Hotel housekeeping is an integral part of the guest experience. Coming back to a room with a freshly made bed and clean towels is one of the luxuries of a hotel stay. However, many people wonder how much to tip hotel housekeeping, or whether to tip at all, since the service is included in the cost of the reservation. 

​​In this section, we provide data from real U.S. customers and employees about their tipping practices and expectations, empowering you to make informed choices about how to tip the next time you’re at a hotel.

What does the graph show? Customer and Worker Average.

The graph below displays the tips customers provide for average service from a concierge compared to what U.S. concierges expect to be tipped for average service. The data is based on feedback from TippingGuide.com users living in the United States.

Housekeeping Tips

Tipping at a restaurant is obvious, but hotel housekeeping can be confusing. A lot of people skip it because they just aren't sure what the rules are. You don't have to do it, but leaving cash for the person cleaning your room is standard in the US.

It's a tough physical job. Housekeepers spend all day changing heavy sheets, scrubbing toilets, vacuuming, and bringing fresh towels and soap. They do all of this while you're out of the room, so you never actually see the work.

Leaving a little money behind is just an easy way to pay them for that effort.

Quick Facts: Hotel Housekeeping

Understanding how hotel cleaning staff is scheduled makes tipping much easier. Housekeepers get their room assignments based on daily occupancy and their specific work shifts. Because hotel schedules change constantly, the person who cleans your room on Monday usually won't be the same person working on Tuesday. A different worker covers it.

Cleaning schedules at hotels have also shifted in recent years. Some properties are now only clean on request. Others still send someone in daily. Either way, the staff members doing that work count on those tips as a regular part of their income.

Tipping Housekeeping Staff: How Much Should You Tip?

The tip amount depends on where you stay and the kind of service you receive. There are no official rules, but here is what most travelers usually do:

• Standard hotels and basic rooms just need a standard daily tip.
• High-end resorts offer better service, so people usually leave more money.
• Bigger rooms and suites take longer to clean. A larger tip pays for the extra work.
• If you ask for extra towels or items, you should add a little more to the daily tip.

When You Should Tip Hotel Housekeepers

Timing matters as much as the amount. Here's when most guests leave money:

• Tip daily, since shifts rotate and you want the person who actually cleaned your room that day to get it.
• Leave something on your last day to cover the final turnover clean before the next guest checks in.
• If you had extra people in the room or left it in rough shape, add more.
• If a housekeeper brought up a cot or did something extra for you, tip for that specifically.

When Tipping May Vary

A few factors can push the amount up or down:

• Nicer resorts generally get higher tips than budget motels.
• Families leave more mess and go through more linens, which means more work for the housekeeper.
• If you opt out of daily cleaning during a long stay, you don't need to tip every day. Just leave a larger amount at checkout.
• Tips tend to run a bit higher in major cities and busy tourist destinations.



How Hotel Guests Usually Tip Housekeeping Staff

Most people leave cash for the cleaners. Cash is the best method because the worker takes it home the same day. To make sure they know it is for them, put the money in a hotel envelope. You can usually find one on the desk.

If there is no envelope, leave the cash with a quick note that says "Thank You". Hotel workers are usually told not to take loose cash left on tables because it might just be the guest's spare change. Put the money directly on the pillow or next to the bathroom sink with a note so there is no confusion.