Your 2025 holiday tipping guide: Who to tip and how much

Many Americans want to show appreciation for workers amid the holiday season, but the question remains: How much should you tip?

Should you leave a $20 bill in the mailbox for your mail carrier or send gift cards to your child’s teachers?

If you’re not sure how to proceed, experts have provided some insights. 

Bankrate’s 2024 Tipping Culture Survey polled more than 2,400 adults in the U.S. between Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 last year to find out how many intend to give a tip or holiday gift to those who provide them and how much they plan to spend." 

In addition, financial company Fidelity released its no-stress guide to tipping in October. 

Make a list

What you can do:

Fidelity says to consider people who help you throughout the year, including those who take care of your kids (nanny, babysitter) or pets (dog walker, groomer); your home (housecleaner, doorman; maintenance workers); and your well-being (personal trainer, hairstylist).

This list is different for everyone and can get long, so check it twice. Prioritize tips for those who've made the biggest difference in your life lately, how regularly you use their services and how long you've known them.

More Americans plan to tip housekeepers, childcare providers

By the numbers:

The Bankrate survey also found that many Americans want to tip workers who regularly care for their homes or families. 

Among people who use each service, 57% of respondents said they would tip their housekeeper, 55% said they would tip their childcare provider and 53% planned on tipping a teacher. 

RELATED: Has tipping gone too far? 1 in 3 Americans think so

In addition, 41% of respondents said they would tip their landscaper, 31% planned to tip their mail carrier and 26% planned to tip their trash and recycling collector.

Apart from the landscaper, which was down slightly from the year before, the plans for tipping were the highest Bankrate had seen since polling began in 2021.

• Housekeeper: 57%
• Childcare provider: 55%
• Teacher: 53%
• Landscaper/gardener/snow remover: 41%
• Mail carrier: 31%
• Trash/recycling collector: 26%

What they're saying:

Holiday tips are a nice way to show appreciation for hardworking people who have helped you throughout the year," Ted Rossman, a Bankrate senior industry analyst, said in a statement. "If you can’t afford to tip everyone, DO consider pooling resources with family, friends, or your community for those who went above and beyond for you this year."

Holiday tipping guide 2025

Dig deeper:

While Americans might be more inclined to tip some service providers this year, they’re not tipping as much as in years past, according to the data.

Bankrate said that some service providers may get the same amount in tips as before, while others might get less.

Respondents said they planned to tip their housekeeper $50, their childcare provider $50, their landscaper $30, a teacher $25, their mail carrier $20 and the trash collector $20.

• Housekeeper: $50
• Childcare provider: $50
• Landscaper/gardener/snow remover: $30
• Teacher: $25
• Mail carrier: $20
• Trash/recycling collector: $20

In addition, Fidelity suggested the following tips: 

• Babysitter/nanny: one typical session/one week's pay
• Home health aide/in-home caregiver: one week's pay
• Housecleaner: one visit
• Landscaper/groundskeeper, such as a snow plower: one session

…or send a card

If you’re strapped for cash, Fidelity suggests sending a card. 

While inflation has cooled from the highs of recent years, everyday expenses might still be playing naughty on your ability to be nice. 

"Most people understand, and they would rather you engage the service and not give a holiday tip than not engage the service at all," Lizzie Post, co-president of the etiquette-focused Emily Post Institute, told Fidelity.

At the very least, she recommends writing a note expressing your appreciation and, if you feel comfortable, acknowledging your situation. 

Post suggested: "Thank you for all your hard/good work through the year. This year I found myself unable to provide cash tips or gifts, but this is in no way a reflection on the service received. I genuinely appreciate the work that you do and wish I could do more to say thank you. I hope that you and your family and friends have a wonderful holiday season!"

Many Americans believe tipping has gotten out of control

Big picture view:

Many Americans  (41%) say tipping has gotten out of control, according to Bankrate’s annual Tipping Survey. That’s up from 35% the year prior.

Bankrate’s data showed that older generations were more likely to have negative attitudes about tipping.

Sixty-eight percent of boomers and 66% of Gen Xers had at least one negative view towards tipping, compared to 50% of millennials and 57% of Gen Zers.

When presented with the pre-entered tip screens at checkout, 2 in 5 Americans said they were annoyed with seeing it and a quarter said they tip less or not at all.

"Moreover, 27% of Gen Zers, 35% of millennials, 45% of Gen Xers and 44% of baby boomers said they are annoyed with pre-entered tip screens," according to Bankrate. 

In addition, 36% of applicable Gen Zers and 33% of millennials said they planned to tip their trash and recycling collectors, compared with only 22% of Gen Xers and 16% of baby boomers.

RELATED: Tipping culture is "out of control," more Americans say in annual poll

Further, 48% of Gen Zers and 44% of millennials who employed landscapers planned to tip them, versus 33% of Gen Xers and 32% of boomers. 

"Traditionally, younger Americans have been viewed as worse tippers than older adults, largely because they don't tend to have as much money and also because they aren't as ingratiated with those social norms," Rossman continued. "It's still true that Gen Zers and millennials are worse tippers at restaurants and many other year-round tipping venues. But when it comes to the holidays, surprisingly, young adults are the most generous tippers." 

MoneyU.S.ConsumerHolidays