Cleaning up the messy business of tipping
When in doubt, tip any house cleaner 15% to 20% for a job well done.
It's customary to tip more for one-off jobs than recurring jobs.
Many cleaning companies post tipping policies on their website.
You can choose to tip after each job or on a regular cadence.
Many of us feel calmer, happier, and more organized when our home is sparkling clean, but finding the time to keep it that way is no easy feat. Hiring a house cleaning service can take the task of cleaning off your plate entirely, so you can spend less time straightening up and more time enjoying your beautiful, clean home.
How much to tip house cleaners—and when to tip them—depends on several factors, such as the type of service you choose and how often that particular cleaning pro visits your home.
Tipping your house cleaner is never required, but it's typically appreciated. However, tipping is more appropriate in some cases than others. For instance, some cleaning agencies already include a tip in their standard rates, so there's no need to add an extra tip on top of it unless it’s a special circumstance.
Consider the following factors to help you determine whether to tip a house cleaning pro.
Some cleaning companies and individual cleaners make tipping easy by having a set tipping policy that you can often find on their website or simply by asking. Policies vary significantly, but some companies might build tips into their standard rate, in which case you wouldn't be expected to pay an additional tip. In some cases, if you do try to tip on top of this rate, they may be required to refuse it.
Including questions about tipping in your cleaning company research helps you get ahead of this question and prepare your budget accordingly.
Cleaning agencies typically take a percentage of their cleaners' rates to keep the company running. Meanwhile, self-employed cleaners can set their own rates, and they don't have to give a percentage of it to a larger company. For that reason, you might want to tip a cleaner from an agency more than you would a self-employed cleaner.
You most likely don't want to tip a cleaner who didn't do a very good job cleaning your home, so make sure you're happy with the quality of work. If they did a great job, consider tipping them for their hard work. If you're unsatisfied with their work, don't be afraid to make it known in a respectful way. Most cleaners want you to be happy with their work, so they'll often come back and finish the job to your expectations.
Now that you've figured out whether you should tip your cleaner and how often, it's time to decide how much. While there aren't any set rules for how much you should tip, it's common to tip cleaners 15% to 20% of the cost of house cleaning. But if the house cleaning pros did an excellent job or tackled a particularly tough project, you might consider tipping 25%.
Once you've decided to tip your house cleaner, the next question is: how often? The right answer can depend on a few factors.
If you're hiring a local house cleaner for a one-off job, like a move-out cleaning or deep spring cleaning, you typically want to tip them as soon as the job is done. You also might consider offering a bigger tip than you would for a recurring job. These one-off jobs tend to be more time-consuming and labor-intensive than regular maintenance cleanings, so cleaners will appreciate being tipped extra for the more demanding work. For example, the average deep cleaning cost is between $200 to $400, so tipping house cleaners for a deep cleaning will fall around $40 to $80.
If you hire someone to clean your home regularly, you're not usually expected to offer a huge tip every time. Instead, you might consider offering a sizable tip once per month for the jobs that took place that month. However, it never hurts to ask your cleaner how often they prefer to receive tips. In some cases, they might prefer to receive smaller tips after each session rather than a larger tip at the end of the month.
That said, if a different cleaner comes to your home each time, it's best to tip each person so no one misses out on the extra cash.
The cost to hire a house cleaner varies by factors like the size and condition of your house, as well as whether you're hiring for a one-off deep cleaning or a regular recurring cleaning. However, most house cleaning pros charge between $30 and $50 per hour.
If you hire a pro for recurring cleanings, you can expect to pay between $75 and $175 per visit for a standard cleaning. Very large houses can cost more. Meanwhile, one-off deep cleanings cost between $200 and $400, on average, while move-out cleanings often cost $500 or more.
In addition to tipping a house cleaner, there are several other ways you can say thank you for their great work.
In addition to regular tips, many people will offer an extra tip for house cleaning pros around the holidays. This “bonus” can be a larger cash tip, along with a card, or even a small gift, gift card, or another present that you know they’ll enjoy. Again, this gesture is not required, but it will certainly be appreciated.
If you love your house cleaner's work, consider leaving them an online review. Positive reviews can make a major impact on house cleaning businesses, helping them cultivate a strong reputation and making it easier for them to get more clients.
If your house cleaner works for a house cleaning company, consider emailing the company to let them know just how much you like the work. This simple act will let their supervisor know what a great job they’re doing and help pave the way for more opportunities in the future.
Although never required, tipping shows house cleaners how much you appreciate their work. If you are satisfied with their consistent service, consider tipping a thoughtful way of showing appreciation. This is especially true if the same cleaners continuously provide the services, which means you can tip them for each visit, monthly, or annually, depending on your preference.
For special occasions, follow the same 15% to 20% tipping suggestion on the final cost of the service. Cleaning for holidays and parties can sometimes exceed $400, depending on if it’s a deep clean or involves more specialized requests (like yard clean up, unpacking decorations, or rearranging furniture). In which case, a $400 service would result in a tip between $40 to $80.
Cash is typically preferred for a tip, especially for smaller companies and housecleaners, but many now accept check, credit, or payments through Venmo and Apply Pay. If you’re unsure, check with your cleaning company prior to their first visit in case you need to make a quick trip to the bank.
