# How much do you tip the hotel maid? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730 "2014-08-17T01:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/1 "2014-08-17T01:39:54Z")
Or do you even tip them? I usually leave 2 bucks a day, but was recently told that I should tip daily and then bigger at the end of my stay. What do you folks do? ---
**Author:** ![Lydia\_Phalfav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Lydia\_Phalfav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lydia_Phalfav)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/2 "2014-08-17T01:52:29Z")
They’re already doing the job they signed on for, so I don’t give them anything extra unless I request something extra. I also pick up after myself so they have to do a minimum of work. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/3 "2014-08-17T01:56:07Z")
I don’t tip the housekeepers. I don’t think I actually know anyone who does…maybe if you’re staying at a resort in Mexico or something? Good on you if you do, but I don’t think it’s necessary. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/4 "2014-08-17T02:03:30Z")
I always leave a fiver at the end of my stay. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/5 "2014-08-17T02:17:39Z")
Just spent a week in a hotel. $3/day ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/6 "2014-08-17T02:19:27Z")
I tip the housekeepers. Not because I’m a slob, but because the slobs don’t tip… Depending on the level of the hotel and the length of my stay, generally I leave $3-$5 for a single night, or, if I’m staying for a full week, $5.00 on the first day, and then a $20.00 at the end of my stay. Yes, I know it’s the job they signed on for, but I’m a mom and a housewife - I know that cleaning up after folks is only noticed if it isn’t done, and it’s mostly a thankless and underpaid job. Also, I’ve worked in the hotel biz, and cleaned rooms when we were short-staffed. People are _nasty_, y’all! I’ve called in freaking crime scene cleanup service on the worst rooms I’ve seen\*, but the housekeepers handle a lot of figurative and literal shit. A few dollars goes a long way toward making my stay pleasant, and making a crummy job a little bit better. \*Seriously. The worst was a woman, booked through her company’s travel service. We sent photos of the damage to her company, and a bill for the cleaning service - it required biohazard suits. She lost her job over that one… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/7 "2014-08-17T02:21:41Z")
I usually stay in budget hotels when I’m traveling and I tip a couple of bucks for an overnight stay. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/8 "2014-08-17T02:30:31Z")
I can see the rationale behind tipping daily - because there will most likely be different workers every day. I usually refuse housekeeping and just tip $5 at the end of my stay - which is usually just 2 days. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/9 "2014-08-17T02:32:35Z")
I had one maid that I tipped $50.00 every day I was there, she was outstanding! ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/10 "2014-08-17T02:40:31Z")
Hm, I think it might be regional then. I’ve left money on my side table before and it’s never been taken. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/11 "2014-08-17T02:52:34Z")
I bag up all trash, pile up used towels, and strip the bed, plus leave $3 - $5 for a one night motel stay. If I stay for any length of time, I’d tip $10 - $20 for a motel, more for a resort or hotel, depending on whether anyone ha shone out of their way. Most cleaning staff are paid minimum wage, and work very hard. Even an extra dollar or two an hour matters. I do not see it as optional any more than a tip at a restaurant. If I can’t afford to tip, I can’t afford to stay there. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/12 "2014-08-17T03:28:06Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Hm, I think it might be regional then. I’ve left money on my side table before and it’s never been taken. I usually use the paper and pen they make available and write “THANK YOU! :)” and put my money on top of that. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/13 "2014-08-17T03:38:54Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I tip the housekeepers. Not because I’m a slob, but because the slobs don’t tip… > > **Depending on the level of the hotel and the length of my stay, generally I leave $3-$5 for a single night, or, if I’m staying for a full week, $5.00 on the first day, and then a $20.00 at the end of my stay.** > > Yes, I know it’s the job they signed on for, but I’m a mom and a housewife - I know that cleaning up after folks is only noticed if it isn’t done, and it’s mostly a thankless and underpaid job. Also, I’ve worked in the hotel biz, and cleaned rooms when we were short-staffed. People are _nasty_, y’all! I’ve called in freaking crime scene cleanup service on the worst rooms I’ve seen\*, but the housekeepers handle a lot of figurative and literal shit. A few dollars goes a long way toward making my stay pleasant, and making a crummy job a little bit better. > > \*Seriously. The worst was a woman, booked through her company’s travel service. We sent photos of the damage to her company, and a bill for the cleaning service - it required biohazard suits. She lost her job over that one… :eek: I haven’t ever worked as housekeeping, but I have been a janitor. Woman can be really nasty. I know this from experience, cleaning the men’s room was never as nasty as cleaning the woman’s room. The changing tables were horrible, if I had a child, I’d never use one of them without bleaching it first. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I can see the rationale behind tipping daily - because there will most likely be different workers every day. > > I usually refuse housekeeping and just tip $5 at the end of my stay - which is usually just 2 days. This is why I was taught to tip daily. I do use housekeeping everyday, I love sleeping in clean sheets. > [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I had one maid that I tipped $50.00 every day I was there, she was outstanding! Brushes whooshed hair down. Dude…unless she was cleaning your pipes every night, you were probably over tipping 🙂 > [@EmAnJ](#): > > Hm, I think it might be regional then. I’ve left money on my side table before and it’s never been taken. You can’t just leave money out and expect them to understand that its a tip, the housekeeping staff would get fired if there was an accusation of theft. I always write a note with the money on top of it. They still only take the money I’ve left on the note and leave the scattered change (yeah, I’m a slob with pocket change) in a pile on the table. > [@AnaMen](#): > > I bag up all trash, pile up used towels, and strip the bed, plus leave $3 - $5 for a one night motel stay. If I stay for any length of time, I’d tip $10 - $20 for a motel, more for a resort or hotel, depending on whether anyone ha shone out of their way. > > Most cleaning staff are paid minimum wage, and work very hard. Even an extra dollar or two an hour matters. I do not see it as optional any more than a tip at a restaurant. If I can’t afford to tip, I can’t afford to stay there. I’ve never heard of stripping the bed before, but I can sure see how it would be appreciated. Changing beds is hard work, having half the work done first would be very helpful. Now, I’m changing the question to why does the level of the motel/hotel change how you tip? I kinda figure that maids in higher end places are paid better and get more tips, so I tip more at the lower end places. I usually also leave beer. I can’t drink a full 6-pack, so they get the leftover cans. I figure that if they don’t drink it themselves, they can give it to friends, but that’s at the end of my stay. Going by what I’m getting here, I guess I’m under tipping them. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/14 "2014-08-17T04:40:42Z")
$5.00 U.S. per day. If you think that is too much, try working the job. They do more than just change your bedding. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/15 "2014-08-17T04:55:45Z")
$5.00 per night. I always thought that was a universal thing. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/16 "2014-08-17T05:17:06Z")
Nothing. I expect the wages of the staff to be covered in my room rate. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/17 "2014-08-17T05:33:53Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Nothing. I expect the wages of the staff to be covered in my room rate. Hey Cunctator, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but … ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/18 "2014-08-17T05:41:13Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > $5.00 per night. I always thought that was a universal thing. Going from the responses here (a small poll to be sure), and from my experiences IRL, tipping the maid isn’t universal. Every year, my motorcycle club stays at a hotel in San Diego. As we are getting ready to ride home, I always ask if everyone has remembered to tip the maids. (We are a fluid group, many of them are newbies on that ride.) About half of them look gobsmacked and ask why. My answer is “Because they cleaned up after your scuzzy ass and dumped your trash.” Cue lots of people running back to their rooms to leave money. So, I guess I’ve been under tipping. I’m sorry about that and ignorance has been fought 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/19 "2014-08-17T05:48:14Z")
I tip a dollar a day ( I usually stay in budget motel type places) with five if I stay longer at the end. In nicer places, I tip more. I told my Fella you should tip on room stays (which I learned from my mom who was very exacting about tipping b/c she’d waitressed for a living for a long time). He’d traveled all over the world and didn’t know one should. (In some places, maybe not.) My thought is–I’m on vacation. I’m having a good time and thanks for making my bed! We scurry around and clean up first though. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730/20 "2014-08-17T06:23:01Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > I’ve called in freaking crime scene cleanup service on the worst rooms I’ve seen\* [snip] > \*Seriously. The worst was a woman, booked through her company’s travel service. We sent photos of the damage to her company, and a bill for the cleaning service - it required biohazard suits. She lost her job over that one… :eek: Details please please please. I cannot imagine what, short of an actual and especially messy crime scene, would require biohazard suits to clean up. You must make up for my imagination deficit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-tip-the-hotel-maid/695730.md?page=2)