Holiday Tipping Calculator
Set your total budget and count who is actually on the list - weekly regulars like a cleaner or dog walker, occasional helpers like a hairdresser or sitter. The calculator splits it on the classic rule: weekly people take about 60 percent, one-visit fee as the benchmark.
Greeting-card tipping guides list everyone equally and leave you guilty. This one prices the real hierarchy - frequency beats warmth: the person who showed up every week outranks everyone you met twice - and prints the three caps the cards never mention: USPS cash limits, school-district teacher rules, and the super who fixed nothing.
How to use
- Set a total you can afford first - guilt is not a budget line.
- Count weekly regulars and occasional helpers honestly.
- Read the caps note before you hand anyone an envelope.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I tip my house cleaner for the holidays?
The standard is one full visit fee, or a week of service for long-standing weekly arrangements - whichever your budget runs to. If cost splits a year of goodwill, a sincere note plus a smaller envelope beats silence.
Can I tip my mail carrier?
Not in cash beyond 20 dollars - USPS employees may not accept money gifts, per federal rules. A gift card under the limit, or snacks and a note, are the compliant route. The same cap-and-gift-card logic applies to many public employees.
Should I give my child's teacher a gift?
Check the district first - many bar cash gifts entirely. The safe play is a small gift card plus a note about something specific they did, or classroom supplies. The handwritten note from your child outperforms every envelope.
Who do I tip when the budget is tight?
Rank by frequency and dependence: the people who came weekly all year first, then anyone who handled something hard for you, then everyone else gets a card. A smaller gift to the right person beats an even spread that says nothing to anyone.