How much should I tip at a restaurant?

In the U.S., 15-20% of the pre-tax bill is standard for sit-down service. Tip around 18% for good service, 20% or more for excellent service, and closer to 15% if something went wrong.

Do I tip on the total with tax, or before tax?

Etiquette says tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since sales tax isn't part of the service. Many people tip on the total anyway because it's simpler - the difference is usually only a few cents, so either is fine.

How do I calculate a 20% tip quickly?

Find 10% by moving the decimal one place to the left, then double it. On a $50 bill, 10% is $5.00, so a 20% tip is $10.00. For 15%, take 10% plus half of it.

Should I tip on takeout or counter service?

It's optional. A couple of dollars or about 10% is a kind gesture, especially for large or custom orders, but it isn't expected the way it is for table service.

How much should I tip for food delivery?

Plan on 10-15% of the order, with a $3-5 minimum. Tip more in bad weather, for large orders, or when the driver carries items a long way.

Is it rude not to tip?

In the U.S., tipping is expected for many services because workers are often paid a lower base wage and rely on tips. Withholding a tip sends a strong signal; if service was poor, it's better to speak with a manager.

How does tipping work for large groups?

Restaurants frequently add an automatic gratuity of 18-20% for parties of six or more. Check the bill before adding anything extra so you don't tip twice.

Do you tip a house cleaner?

It's appreciated though not strictly required. Tip 15-20% or $10-$20 per cleaner. For a regular cleaner, many give a holiday bonus instead.

How much do I tip a one-time or deep clean?

Tip 15-20% of the total, or $10-$20 per cleaner. Lean higher for a large or post-renovation job.

Do I tip my regular weekly cleaner every time?

Either works. Tip $10-$20 per visit, or give a single holiday bonus of about one cleaning session.

Does it matter if I hired a service vs an individual?

Yes. An independent cleaner sets their own rates. Through a company the worker earns a modest wage, so your tip matters more.

Home / Tipping Guides / House Cleaner

6 min read

How Much to Tip a House Cleaner

House cleaning is one of the trickiest tips to call — it depends on whether it's a one-time deep clean or your regular cleaner, and whether you hired an individual or a big service. Here's how to decide.

Maya Bennett ✓

Reviewed & updated June 2026

Quick answer

For a one-time or occasional clean, tip 15–20% or $10–$20 per cleaner. For a regular cleaner you may tip per visit or skip it and give a larger holiday bonus (often about one visit's pay). Tipping matters most when you hire through a service, where wages are lower.

One-time clean

15–20%

Per cleaner

$10–$20

Holiday bonus

~1 visit's pay

Photo: CDC / Unsplash

Unlike a restaurant, cleaning has no single ironclad rule — but a few questions make the decision easy: Is this a one-time job or recurring? Did you hire an individual or a service?

One-time or occasional cleans

For a move-out clean, a deep clean, or an occasional visit, tipping is genuinely appreciated and increasingly expected. Tip 15–20% of the cost, or a flat $10–$20 per cleaner on the crew. A bigger or dirtier job warrants the higher end.

Regular, recurring cleaners

If someone cleans your home weekly or biweekly, you have two acceptable approaches:

Tip per visit — a few dollars to $10–$20 each time, especially if it's a different person each visit.
Skip the per-visit tip and give a holiday bonus — commonly around the cost of one cleaning session, given once a year. This is very common for a consistent, solo cleaner you've built a relationship with.

Individual vs. service — why it matters

If you hire an independent cleaner who sets their own rates, a tip is a nice bonus but not strictly expected — they've priced the job themselves. If you book through a cleaning company or app, the cleaner doing the work often earns a modest hourly wage while the company keeps the rest, so a tip reaches the person actually scrubbing and matters more.

Real examples

Situation	Suggested tip
$150 one-time deep clean	$25–$30 (or $15–$20/cleaner)
Weekly cleaner, per visit	$5–$20, or a holiday bonus instead
Move-out clean, 2-person crew	$20–$40 total

When to tip more

Post-renovation, post-party, or heavy deep cleans
Last-minute or same-day bookings
Extra tasks beyond the usual scope (inside the oven, windows, laundry)
The holidays, for a cleaner you keep year-round

The bottom line

One-time: 15–20% or $10–$20 per cleaner. Recurring: tip per visit or give a holiday bonus of about one session. Tip matters most through a service. Need a percentage figured fast? Try the tip calculator.

Skip the mental math

Enter your bill, pick a percentage, and split it instantly.

Open the Tip Calculator →

Frequently asked questions

It's appreciated and increasingly expected, though not strictly required — especially for one-time cleans. Tip 15–20% or $10–$20 per cleaner. For a regular cleaner, many people give a holiday bonus instead of tipping each visit.

Tip 15–20% of the total, or $10–$20 per cleaner on the crew. Lean higher for a large, dirty, or post-renovation job.

Either works. You can tip a few dollars to $10–$20 per visit, or skip the per-visit tip and give a single holiday bonus — commonly around the cost of one cleaning session.

Yes. An independent cleaner sets their own rates, so a tip is a bonus. Through a cleaning company, the worker often earns a modest wage while the company keeps the rest, so your tip matters more.

A common holiday bonus is roughly the cost of one regular cleaning visit, given once a year to a cleaner you use consistently.