Institut Villa Pierrefeu; email interview, December 2021
- Lisa Grotts, certified etiquette professional, founder of Golden Rules Gal, former director of protocol for the city and county of San Francisco, and author of several books on etiquette; phone interview, December 2021
- Elizabeth Hertzler, former hotel housekeeper; phone interview, July 30, 2024
- Maria H., hotel housekeeper; phone interview, March 2024
- The Vacationer: “Workers Americans Usually Tip Survey 2023 — Bartenders, Waitpeople, & Food Delivery Drivers Top the List”
Originally Published: December 01, 2021
