2021 holiday tipping guide. How much should you give?

By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer
Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

    Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

    The holiday tip can be a magnanimous gesture or an obligation, depending on your point of view. But it’s a chance to let service providers know you appreciate the work they’ve done for the past year. And, let’s face it, they’ve had a hellacious last year.

    The question is: How much should you give? That varies by person and industry, of course, but CreditCards.com has run a survey to give you an idea of how much the people who do tip are planning to give on a national basis.

    Just under half—some 45%—say they typically give higher-than-usual tips during the holidays, whether it’s to restaurant workers, hairstylists, or food delivery people. And when it comes to the generational breakdown, it’s young adults who tend to be the most generous.

    Over half of Generation Z (ages 18 to 24) say they are more likely to give higher tips around the holidays (51%). Compare that with 48% of millennials (25 to 40), 43% of Gen Xers (41 to 56), and 42% of baby boomers (57 to 75).

    So who’s getting what? Here’s how it breaks down.

    • Mail carrier: $20 median tip (Civil servants can’t accept cash or gift cards, but are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less.)
    • Trash/recycling collector: $20
    • Teacher: $25
    • Landscaper: $30
    • Childcare provider: $50
    • Housekeeper: $50

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