Short answer: In US hotels the usual tip is $2 to $5 per night, left each day and not only at checkout, because the person cleaning your room can change from day to day. With no cash on you, the options are: look for a QR code in the room, ask the front desk, get cash from the desk, or use the hotel app.
How much to tip hotel housekeeping
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Standard room, per night | $2 to $5 |
| Suite or a family room | $5 to $10 |
| Extra requests such as a crib or extra towels | $2 to $5 at the time |
These are customary amounts in the United States, in US dollars. They are a guide, not a rule: tip more for exceptional service.
Do you have to tip hotel housekeeping?
It is customary in the US and Canada and widely forgotten: surveys by hotel groups regularly find that most guests leave nothing. Housekeeping is among the lowest paid work in a hotel.
Can you tip hotel housekeeping by card?
This is the hardest hotel tip to give by card. There is no bill, no terminal and usually nobody in the room. Unlike a restaurant, most hotels cannot simply add a housekeeping tip to your folio.
4 ways to tip hotel housekeeping without cash
- Look for a QR code in the room. A growing number of hotels leave a tipping card on the desk or pillow. Scan it and pay by card or Apple Pay.
- Ask the front desk. Some hotels will charge a gratuity to your room and pass it to housekeeping. Ask them to note your room number so it reaches the right team.
- Get cash from the desk. Many front desks will give cash back against your room or break a larger note.
- Use the hotel app. Some chains have added tipping to their apps at participating properties.
What a tip QR code does
If hotel housekeeping shows you a QR code, point your phone camera at it. A payment page opens in your browser, you choose an amount, and you pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. You do not install anything or create an account, and it works with cards from other countries.
If you cannot tip on the day
Leave a note with your thanks and mention the housekeeper by name in the post-stay survey or to the manager. Named praise is used in reviews and bonuses.
Outside the United States
In the UK and Europe one or two pounds or euros a night is generous and not assumed. In Australia it is not customary. In Mexico and the Caribbean it is expected, and local currency is best.
Do you work as a hotel housekeeper?
You are tipped by people you never meet, at a moment you are not present, from wallets with no cash in them. Guests who would happily leave something find nothing in their pocket at 6am on checkout day.
See how hotel housekeepers take card tips with a QR code: where to put it, what to write on the sign and how to mention it.
Common questions
How much should I tip hotel housekeeping?
In US hotels the usual tip is $2 to $5 per night, left each day and not only at checkout, because the person cleaning your room can change from day to day.
Do I have to tip hotel housekeeping?
It is customary in the US and Canada and widely forgotten: surveys by hotel groups regularly find that most guests leave nothing. Housekeeping is among the lowest paid work in a hotel.
Can I tip hotel housekeeping with a card or Apple Pay?
This is the hardest hotel tip to give by card. There is no bill, no terminal and usually nobody in the room. Unlike a restaurant, most hotels cannot simply add a housekeeping tip to your folio.
What if I have no cash to tip hotel housekeeping?
Leave a note with your thanks and mention the housekeeper by name in the post-stay survey or to the manager. Named praise is used in reviews and bonuses.