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Hotel, Spa & Service Tipping Guide: How Much to Tip (USA)

Beyond restaurants, tipping is expected across dozens of service industries in the United States. This comprehensive guide covers exact dollar amounts and percentages for hotels, spas, salons, transportation, and delivery—every non-restaurant tipping situation you will encounter.

Hotel Tipping

Hotels employ numerous staff who depend on tips. Here is a complete breakdown:

  • Housekeeping: $2–5 per night for standard hotels, $5–10 for luxury. Leave tips daily on the pillow or desk with a note—different staff may clean your room each day.
  • Bellhops/Porters: $2–3 per bag with a $5 minimum. Tip when bags are delivered to your room. More for oversized or fragile luggage.
  • Concierge: $5–10 for simple help (directions, recommendations). $10–20 for restaurant reservations or ticket procurement. $20+ for complex arrangements like private tours.
  • Valet: $3–5 when your car is returned. No tip needed when dropping off.
  • Room Service: 15–20% of the order total. Check your bill—many hotels add automatic gratuity or a delivery charge.
  • Doorman: $1–2 for hailing a cab. $2–5 for carrying bags from your car.

For a deeper dive, see our dedicated hotel tipping guide or international hotel tipping customs.

Spa & Massage Tipping

Spa services involve skilled personal labor, and tips are an important part of therapist compensation:

  • Massage therapist: 15–20% of the service price. For a $120 massage, tip $18–24.
  • Facial/skin treatment: 15–20%.
  • Body treatment (wraps, scrubs): 15–20%.
  • Multiple treatments in one visit: Tip on the total combined cost.

Important: Many spas automatically add 18–20% gratuity to the bill. Check your receipt before adding more. If you are unsure, ask the front desk.

Salon & Barber Tipping

  • Hair stylist: 15–20% of the total service cost. Tip more for complex color treatments, extensions, or multi-hour appointments.
  • Barber: 15–20% or $3–5 minimum for a standard haircut.
  • Nail technician: 15–20%. Tip each technician individually if multiple people work on your service.
  • Shampoo assistant: $2–5 if a separate person washes your hair.
  • Salon owner: Yes, you should still tip the owner. The old rule of "don't tip the owner" is outdated—most salon owners today expect and appreciate tips.

Rideshare & Transportation Tipping

Transportation tipping has become more standardized with app-based services:

  • Uber/Lyft: 15–20% of the fare or $2–5 for short trips. Tip through the app after the ride. You have up to 24 hours to adjust.
  • Taxis: 15–20% of the meter fare. Round up for convenience.
  • Airport shuttles: $1–2 per bag if the driver assists with luggage. $2–5 for door-to-door service.
  • Private car/limo: 15–20% unless gratuity is already included in the booking.

See our complete transportation tipping guide and rideshare tipping guide for more detail.

Delivery Service Tipping

  • Food delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub): $3–5 minimum or 15–20%. Tip more for bad weather, large orders, and long distances.
  • Grocery delivery (Instacart, Shipt, Amazon Fresh): 15–20% or $5 minimum. Shoppers spend significant time selecting and transporting your items.
  • Furniture/appliance delivery: $5–10 per person for heavy items. $20+ for complex installations.
  • Movers: $20–50 per mover for a full-day move, or 15–20% of the total bill split among the crew.

See our delivery tipping guide and subscription delivery guide.

Other Services

  • Tattoo artist: 15–20% of the session cost.
  • Pet groomer: 15–20%.
  • Car wash attendant: $2–5 for hand detailing.
  • Coat check: $1–2 per item.
  • Parking attendant: $1–2 at events.
  • Grocery bagger who carries to car: $2–3.

When NOT to Tip

Not every service requires a tip in the US:

  • Retail store employees
  • Medical professionals (doctors, nurses, dentists)
  • Government employees (postal workers during non-holiday periods)
  • Flight attendants
  • Fast food counter employees (optional, not expected)

FAQ

Do I tip at a buffet?

Yes, 10% is appropriate. Someone clears your plates, refills drinks, and keeps the table clean.

Should I tip if I get bad service at a spa?

15% is still expected for the therapist's labor. Speak to management about service quality issues separately.

Do I tip on top of a service charge?

Check if the service charge goes directly to your service provider. If it does, no additional tip is needed. If it is a house fee, a small additional tip ($5–10) is appreciated.

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