Housekeepers, bellhops, valets, and massage therapists are just some of the hotel staff who travelers should consider tipping.
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This article was originally published in 2022 and most recently updated on August 14, 2026, with current information.
Knowing when and how much to tip is essential when traveling. We’ve covered when to tip in European countries like Italy, but what about at home? In the United States, tipping makes up a large portion of hospitality staff wages. The legal minimum wage for a tipped employee in the United States is only $2.13 per hour (if that amount combined with tips equals the federal minimum wage of $7.25). Those are figures that haven’t changed since 2009 (compared to the cumulative inflation rate of 55.6 percent).
Unlike in restaurants, where a tip of 20 percent of the bill is considered standard, the etiquette behind hotel gratuities can be trickier to navigate. There may be no hard and fast rules—except that it’s best to tip in cash—but we’ve turned to industry and tipping etiquette experts for some guidance. This is whom to tip at a U.S. hotel, how much to leave, and how a thank you is essential.
Overview of tipping at hotels in the U.S.
Who | How much? |
| Hotel housekeeper | $2–$5 per night, left daily; more for big messes |
| Hotel valet | $2–$5 |
| Hotel bellhop | $2–$5 per bag |
| Hotel concierge | Varies based on services provided |
| Hotel shuttle driver | $5 |
| Hotel room service | 15 to 20 percent of your order or $5 to $10 in cash |
| Hotel restaurant staff | 15 to 20 percent of your meal |
| Hotel spa staff | 15 to 20 percent of the cost of the service |
| Hotel activity or tour guides | 15 to 20 percent of the cost of the experience |
How much to tip a hotel housekeeper
Even if housekeeping doesn’t clean your room during your stay, it’s a good gesture to leave a tip at the end of your trip.
Courtesy of Karolina Grabowska/Unsplash
Housekeepers are the backbone of a hotel and also among the most invisible of hospitality staff, laundering sheets and scrubbing sinks to ensure your room is pristine. When it comes to how much to tip hotel housekeeping, American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) suggests tipping hotel housekeeping $2–$5 per night. AHLA said tips for housekeeping should be left daily, as the person who cleaned your room one day might not be the same person the next.
When at a luxury hotel, experts we asked said they’d leave housekeeping anywhere between $5 and $20 per day (the higher rate being for hotels that offer nightly turndown service and accommodations with large or multiple rooms, like a multi-bedroom villa).
If cleaning your hotel room will take housekeeping staff extra time—maybe your kids ground cereal into the carpet, you have a lot of bottles from an in-room gathering, or you brought a pet—leave an additional couple of dollars.
As for where to leave tips and how to present them, Jason Harrison, general manager of the Thompson Washington D.C., said, “It’s always nice to hand the tip directly to the team member, but [adding] a note left behind in a room with some kind words means a lot.”
Pamela Eyring, owner and president of the etiquette-focused Protocol School of Washington, said to leave the hotel tip somewhere noticeable, such as on the desk with a note. Don’t put a tip on the bed or pillow since it will be lost when bedding is pulled off. Leaving cash in your room ensures it goes directly to the housekeepers, but both Harrison and Eyring agreed that it’s OK to leave an envelope at the front desk and ask that it be distributed to the housekeepers who serviced your room.
Related: Queen of Clean Vida Afram Has Cleaned Nearly 60,000 Hotel Rooms
How much to tip a hotel valet
Across the board, industry experts suggested tipping a hotel valet $2 to $5. While some hotels occasionally have a QR code you can scan to tip, it’s best to have cash.
How much to tip a hotel bellhop
If a bellhop helps you with your suitcase, it’s customary to tip them $2-$5, depending on the size and weight of the bag.
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According to hotel industry professionals interviewed for this story, the standard tip for a hotel bellhop is $2 per bag, or up to $5 per bag if your suitcase is bulky and heavy. If the bellhop goes above and beyond in assisting you to get settled in your room after check-in (such as offering a short tour), consider tipping more. If you request bell staff help at checkout, be sure to tip then, too.
How much to tip a hotel concierge
Because what concierges can do for guests varies so much, ranging from booking a hard-to-score restaurant reservation to decorating your room for a romantic anniversary (flowers and more), it’s best to tip based on what the service was, according to AHLA (it also recommends tipping at the end of the trip).
Consider tipping hotel concierges $10 for booking a hard-to-get spa experience or dinner reservation and between $20 to $50 for an extensive itinerary that includes coordinating outside tours, activities, or services.
How much to tip a hotel shuttle driver
“People often think complimentary shuttle drivers shouldn’t get tipped, but if it saves you an Uber, taxi, or Lyft charge to the airport or [elsewhere], tip at least $5 per ride—especially if they handle your luggage for you,” said Pamela Eyring.
How much to tip spa staff, trainers, and activity guides
Tipping for spa services and guided activities is easier, Eyring said; tip as you would at a restaurant, or 15 to 20 percent of the cost of the experience.
How much to tip at an all-inclusive resort
“Check if gratuities are included when booking with your travel advisor or on the resort’s website. That way, you know what is covered before you arrive,” said Shyla Gardner, hospitality consultant and former vice president of commercial services for Hyatt. “You can also inquire during the check-in process.”
At Paws Up Montana, for example, “Our gratuity-free, all-inclusive model [provides] our team, from housekeeping and laundry teams to culinary, guest services, and activities staff [with] dependable pay that our employees can build their lives around,” managing director Steve Hurst told Afar.
If gratuities are included, you can choose whether or not to tip at your all-inclusive resort, and if they’re not, simply tip as you normally would.
Should you tip even if the room wasn’t cleaned during the stay?
Even if your room isn’t cleaned during your stay because you’ve hung the do not disturb sign, be sure to leave a tip for housekeeping before you check out.
Courtesy of Hotel Kabuki
Yes, even if you hung the do not disturb sign on your door, you should still leave a tip for housekeeping. Housekeeping will still need to clean your room after checkout. You can tip what you would for a single night.
When should you tip more?
“If you feel the impact of a staff member’s service, leave a little extra,” said Harrison of the Thompson Washington D.C. “Hotel employees speak with hundreds of people some days. A lot of effort goes into even the smallest things that make a hotel stay memorable, like remembering names, bringing extra towels, making the right suggestions, and perceiving guest needs before they ask. If a ‘wow’ moment or experience comes your way, a tip is just as equally a ‘wow’ moment for the team member that assisted you.”
So is saying “thank you"; these magic words acknowledge hospitality staff’s often unseen work. Harrison added, “Most hotels have an incentive program based on name mentions on positive reviews, so dropping a team member’s name on TripAdvisor will get them extra recognition and maybe a little something extra on their paycheck.”
What if you don’t have cash?
While it’s always ideal to use cash, as the money goes directly to the employee, we’ve all been caught in a situation on our travels where that’s not an immediate option.
Many hotels and resorts do have an ATM on-site (or can direct guests to a reliable one near the hotel). Some hotels accept tips on credit cards, but if you’re planning to tip that way, it’s essential to ask at the beginning of your stay whether that’s possible.
Some hotels have introduced digital tipping through apps like Grazzy. The company’s CEO JT Bricker told Afar that Grazzy works with hotel groups such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG and now “facilitates well over 100,000 tips each month.” Once a tip is received, employees can move the money from their Grazzy wallet to a linked bank account or debit card. Bricker added, however, that there’s a fee associated with a digital tip, and “who pays that fee depends on how the hotel or operator chooses to structure its program. In many cases, the guest pays the fee in addition to the tip.”
If the hotel you’re staying in doesn’t accept digital tips, it’s best to find a way to get cash. If that’s truly not possible, you can ask the person you’d like to tip for their Venmo handle.
It’s important not to leave “food or gifts [in the room] as they could be confused with personal items left by a guest,” one hotel manager in Arizona told Afar. Gifts are not a substitute for a tip. “Giving away an unused bottle of wine should not be considered an alternative to cash,” said Justin Nels, regional managing director at Isla Bella Beach Resort in Florida.
Frequently asked questions about hotel tipping in the U.S.
Do you have to tip hotel housekeeping?
Tipping is not required, but hotel housekeeping staff work hard for low wages, and leaving a tip is appreciated.
Should you tip housekeeping daily or at the end of your stay?
Leave a tip for housekeeping each day of your stay because the person who cleans your room one day may not be working the next.
Do you tip at an all-inclusive resort?
Some resorts state clearly whether gratuities are included or not. If they are, you can still tip staff, particularly housekeeping and bellhop. If gratuities are not included, tip as you normally would.
What if you don’t have cash to tip?
Even as digital payment methods are accepted nearly everywhere, many hotels do not have a way to tip digitally. At a hotel bar or restaurant, you can tip by card, but you will likely still need cash for housekeeping, and any bellhop, valet, or concierge who assists you.
How much should you tip for room service?
You can tip 15 to 20 percent of the bill for room service, and this can generally be charged to your room and paid at checkout. If you have cash, you can tip $5 to $10 depending on the total bill.
