How Much to Tip
a Valet?

For Restaurant · Hotel · Hospital / Medical · Event · Casino and all other valet services

They treated your car like it was their own.

This number reflects the service and where you are.

The US standard for valet is $2–$5 at casual venues and $5–$10 at hotels, luxury restaurants, or events. Tip at pick-up — not drop-off — since the attendant who retrieves your car is the one doing the work. Use the calculator below for a suggestion based on your venue and city.

Your Location

Valet tip norms vary by city and venue type.

Please select a city from the list.
Venue Type
Wait Time (optional)
Service Quality (optional)
When do you tip? (optional)

Most valets prefer a tip at pick-up. Tipping at both is generous but not required.

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.

Valet Tipping in the United States

Here's what's standard at every venue — and when to hand over the tip.

Tip at Pick-Up, Not Drop-Off

The standard practice in the US is to tip at pick-up rather than drop-off. The attendant retrieving your car is the one doing the active work, and they may be a different person than who parked it. Some guests tip at both — that's generous but not required.

Hotel Valet

Hotel valet typically warrants $3–$5 per retrieval at a standard hotel and $5–$10 at a luxury property. For multi-day stays, tip each time you retrieve your car rather than a lump sum at checkout.

Restaurant Valet

Restaurant valet runs $2–$5 at a casual venue and $5–$8 at an upscale restaurant. The valet tip is separate from your server tip — both are expected when valet service is available.

Hospital Valet

Hospital valet is often used during stressful circumstances. A $2–$3 tip is appropriate and appreciated for the convenience and care provided during what is often a difficult visit.

Frequently Asked Questions — Valet Tips

Do you tip valet when dropping off or picking up?

At pick-up is the standard. The person retrieving your car is doing the active work and typically receives the tip. Some guests tip at both points — $2–$3 at drop-off and $3–$5 at pick-up — which is generous but not expected.

How much to tip valet at a hotel for multiple days?

For a multi-night hotel stay, tip $3–$5 each time your car is retrieved — not one lump sum at checkout. Different attendants may handle each retrieval, so daily tipping ensures each person is recognized.

Should I tip valet in cash?

Yes — cash is strongly preferred. Many valet operations share tips among the team and may not have card readers available. Having $3–$5 in cash ready when you pull up for retrieval is considered good etiquette.