Do you tip a house cleaner? A simple etiquette guide

You booked a house cleaner, the home looks wonderful, and now you're standing there wondering: am I supposed to tip? It's one of the most common questions homeowners ask, and the good news is the answer is simple and low-pressure. Tipping a house cleaner is a kind gesture that's genuinely appreciated — but it is never required, and nobody is judging you for it either way. Here's a friendly, plain-English guide to how tipping works, how much is normal, when a little extra makes sense, and the other ways you can show a great cleaner that you noticed.

Is tipping expected?

Short version: no. Tipping a house cleaner is optional and common, not mandatory — most people who tip do it simply to show appreciation for good service (Care.com). Unlike a restaurant, where tips are a core part of the worker's pay, cleaning is usually priced so the professional is paid fairly for the job itself. A tip is a bonus on top of a fair price, not a way to fill a gap.

So if you tip, that's a lovely thank-you. If you don't, you haven't done anything wrong — especially if you're paying a fair rate, treating the cleaner with respect, and paying on time. Think of tipping the way you'd think of a thank-you note: a nice extra, not an obligation. The point of this guide isn't to talk you into tipping or out of it — it's to take the guesswork away so you can do whatever feels right without second-guessing yourself afterward.

How much do people usually tip?

When homeowners do tip, the most common range is 15% to 20% of the cleaning price (Angi). Plenty of people prefer a simple flat amount instead — typically $10 to $20 per visit for a routine clean (TIDY). Either approach is perfectly normal; pick whichever is easier for you to remember.

A couple of things make the math easy:

• For a one-time clean, a tip when the job is done is the simplest move.