Hotel tipping: housekeeping, bellhop, valet in 2026.
Hotel tips are dollar amounts, not percentages — and they go to four different people. Below: the cheat sheet, why housekeeping is daily, what concierges actually earn, and three worked examples.
Housekeeping $3–$5/night, bellhop $2/bag, valet $3–$5 per retrieval, concierge $5–$20 for real services. Bring small bills at check-in.
Housekeeping is daily, not at checkout — the cleaner often changes day to day.
The numbers, and where they come from
The amounts above come from the American Hotel & Lodging Association's 2024 gratuity guide, which most US hotel chains use as the staff-facing baseline, and from the Emily Post Institute's 2023 hospitality update. The AHLA and Emily Post largely agree: housekeeping $3–$5 per night ($5–$10 at luxury properties), bellhop $2 per bag with a $5 floor, valet $3–$5 per retrieval, doorman $1–$2 for hailing a cab. Concierge tipping is the one that varies widely — $5 for a small task, $10–$20 for a hard-to-get reservation or a last-minute fix.
Why dollars instead of percentages: hotel staff are tipped on a per-action basis, not on the room rate. The bellhop did the same job whether you're in a $90 motel or a $900 suite. Housekeeping does the same room turn either way too. The only role where the room rate matters is the concierge — a $20 tip at a five-star property and at a Hampton Inn means different things, and most guests calibrate accordingly. For travelers crossing the border, the US tipping overview covers the broader cultural context.
Hotel tip cheat sheet
| Role | Amount | When | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housekeeping | $3–$5/night | Daily, before you leave the room | Cash on pillow with a note saying "for housekeeping, thank you" |
| Bellhop / porter | $2/bag, $5 min | When bags reach the room | Cash, handed over directly |
| Valet | $3–$5 each retrieval | When the car is pulled — not at drop-off | Cash, as the keys are handed back |
| Doorman | $1–$2 | Hailing a cab or carrying a bag to the curb | Cash, on the spot |
| Concierge | $5–$20 | After a real service is delivered | Cash, folded discreetly |
| Room service | Check bill first | Often 18% already added | Add $2–$3 cash if not auto-charged |
For tipping percentages on restaurant meals inside the hotel, see restaurant tipping — the hotel-restaurant standard is the same 18–22%.
Three worked examples
Example 1 — 3-night business stay, midtown hotel
Example 2 — Week-long family vacation, resort
Example 3 — Single luxury night, $600 room
Luxury properties push the per-night housekeeping rate up to $10 — the room turn is more involved, and the staff expect it.
Edge cases
Why housekeeping is daily, not at checkout
Most hotels rotate housekeeping staff across days. The person who turns down your room on Monday is often not the person who cleans it on Wednesday. A single tip left at checkout reaches one cleaner — usually the last one — while the others get nothing for the same work. Daily tipping spreads it to the people who actually did the days. Leave the cash on the pillow or the nightstand with a note ("for housekeeping, thank you"), because a stray $5 on a desk reads as forgotten money and won't be touched.
Cash on the pillow with a note
The note matters. Hotel housekeepers are trained not to assume cash is for them — money left on a desk, the bed, or in a drawer often gets handed to the supervisor as a "found item." A small folded bill on the pillow with the word "housekeeping" on it is the universal signal. Hotel envelopes in the desk drawer work for the same reason; some chains now provide them pre-printed.
Concierge — tip for a service, not directions
The concierge desk is staffed by salaried professionals who handle dozens of small requests per shift. Directions to the subway, a printed map, a dinner-reservation suggestion at a restaurant with open tables: no tip required. Things that warrant a tip: a same-day table at a fully-booked restaurant, a sold-out show ticket, a last-minute car service, a discreet errand. $5 for small effort, $10 for a real save, $20 if the concierge moved heaven and earth. Cash, folded, handed over with a thank-you.
All-inclusive resorts — check the gratuity policy
Most all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Caribbean, and parts of Hawaii bundle gratuity into the room rate. The staff are paid from a service-charge pool and are technically not supposed to accept additional tips — though most will. The right move: read the welcome packet at check-in. If gratuity is included, $1–$2 cash for a drink at the pool bar is fine but not required. If it isn't (rare), the standard US numbers apply.
Room service — check the bill first
US hotels typically add an 18% gratuity to room-service orders automatically, plus a "delivery charge" of $3–$5 that does not go to the staff. Read both lines. If gratuity is included, $2–$3 cash to the person who actually wheeled the cart is a thoughtful add. If gratuity is not on the bill, tip 18% as you would at the restaurant downstairs. Bad service — the standard advice applies: tip the floor for any included gratuity, and call the front desk to flag the problem.
What changes the answer
Push the tip up if…
- It's a luxury property where the staff expect $5–$10 per housekeeping day.
- You left the room a real mess (kids, pets, a long stay).
- The bellhop made multiple trips or carried something awkward.
- The concierge fixed a genuine problem (missed flight, sold-out show).
The customary amount is right when…
- It's a standard mid-tier hotel stay.
- The staff did their job with no extra ask.
- You're tipping in cash, day-of, to the right person.
FAQ
How much should I tip hotel housekeeping in 2026?
$3–$5 per night, left daily on the pillow or nightstand with a note. The American Hotel & Lodging Association recommends daily because the cleaner often changes day to day.
How much do I tip a bellhop?
$2 per bag, with a $5 minimum. Add a few dollars if the bellhop delivers anything special to the room — ice, extra pillows, a forgotten item.
Do I tip the concierge?
Only for real services. A hard-to-get reservation, a last-minute show ticket, a discreet errand: $5–$20 depending on effort. Directions and a printed map do not require a tip.