About those Tips at Holiday Time
“Survey: Fewer Americans are planning to tip this holiday season.”
If you’re rethinking whether to spread the holiday cheer by tipping this year, you might not be alone. Fewer Americans are planning to tip their service providers this holiday season compared to last year — from their housekeepers, trash collectors and gardeners to mail carriers, teachers and childcare providers.
“If you can’t afford to tip everyone this holiday season, prioritize who really went above and beyond for you in 2025. For instance, maybe you have a really great babysitter or housekeeper or landscaping crew that you want to reward.”
More than half of U.S. adults (56%) say they usually give bigger tips when they receive better service, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Holiday Tipping Survey. Still, about 2 in 5 (38%) say that they simply feel obligated to tip — regardless of the service received.
Tipping is slightly down from last year
For many, the holiday season is the time to show appreciation, including giving tips or gifts to workers that care for their children or homes. Here’s how many Americans who use each service are planning to tip service providers in the following categories this year:
Housekeeper: 56%
Childcare provider: 47%
Teacher: 47%
Landscaper/gardener/snow remover: 37%
Mail carrier: 27%
Trash/recycling collector: 21%
These figures are slightly down compared to last year. The percentage of people planning to tip their childcare providers has seen the most significant drop (from 55% to 47%) followed by teachers (53% to 47%).
Information from:
https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/holiday-tipping-survey/
