The holiday season has arrived, offering the perfect opportunity to express your appreciation to those around you. In the spirit of giving, tipping the building staff members, employees, and professionals that play an integral part of your daily routine is a thoughtful way to show them how much they are valued.
Holiday tipping amounts can differ depending on several factors, so here are some useful guidelines to help you decide.
When it comes to building staff, consider tipping:
- $100 - $500 for a super or resident manager
- $50 - $250 for a doorman/concierge
- $50 - $150 for maintenance staff members
- $50 - $75 for a garage attendant
For non-building staff, consider tipping:
- One or two weeks’ pay for a housekeeper/cleaning person
- One or two weeks’ pay for a full-time nanny
- The price of one or two sessions for a personal trainer
- The price of one service for a hair stylist or manicurist
- $25 - $50 for an occasional babysitter
- One week’s pay for a regular dog walker
- $25 - $50 for a UPS delivery person if you receive regular deliveries
- $15 - $20 for a garbage collector, depending on municipal regulations (this is more customary in suburban settings)
- Under $20 and/or baked goods or a small gift for mail carriers, due to USPS regulations.
These numbers, of course, are suggested amounts. You might be a year-round tipper and therefore choose to tip a smaller amount at the end of the year. Alternatively, you may have excellent relationships with certain service providers and choose to tip more.
Regardless, we recommend including a note, ideally handwritten, along with your holiday tip or gift to show your thanks.
