Tipping at Hotels

Unlike a restaurant, a hotel spreads its service across many hands you may never see at the same time, so tipping is done role by role rather than as one percentage at the end. The norms below are for the United States and Canada, where these gratuities are customary and often go unnoticed by guests. Abroad — and at many luxury resorts — a service charge is frequently built into the rate, which changes the picture; check the folio and see the luxury and region guides before assuming.

Hotel tipping by role

These are US and Canadian norms. At resorts and abroad a service charge is often included in the rate — see high-end & luxury and the region guides.

Housekeeping: the tip almost everyone forgets

Housekeeping is consistently the lowest-tipped and most-overlooked role in the building — and arguably the one that does the most for your comfort. A customary amount is a few dollars per night. The key detail most guests miss is timing: leave it each morning rather than in one lump at the end, because a different attendant may clean your room each day, and the person who did the work on Tuesday won’t see a tip left on Friday. A short note or an envelope marked for housekeeping removes any doubt about whether the cash was meant for them.

Bell staff, valet and the doorman

For bellhops and porters, $1–$2 per bag is standard, handed over when your luggage arrives at the room; round up for heavy cases or a large load. Valet parking is tipped a few dollars when the car is returned to you rather than at drop-off — the same convention you’ll find at restaurants and venues, covered in our valet parking guide. A doorman who hails you a cab or helps with bags in the rain is worth a dollar or two, though there’s no need to tip simply for a held door.

The concierge and room service

The concierge is tipped for effort, not for existing. Asking directions or a dinner recommendation needs nothing; securing a hard-to-get reservation, sourcing sold-out tickets or untangling a real problem warrants roughly $5–$20 depending on the difficulty. Tip at the time of the favor rather than saving it for checkout, when it’s easily forgotten.

Room service is the classic double-tip trap: many hotels already fold a gratuity into the tray or delivery charge printed on the menu. Read that line before adding anything — if it’s there, you’re covered; if not, 15–20% is appropriate. Whether you’re running a property or just booking one, our hotel tools page shows how modern stays are handling cashless gratuities.

Resorts, all-inclusives and staying abroad

The rules bend at the high end and outside North America. Many resorts and all-inclusive properties add a service charge or resort fee, and some explicitly ask guests not to tip individually because staff are pooled — while others quietly still expect it for standout service. Internationally, a service charge included in the rate is common in Europe and parts of Asia, making extra tips optional. The safe habit everywhere is the same: read the folio, ask the front desk what’s already included, and tip on top only where it’s genuinely earned.

Tipping at Hotels — FAQ

How much should I tip housekeeping?

A few dollars per night is customary in US and Canadian hotels. Leave it each morning rather than at the end, since a different attendant may clean your room each day — a note marking the cash for housekeeping helps.

Do I still tip if there’s a resort fee or service charge?

Often not, or only for standout service. A resort fee or added service charge may already cover gratuities, and some properties ask guests not to tip individually. Check the folio or ask the front desk what’s included.

Should I tip the valet?

Yes, a few dollars — and the convention is to tip when the car is returned to you, not when you hand it over at drop-off.

Do I tip the concierge?

Only for real effort. Simple directions need nothing, but landing a hard reservation, sourcing tickets or solving a problem warrants roughly $5–$20, given at the time of the favor.