Short answer: At US resorts, 10 to 20% of the lesson price is customary. For a group or children's lesson, $10 to $20 per student is typical. With no cash on you, the options are: ask at the ski school desk, scan the instructor's code, use a payment app, or tip at the last lesson.
How much to tip a ski instructor
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Group lesson | $10 to $20 per student |
| $250 half-day private | $25 to $50 |
| $900 full-day private | $90 to $150 |
| Children's all-day ski school | $15 to $20 |
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 ski instructor?
It is customary in North America. Instructors receive a small fraction of a lesson price that can approach a thousand dollars a day, and many rely on tips to get through the season.
Can you tip a ski instructor by card?
Usually not. Lessons are booked and paid through the resort well in advance, and the lesson ends on snow, in gloves, a long way from any till.
4 ways to tip a ski instructor without cash
- Ask at the ski school desk. Some resorts can add a gratuity to your account for a named instructor.
- Scan the instructor's code. Many instructors keep a QR code on their pass holder or in their jacket.
- Use a payment app. Ask for a handle when they hand your child back.
- Tip at the last lesson. For a multi-day booking, one tip at the end is fine.
What a tip QR code does
If a ski instructor 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
Go to the ski school desk the same day with the instructor's name. A written compliment to the school also helps them get requested for private lessons.
Outside the United States
In the Alps a tip is appreciated and not assumed: twenty euros, or lunch on the mountain, is typical. In Japan and Australia it is uncommon.
Do you work as a ski instructor?
Nobody skis with a wallet. Parents collecting a happy child from ski school are grateful, and they are also wearing mittens with their phone zipped inside three layers.
See how ski and snowboard instructors 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 ski instructor?
At US resorts, 10 to 20% of the lesson price is customary. For a group or children's lesson, $10 to $20 per student is typical.
Do I have to tip a ski instructor?
It is customary in North America. Instructors receive a small fraction of a lesson price that can approach a thousand dollars a day, and many rely on tips to get through the season.
Can I tip a ski instructor with a card or Apple Pay?
Usually not. Lessons are booked and paid through the resort well in advance, and the lesson ends on snow, in gloves, a long way from any till.
What if I have no cash to tip a ski instructor?
Go to the ski school desk the same day with the instructor's name. A written compliment to the school also helps them get requested for private lessons.