How much to tip hotel housekeeping in 2026.
Housekeeping is the hotel tip people forget most — and the one that matters most to the person receiving it. Here’s the per-night amount, why it should be daily, where to leave it, and what changes the number.
$3–$5 per night at a typical US hotel, $5–$10 at a luxury property, $2–$3 at a motel. Leave it every morning, with a note.
Skipped daily cleaning? Leave $5–$10 at checkout for the final clean of a multi-night stay.
The number, and where it comes from
Long-standing guidance from the American Hotel & Lodging Association has been $1–$5 per night, and the Emily Post Institute recommends $2–$5 per day, more in high-end hotels. With prices up across the board, $3–$5 is the realistic middle of that range in 2026 — $5 if you’re two or more people in the room or staying somewhere upscale.
Unlike a restaurant tip, it isn’t a percentage of anything. A room attendant turns over a $119 room and a $499 room with roughly the same effort, so the tip tracks the work: how many people, how many nights, how much mess. Room attendants are among the lowest-paid staff in a hotel and, unlike bellhops or valets, they rarely meet the guests they serve — which is why their tips get skipped so often.
Housekeeping tip by hotel type
| Where you’re staying | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motel / budget chain | $2–$3 | If the room is serviced during your stay. |
| Mid-range hotel | $3–$5 | The default for most US stays. |
| Upscale / luxury hotel | $5–$10 | Turndown service, suites, more involved cleaning. |
| Resort with suites or kids | $5–$10 | Sand, wet towels, extra beds. |
| Cleaning on request only | $5–$10 total | Left at checkout for the final clean. |
| Items delivered to the room | $2–$5 | Per delivery — towels, crib, rollaway bed. |
Why daily, not at checkout
Hotels assign room attendants by floor and shift, and those assignments change. The person who cleans your room on Monday may be off on Tuesday. A single $20 left on the last morning goes to whoever happens to clean that day; leaving $5 each morning reaches each person who actually did the work. If you only remember on the last day, it’s still better than nothing — just leave the full amount for the whole stay.
Leave a note, not loose cash
Housekeepers are trained not to take money that might belong to the guest. Cash left on a nightstand next to your wallet or loose change on the desk is often left exactly where it is. Put the bills on the pillow or in an envelope (many hotels supply one) with a short note: “Housekeeping — thank you!” That removes all doubt.
When daily cleaning is opt-in
Many US hotels now clean occupied rooms only on request, or every few days. If nobody cleaned your room during the stay, you don’t need to tip for those days — but the checkout clean of a room that’s been lived in for four nights is a bigger job. Leave $5–$10 when you check out. If you requested a mid-stay refresh, tip for that day as usual.
Worked examples
Example 1 — 3 nights, mid-range hotel, couple
Example 2 — Family of 4, 5 nights, 2 rooms
Example 3 — 4 nights, cleaning on request only
Housekeeping tip calculator
Pick a per-night rate, enter your nights and rooms, and get the total — plus the amount to leave each morning.
Bring small bills — a stack of $5s and $1s at check-in covers housekeeping, the bellhop and valet, and the doorman.
What changes the answer
Tip more if…
- There are three or more people (or a pet) in the room.
- You left the room messier than usual — kids, beach sand, a party.
- You asked for extras: more towels, a crib, a fridge, a late refresh.
- It’s a luxury hotel with turndown service.
Tip less (or nothing) if…
- You declined cleaning and the room was never serviced — just tip for the final clean.
- You’re abroad in a country where it isn’t customary, such as Japan.
- An all-inclusive resort states that gratuities are included (a small cash thank-you is still welcome).
FAQ
How much should I tip hotel housekeeping per night?
$3–$5 per night at a mid-range US hotel, $5–$10 at a luxury property, and $2–$3 at a motel or budget chain. Add a few dollars if the room needed extra work — kids, pets, a late checkout.
Should I tip housekeeping every day or at the end of my stay?
Every day. Room attendants are often assigned different floors on different days, so a single tip at checkout usually reaches only the last person who cleaned. Leave it each morning with a short note.
Where do I leave the tip for housekeeping?
On the pillow or the desk, in an envelope or with a note that says “Housekeeping — thank you.” Cash left loose near your belongings may be treated as yours and left untouched.
Do I tip housekeeping if I skip daily cleaning?
Yes, for the final clean. Many hotels now clean on request only, which means a bigger job at checkout. Leave $5–$10 for a stay of several nights, or the per-night amount for each day the room was serviced.
Do I tip when housekeeping brings extra towels or a crib?
A small tip is customary: $2–$5 handed to the person who delivers it, more for heavy items like a crib or rollaway bed.
Do you tip hotel housekeeping outside the US?
Less, and it’s optional. In the UK and most of Europe €1–€2 (or £1–£2) a night is generous; in Mexico 20–50 pesos a night is common; in Japan don’t tip at all. Check the country guides for local amounts.