U.S. tipping guide · 2026
Home & pet services tipping guide
Tipping for home and pet services is optional in the U.S. — most are tipped per person or as a percentage only for extra effort, and usually recognised seasonally or at the holidays rather than per visit.
Based on: NerdWallet, Animal Behavior College
What's normal in this category
Recurring, relationship-based services follow a different logic from a one-off transaction: a per-visit tip is rarely expected; appreciation is usually shown seasonally or at the holidays instead. Here's what's customary for the people who come to your home — and your pets.
Commonly tipped services, at a glance
- 15%–20% of the grooming billMost common: 20% of the grooming bill
Goes higher for: Matted coats, an anxious or reactive dog, a de-shed or specialty cut, or mobile grooming at your door.
Calculate a tip - 10%–20% of the walk cost, or about $5 per walk for routine serviceMost common: 15% of the walk cost
Goes higher for: Extreme weather, a last-minute or emergency walk, extra time with a difficult dog, or holiday coverage.
Calculate a tip - 10%–20% of the sitting fee, more for extended staysMost common: 15% of the sitting fee
Goes higher for: Extended stays, medication or medical needs, multiple pets, or a sitter who sent regular updates and left the place tidy.
Calculate a tip - 5%–10% of the move cost for smaller moves, or about $20–$40 per moverMost common: About $20 per mover for a half day; $40 per mover for a full day
Goes higher for: Stairs, long carries, heavy or fragile items, extreme heat, or a crew that worked well past a normal day.
Calculate a tip - 10%–20% for a hand wash or detailingMost common: 20% for hand wash or detailing
Goes higher for: Interior deep cleans, pet hair, an unusually dirty vehicle, or same-day turnaround.
Calculate a tip - 10%–20% of the session pay, or about an extra hour's payMost common: An extra hour's pay
Goes higher for: New Year's Eve and other holidays, a much later finish than agreed, extra children, or a short-notice booking.
Calculate a tip - $20–$60 per counselor per session, where the camp allows tipsMost common: $40 per counselor
Goes higher for: A full summer rather than a two-week session, two counselors sharing the group, or a counselor who handled something hard — homesickness, an injury, a first time away.
Calculate a tip - $5–$50 per crew member, depending on the jobMost common: $10 per crew member for a routine visit
Goes higher for: Large cleanups, hardscaping or installation projects, extreme heat, or a crew that worked around difficult access.
Calculate a tip - $10–$30 per crew member, most commonly around the holidaysMost common: $25 per crew member
Goes higher for: The same crew has served your route for years, they've been especially careful or friendly, or they kept up your pickups through a rough winter.
Calculate a tip - $20–$50 as a holiday or end-of-season thank-youMost common: $20–$30 per technician at the holidays
Goes higher for: A green-to-clean recovery, an equipment repair that saved a bigger bill, work through a heatwave, or a technician who fit you in before a party.
Calculate a tip - No tip for a standard job; from about $20 for exceptional or unusually difficult workMost common: No tip for a standard repair
Goes higher for: An emergency or after-hours call, a filthy or dangerous job, extreme heat or cold, a technician who stayed late to finish, or one who saved you a bigger bill.
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Frequently asked
How much should you tip a dog groomer?+
In the U.S., 15%–20% of the grooming bill is a common tipping range for dog groomers, with 20% a common reference point.
How much should you tip a dog walker?+
In the U.S., 10%–20% of the walk cost is a common tipping range for a dog walker, with 15% a useful reference point, or about $5 per walk for routine recurring service.
How much should you tip a dog sitter?+
In the U.S., 10%–20% of the sitting fee is a common tipping range for a dog sitter, with the tip trending higher for longer or overnight stays.
How much should you tip movers?+
In the U.S., movers are commonly tipped 5%–10% of the move cost for smaller moves, or about $20–$40 per mover for a half day to full day.
How much should you tip a car wash or detailer?+
In the U.S., 10%–20% is a common tipping range for a hand wash or detailing, with 20% common for full detailing work — automated or self-service washes don't expect a tip.
How much should you tip a babysitter?+
In the U.S., tipping a babysitter isn't required, but 10%–20% of the session pay (or roughly an extra hour's pay) is a common gesture for a special occasion or late night.
How much should you tip a summer camp counselor?+
In the U.S., tipping camp counselors is optional and depends on the camp: many don't allow cash tips at all, and where they do, families commonly give about $20–$60 per counselor for the session, with a note or small gift as the alternative.
How much should you tip a gardener or landscaper?+
In the U.S., gardener and landscaping crews are commonly tipped $5–$50 per crew member, depending on whether it's a routine visit, a one-time job, or a larger project.
How much should you tip your trash and recycling collectors?+
In the U.S., tipping trash and recycling collectors is optional and most common as an annual holiday gesture — commonly $10–$30 per crew member. Check first whether your collectors are private or municipal workers: some cities bar public sanitation workers from accepting tips at all.
How much should you tip a pool cleaner?+
In the U.S., tipping a pool cleaner is optional — when people do, $20–$50 as a holiday or end-of-season thank-you is the common range, rather than a tip at every visit.
How much should you tip a plumber, electrician or handyman?+
In the U.S., tipping a plumber, electrician, handyman or repair technician is optional and usually not expected — a standard job isn't tipped, a tip starting around $20 is reserved for exceptional or unusually difficult work, and a regular handyman's holiday thank-you is a separate $15–$40.
Go deeper
- Do you tip a dog groomer?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a dog walker?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a dog sitter?Sourced answer
- Do you tip movers?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a car wash attendant?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a babysitter?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a summer camp counselor?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a gardener?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a trash or recycling collector?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a pool cleaner?Sourced answer
- Do you tip a plumber, electrician or handyman?Sourced answer
Sources
Every range in this guide comes from these published references. Each calculator page cites its own.
Sources reviewed:
- NerdWallet — How Much to Tip a Dog Groomer — Supports common percentage-based dog-grooming tipping guidance.
- Animal Behavior College — How Much to Tip a Dog Groomer — Provides grooming-industry context for optional tips and extra effort.
- Dogster — Do You Tip a Dog Walker or Sitter? — Supports a 10%–20% pet sitter tipping range, with longer stays warranting a higher tip.
- Tails — Do You Tip Dog Walkers? How Much to Tip Pet Sitters — Supports roughly $15–$20 per night as common for overnight pet sitting.
- Forbes Home — How Much Should You Tip Movers? — Supports practical per-mover amounts and higher tips for longer or more difficult moves.
- Southern Living — How Much Should You Tip at the Car Wash? — Distinguishes automated or self-service washing, light attendant help, and full hand washing or detailing.
- CreditDonkey — How Much to Tip at the Car Wash — Supports 10%–15% as the standard detailer tip, with 20% for exceptional work (2021).
- Sittercity — Should You Tip Your Sitter? — Supports an extra 10%–20% on top of the hourly rate for special occasions and holidays.
- KidSit — Should You Tip a Babysitter? — Supports 10%–20% of the total or roughly an extra hour's pay as a common range.
- The Emily Post Institute — End of Summer Tipping Guide — Advises checking with the camp because most counselors aren't permitted to accept tips, and suggests a small gift from your child instead.
- American Camp Association, NY & NJ — 4 Tips on Camp Tipping (2017) — Each camp sets its own policy; ask for the suggested range and who is included (counselors, bus staff, group leaders); longer sessions warrant more within the range.
- Arrowhead Day Camp — Tipping Policy (parent resources) — A day camp's published guidance: tipping optional; about $2 a day for senior counselors and drivers, $1 a day for junior counselors, bus counselors and CITs.
- Salon — Should you tip your kid's camp counselors? The answer is tricky (2022) — Reports day-camp suggestions of roughly $40–$60 per counselor, $25 for bus or van drivers, $20–$40 for bus counselors and $20 for instructors.
- LawnStarter — Should You Tip Your Lawn Service? — Supports a $29–$65 end-of-season tip for recurring service and roughly $7 for a one-time job.
- Ridgewell Colorado — Do You Tip Landscapers? — Supports $5–$10 per worker per visit, $20–$50 per crew member seasonally, and 5%–10% of the cost for larger projects.
- Bankrate — Survey: Fewer Americans Are Planning To Tip This Holiday Season (2025) — Found about 21% of households that use trash or recycling collection planned to tip their crew this holiday season, typically $10–$30 per crew member with a 2025 median of $25 — more likely with a regular crew or especially helpful service.
- The Emily Post Institute — Holiday Tipping Guide — Puts a regular handyman at $15–$40 for the holidays — a separate, once-a-year thank-you.
- AARP — How Much to Tip Workers This Holiday Season — Puts pool cleaners, landscapers and anyone who helps maintain your property at $20–$50 for the holidays.
- Etiquette School of America — Christmas Tipping: Your Complete Q&A Guide with Suggested Amounts — $20–$30 each for pool service and similar weekly home help, or about one week's service cost when they come weekly.
- Pool Pro Answers — Should You Tip Your Pool Pro? — A former pool professional: tipping isn't expected; about $20 for a one-off repair, $50 for a full day, and $100 or more as a yearly thank-you for regular service (2020).
- Money — Tipping Guide: How Much to Tip Home Maintenance Workers — Says not to tip plumbers, electricians, handymen or appliance repair people as a rule, only ever employees rather than owners, and suggests a holiday gift instead (updated February 2024).
- Bob Vila — Solved! Do You Tip a Plumber? — Plumbers don't expect tips; for exceptional or especially difficult work, tips start around $20 for smaller tasks and about 10% for difficult repairs (October 2021).