How Much to Spend on a Holiday Tip
Up to a week’s pay for a nanny, a housekeeper or a dog walker, the price of one visit for a barber, a trainer or a groomer, by the Emily Post Institute’s guide. The mail carrier gets a gift, not money: USPS lets a carrier accept a gift worth $20 or less per occasion, and no more than $50 a year from one customer.
| Who | Holiday tip or gift | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Live-in nanny or au pair | Up to one week’s pay, and a gift from the children | Emily Post |
| Regular babysitter | Up to one evening’s pay, and a small gift from the children | Emily Post |
| Daycare staff | A gift, or $25–$70 for each staff member who works with your child | Emily Post |
| Housekeeper or cleaner | Up to one week’s pay, a small gift, or both | Emily Post |
| Dog walker | Up to one week’s pay, or a gift | Emily Post |
| Barber | Up to the cost of one haircut, or a gift | Emily Post |
| Personal trainer or pet groomer | Up to the cost of one session, or a gift | Emily Post |
| Mail carrier | A gift worth $20 or less; no cash, check or cash-like gift card | USPS |
| Package delivery | A small gift around $20, no cash | Emily Post |
| Trash and recycling, private service | $10–$30 each; for a city crew, check the city’s rules | Emily Post |
| Newspaper delivery or garage attendant | $10–$30, or a small gift | Emily Post |
| Doorman | $15–$80, or a gift | Emily Post |
Good to know
- USPS counts a Visa or American Express gift card as cash, so it is out at any amount; a store gift card worth $20 or less is allowed.
- FedEx drivers may accept a gift worth up to $75 but are discouraged from taking cash or gift cards; UPS and Amazon have no official policy, AARP reports.
- Tipped at every visit already? The Emily Post Institute says the year-end tip can be smaller, or skipped. Whatever you give, add a note of two or three sentences.
- Home health aides and nursing home staff: check the agency’s policy first; a gift the whole staff can share, like food or flowers, is the usual way round a no-cash rule.
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Gifts for Mail Carriers under $25
Questions
Can I give my mail carrier cash for Christmas? No. USPS lets a carrier accept a gift worth $20 or less per occasion and no more than $50 in a calendar year from one customer, and never cash, a check or a gift card that can be exchanged for cash.
How much do you tip a nanny at Christmas? Up to one week’s pay plus a gift from the children, by the Emily Post Institute’s guide; for a regular babysitter, up to one evening’s pay.
How much should I give my housekeeper for the holidays? Up to one week’s pay, a small gift, or both, according to the Emily Post Institute.
Sources
Checked October 2026. A survey is named with its year.
- Emily Post Institute, Holiday Tipping Guide
- USPS Postal Bulletin 22349, Employee Tipping and Gift-Receiving Policy (2012)
- USPS Ethics FAQs
- AARP, Holiday Tipping Guide (2024)
Other budgets
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