Holiday Tipping Guide 2026: Who to Tip and How Much at Christmas

Holiday tipping — also called "Christmas tipping" — is different from the tip you leave after a meal. It is an annual gesture of appreciation for the people who provide regular services throughout the year: the mail carrier, the trash collector, the housekeeper who cleans your home, the dog walker who handles your dog every weekday. These workers see you and your household repeatedly; the holiday tip acknowledges that relationship.

The amounts below are based on guidance from AARP, Kiplinger, and U.S. News — adjusted for 2026 cost of living. They assume middle-income households; adjust higher if you use a service frequently or if the worker has gone above and beyond.

Complete Holiday Tipping Reference

Mail Carriers: The Cash Restriction

USPS mail carriers cannot legally accept cash tips or gifts worth more than $20. Federal regulations prohibit postal employees from accepting money. This is a firm rule — a $25 gift card is not permitted, but a $20 gift card to a coffee shop is.

Practical alternatives: a box of cookies or chocolates, a holiday card, a $20 gift card to a coffee chain or grocery store. The gesture is genuinely appreciated by carriers who often work long hours in bad weather during the holiday package rush.

UPS, FedEx, and Amazon delivery drivers are not subject to this restriction. Cash or a gift card left in the mailbox or handed directly is appropriate. Given the volume of holiday packages these drivers handle, a $20–30 tip is a meaningful acknowledgment.

Trash Collectors: Check Local Rules

Many municipalities prohibit public employees — including city sanitation workers — from accepting cash tips. If your trash service is city-operated, check local policy before leaving cash. Some cities permit gifts under $25; others prohibit all gratuities to city employees.

If your trash service is private (a contracted company, not city workers), cash tips are fine. The standard is $20–30 per worker. If you have a two-person crew, tip both. A card attached to the bin or a sealed envelope with their names makes intent clear.

Housekeepers and Cleaning Services

For a regular weekly housekeeper, the standard holiday tip is one week's pay — the full amount you pay for one session. If you pay $150/week, the holiday tip is $150. For bi-weekly cleaners, $25–50 is appropriate.

For a cleaning company that sends a team, tip each worker individually — not the company. The company does not pass holiday tips to its workers unless specifically structured to do so. Hand $20–50 in an envelope to each person who comes, or ask the company how to ensure the workers receive it directly.

Nannies, Babysitters, and Child Care

A full-time nanny or au pair deserves one week's pay as a holiday tip, plus a personal gift that acknowledges the relationship — a book, an experience they would enjoy, or a contribution toward something they have mentioned wanting. This is the person most responsible for your child's daily care; the holiday tip should reflect that trust.

For a regular (not occasional) babysitter, tip one session's pay plus a small gift. For occasional sitters you call a few times a year, a card and $20–30 is appropriate.

Dog Walkers and Pet Care

A daily dog walker is a recurring relationship that involves genuine trust — they have access to your home, know your dog's needs, and are often the person who handles an emergency if your dog gets sick or hurt during a walk. The holiday tip should reflect this relationship: one week's pay or $25–50, whichever is larger.

A dog groomer you visit regularly (monthly or more) warrants a holiday tip of $25–50, or the cost of one grooming session. For a groomer you see occasionally, a thank-you card is sufficient.

Apartment Building Staff

Tipping building staff — doormen, superintendents, concierge — is a New York City institution that extends to any city with doorman buildings. The amounts are higher than other holiday tips and scale with the building's service level:

• Doorman (luxury building): $75–200 per person who regularly assists you
• Superintendent (condo/co-op): $75–200 depending on how often they handle your requests
• Building concierge: $50–150 if they frequently assist with packages, guests, or services
• Porter / maintenance staff: $25–50 for those you regularly interact with

In many NYC co-op and condo buildings, residents organize a collective holiday fund. Contributing to the fund ($50–200 per household depending on building norms) is standard and often more efficient than individual tips.

Teachers and Child Care Providers

Public school teachers in most US states cannot accept cash gifts above a small threshold set by the school district — typically $25–50. A gift card in that range, or a class contribution (Amazon gift card for supplies, a restaurant gift card), is appropriate and universally appreciated.

Daycare and preschool teachers have no such restrictions. They are often among the most underpaid professionals in child care, and a $25–50 gift card plus a handwritten card from your child is a genuinely meaningful gesture.

When You Cannot Afford to Tip Everyone

Etiquette experts are consistent on this: it is acceptable not to tip if you genuinely cannot afford to. Priority order when choosing who to tip:

1. Workers who provide the most frequent service (daily dog walker, weekly housekeeper)
2. Workers who handle your children or pets
3. Workers whose service you depend on most heavily
4. Workers who have gone above and beyond in the past year

A handwritten thank-you note is always appropriate when you cannot tip monetarily. It costs nothing but acknowledges the relationship. Workers who receive genuine recognition report it matters — not as much as cash, but it is not nothing.