Short answer: For a one-off or deep clean in the US, 15 to 20% is customary. For a regular cleaner, the custom is a holiday tip equal to one visit, with no tip expected each time. With no cash on you, the options are: add it to the transfer, use the company's app or portal, scan a code, or ask for a payment handle.
How much to tip a house cleaner
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| $160 one-off deep clean | $25 to $30 |
| Regular cleaner, each visit | Optional |
| Regular cleaner, December | The cost of one clean |
| Team sent by a company | $10 to $20 per cleaner |
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 a house cleaner?
For a one-off job it is customary. For a self-employed regular cleaner who sets their own rate, a per-visit tip is optional and the year-end tip is the convention. Staff sent by an agency are paid much less than the price you are charged.
Can you tip a house cleaner by card?
If you pay a company by card or app, there may be a tip option. If you pay your own cleaner by bank transfer, add it to the transfer. The old habit of cash left on the counter is the part that has broken.
4 ways to tip a house cleaner without cash
- Add it to the transfer. Label it, so it is not mistaken for an overpayment.
- Use the company's app or portal. Ask them to confirm that the full amount goes to the cleaners.
- Scan a code. Some cleaners leave a card with a QR code on the counter after a job, which is useful when a company takes the payment.
- Ask for a payment handle. With a team, ask for each person's, or ask how they split.
What a tip QR code does
If a house cleaner 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 saying the tip is coming and by what route. An unexplained missing tip reads as dissatisfaction.
Outside the United States
In the UK and Australia a Christmas tip of one week's pay is the tradition for a regular cleaner.
Do you work as a house cleaner?
You work in empty houses. The thank-you used to be a note on the counter, and now the client pays an agency by card and you never see them. Agency customers often cannot tip you even when they try.
See how house cleaners 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 a house cleaner?
For a one-off or deep clean in the US, 15 to 20% is customary. For a regular cleaner, the custom is a holiday tip equal to one visit, with no tip expected each time.
Do I have to tip a house cleaner?
For a one-off job it is customary. For a self-employed regular cleaner who sets their own rate, a per-visit tip is optional and the year-end tip is the convention. Staff sent by an agency are paid much less than the price you are charged.
Can I tip a house cleaner with a card or Apple Pay?
If you pay a company by card or app, there may be a tip option. If you pay your own cleaner by bank transfer, add it to the transfer. The old habit of cash left on the counter is the part that has broken.
What if I have no cash to tip a house cleaner?
Leave a note saying the tip is coming and by what route. An unexplained missing tip reads as dissatisfaction.