One of the questions we receive every year is... How much should I tip building staff? You could argue that tipping our staff in 2020 is more necessary than ever. Residential building services were considered essential during the pandemic and building staff stayed on the job, adding new responsibilities like Covid cleaning protocols. They’re also handling exponentially more deliveries of packages and food, all the while keeping an eye on vacant apartments. This article from Brick Underground helps us break down Holiday tipping for you.

Do I have to tip?

No. You’ll be in the minority if you decide not to, but tipping the staff during the holidays is a custom, not a requirement.

How much should I tip building staff?

The precise amount depends on the size of your building (the larger the staff, the smaller the individual tips), quality of service, staff seniority, length of time you’ve lived there, whether you own or rent, personal chemistry, your financial circumstances, and whether you're frugal, generous, or somewhere in between.

Here's a general framework, for you to use as you see fit:

• Super, resident manager: $75-$175 on average (broad range: $50-$500)

• Doorman and/or concierge (the latter handles more personal requests, like lining up an emergency dog-walker): $25-$150 on average (broad range: $10-$1,000)

• Porter, handyman, and maintenance staff: $20-$30 on average (broad range: $10-$75)

• Garage attendant: $25-$75 on average (broad range $15-$100)

2020 was a tough year. Should I give a little extra?

There’s no question that it will be appreciated, especially if your staff person has family members that lost jobs or are struggling in some way. And if you needed more services this year—you really should. You may have some concerns that you’re locking yourself into a higher amount for the future. If that’s the case, include a note that references how difficult the past year has been and your appreciation for something specific that building staff helped you with—and say you wanted to recognize how they went above and beyond their usual duties. That should make it clear that your intention is to offer a bonus and not a raise. 

Should I tip the new doorman the same as the one who’s been here 20 years?

Newer doormen in their first few years of service often receive smaller tips.

Should the amount I tip correspond to the rent I pay, or to how many people live in my apartment?

Tipping is (theoretically) about rewarding service, not about how big your apartment is or how much you pay for it.

Are renters expected to tip as much as owners? Renters, as a group, tend to tip less than condo and co-op owners. The reasons why have a lot to do with renting life, for example, a renter who has not lived in a building for a long time and does not know the staff well is not likely to tip a large amount.

How much should I tip non-building workers?

• Cleaning person/housekeeper: One to two weeks of pay.

• Full-time nanny: One week's pay minimum, or two if you can afford it. Or, one week's pay and one week of vacation.

• Regular babysitter hired occasionally: Consider $25-$50 in cash or a gift card

• Regular dog walker: One week's pay

• UPS delivery: Since UPS assigns drivers to specific addresses, $25-$50 if you have a lot of packages delivered. More if you have a lot of business-related deliveries. 

• Mail carrier: By law, mail carriers can't accept cash or anything worth more than $20. In reality, some (but by no means most) residents do tip in the $25-$50 range, especially if they receive a lot of deliveries or a lot of mail that requires signatures. 

Warmest wishes for a Happy Holiday season and a wonderful New Year!!