How Much to Tip
Housekeeping?

For Hotels · Motels · Resorts · Airbnbs · Cabins · All-Inclusive and extended stays

They reset the room without being seen or thanked.

This is how you change that.

The US standard for hotel housekeeping is $2–$5 per night for a standard room — left daily in cash with a note. For suites, luxury hotels, or resorts, $5–$10 per night is more appropriate. Use the calculator below for a suggestion calibrated to your city and property type.

Your Location

Tip expectations vary by city — we use local income data to calibrate.

Please select a city from the list.
Property Type
Room Type (optional)
Stay Duration
Service Quality
Extras (optional) (optional)

Your Tip Suggestions iHow your city affects these numbers

Our calculator looks up the median household income for your county using US Census data. Higher local incomes mean higher tipping expectations — a 20% tip in Manhattan carries different social weight than 20% in a small rural town.

Example ranges:
Rural ($42K income) → base ~15%
National avg ($74K) → base ~18%
High cost city ($120K+) → base ~22%

The percentage itself adjusts — not just the dollar amount.

i How your city affects these numbers

We look up the median household income for your county using US Census data. Higher-income areas have higher tipping expectations — our base tip rate scales from ~15% in lower-income areas to ~22%+ in high cost-of-living cities.

Examples:
Rural ($42K) → base ~15%
US average ($74K) → base ~18%
High cost city ($120K+) → base ~22%

The percentage itself adjusts — not just the dollar amount.

Hotel Housekeeping Tipping in the United States

A quick guide to what's standard — and what's generous — at every kind of property.

Tip Daily, Not at Checkout

Many travelers leave a lump tip at checkout, but this means the housekeeper who cleans on your last day receives everything. Tipping daily in cash with a note saying "Housekeeping — thank you" ensures every person who cleaned your room is recognized.

Standard vs. Luxury

For a standard hotel room, $2–$5 per night is the US norm. At a luxury or 4–5 star property, $5–$10 per night is appropriate. Suites with more square footage, more towels, and more surfaces to clean warrant the higher end.

Airbnbs and Cabin Rentals

Airbnbs and cabin rentals charge a cleaning fee upfront, so tipping is optional. If the property was exceptionally clean and well-stocked, a $15–$30 tip for a short stay is a warm gesture — but there's no social expectation to do so.

All-Inclusive Resorts

At all-inclusive resorts, check whether service charges are already included. If not, $3–$5 per night is the commonly cited guideline. Leaving US dollars is widely accepted at international all-inclusive properties frequented by American travelers.

Frequently Asked Questions — Hotel Housekeeping Tips

Should I tip housekeeping every day or just at checkout?

Every day is the preferred approach. Different staff may clean your room on different days, so a daily tip ensures each person is recognized. Leave cash with a note so staff know it's for them.

How much to tip at an extended stay hotel?

Extended stay hotels clean less frequently — typically once or twice a week. Tip $5–$10 per cleaning visit, or $15–$25 at checkout for a week-long stay. The less frequent visits mean each cleaning session covers more accumulated work.

Do you tip at an Airbnb?

No tip is required at an Airbnb since a cleaning fee is built into the booking. If the property was exceptionally clean or the host went above and beyond, $15–$30 for a short stay is a thoughtful optional gesture.

What do I do with towels and bedding before checkout?

Leave used towels on the bathroom floor — this signals they need washing. Hanging towels signals you'd like to reuse them. Don't strip the bed; housekeeping has an efficient process and it's faster for them to start from scratch. Consolidate trash into one bin if possible.