Christmas and Holiday Tipping Guide — Who Gets What in December
- Hairdresser, nail tech, regular cleaner: one full service's cost as a December bonus.
- Mailman: USPS caps cash gifts at $20 — a small non-cash gift up to $50 is allowed.
- Dog walker, babysitter, nanny: one week's pay as a year-end bonus.
- Doorman, building super: $50–100 each, delivered personally in an envelope.
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Year-end tipping runs on different rules than weekly tipping. Your hairdresser gets one full haircut's cost extra. Your mailman gets a $20 cap per USPS rules. Your regular cleaner gets one cleaning's cost. Nannies, dog walkers, and babysitters get a full week's pay. Below is the category-by-category breakdown plus the rules on USPS gift limits and why cash is usually the right delivery mechanism.
Year-End Tipping Chart
| Recipient | Standard Bonus | Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Hairdresser (regular) | One service's cost | Cash at December appointment |
| Nail tech (regular) | One service's cost | Cash at December appointment |
| House cleaner (regular) | One cleaning's cost | Cash in card |
| Full-time nanny | One week's pay | Cash in envelope |
| Part-time sitter | One night's pay | Cash in envelope |
| Dog walker (regular) | One week's pay | Cash in card |
| Doorman (building) | $25–100 | Cash in envelope, delivered |
| Building super | $50–100 | Cash in envelope, delivered |
| Mail carrier (USPS) | Gift up to $20 | Non-cash — USPS rule |
| Newspaper carrier | $15–30 | Cash in envelope |
| Trash/recycling | $10–30 each | Cash in envelope, taped to lid |
| Lawn service (solo) | $20–50 | Cash in card |
| Landscaping crew | $20–30 each | Cash envelopes via foreman |
| Teacher (classroom gift) | $25–75 gift | Class-collected gift card preferred |
Service Providers You See Monthly or More
The rule of thumb: one full service's cost as a December bonus, on top of your normal tip.
- Hairdresser at $80/cut, monthly: Extra $80 cash in a holiday card at your December appointment.
- Nail tech at $60/mani, biweekly: Extra $60 cash in December.
- House cleaner at $150/clean, biweekly: Extra $150 cash at the last December cleaning.
- Massage therapist at $120/session, monthly: Extra $120 at the December appointment.
Cash is always better than a gift card. Personal service providers prefer cash they can actually use — a $50 Amazon card is worth slightly less than $50 in cash due to the gift-card exchange markup.
Sell Custom Apparel — We Handle Printing & Free ShippingThe USPS Rule — Why Cash to Your Mailman Is a Problem
USPS regulations cap gifts to mail carriers at $20 per person per occasion, and prohibit cash entirely. This is federal law for postal workers. A $50 cash tip in the mailbox technically puts your carrier in violation.
What you can actually give:
- Non-cash gift valued under $20 (a small box of chocolates, a travel mug, a knit hat).
- Gift cards are a gray area — technically allowed up to $20, but many carriers will not accept them either.
- A heartfelt handwritten thank-you card is always welcome and always allowed.
Private couriers (UPS, FedEx, Amazon) have no such rules. You can tip them $20–50 cash freely. The USPS cap only applies to postal service employees.
Nanny, Sitter, Dog Walker — One Week's Pay
Full-time childcare workers and regular dog walkers expect a year-end bonus equal to one week of their normal pay. This is not a tip in the "optional" sense — it is embedded industry expectation.
- Nanny making $1,200/week: $1,200 bonus in cash + a small gift from the kids.
- Part-time babysitter you use regularly: A night's pay or $100, whichever is larger.
- Dog walker doing $25/walk, 5 walks/week = $125/week: $125 in cash at year-end.
Envelopes delivered in person, not mailed. Many nannies lose cash in the mail due to broken addresses during moves.
Doorman, Super, and Building Staff
NYC and Chicago condo/apartment buildings have strong traditions around year-end envelopes. Other major cities follow similar patterns.
- Doorman (day shift): $50–100
- Doorman (night shift): $25–50
- Super: $50–150 depending on how many repair requests they handled
- Handyman: $20–50
- Garage attendant: $25–75
Deliver in person, in a labeled envelope, around December 15–23. Do not leave cash at the front desk unattended — label it clearly for the specific person.
Every building has a different tipping culture. Talk to a neighbor or the building association if you're unsure — over-tipping in a $25-per-doorman building looks awkward, under-tipping in a $150-per-doorman building gets noticed.
Budget Year-End Tips Across All Providers
Our calculator helps tally up bonus amounts across every service provider — so you know the total cash to set aside in November.
Open Free Tip CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
How much to tip mailman at Christmas?
Non-cash gift up to $20 in value. USPS rules prohibit cash. A small box of chocolates, a travel mug, or a warm hat is perfect.
How much to tip a cleaner at Christmas?
One full cleaning's cost. If you pay $150 per cleaning biweekly, leave $150 cash in a holiday card at the last December appointment.
How much to tip a hairdresser for Christmas?
One full service's cost as a bonus at your December appointment, on top of your regular 20% tip.
Do I tip the UPS driver?
UPS and FedEx drivers can accept cash tips up to $75 per customer per occasion. $20–50 is typical. Leave it in an envelope taped to a package on a regular delivery day in December.
How much to tip my dog walker at year-end?
One week's pay. If your dog walker does 5 walks per week at $25 each = $125/week, leave $125 cash in a holiday card.
