
The following amounts are averages of suggested figures published by Brick Underground, Tipping.org and CNNMoney.com:
- Superintendent/Building Manager: $75- $200. It's best to give cash in envelopes and to tip the entire staff. ...
- Doormen and Concierge: $25-$150. Tips are highly appreciated and influence the level of service you receive. ...
- Porters/Handymen/Maintenance Staff/Parking Garage Attendant: $20-$30. Give a gratuity based on your experience with these individuals. ...
How much do you tip a building manager?
Superintendent/Building Manager: $75- $200. It's best to give cash in envelopes and to tip the entire staff. If you're not sure of how many people are on staff, ask your manager for a list. Doormen and Concierge: $25-$150.
How much should you tip a doorman or Super?
And with good reason: There are no set rules for how much you should tip a doorman or super. How much appreciation should be shown to staff depends on the size of the building, the quality of service, how long a staff member has been with the building, and whether the tipper owns or rents, among other personal factors like financial ability.
When should you tip your apartment staff?
During the holiday season (between Thanksgiving and Christmas), it's an especially appropriate time to tip your apartment staff. Check with your building manager to see if there's a shared pool. If the money is divided among the staff, you may want to give individual tips to recognize your hardest working staff members.
Do owners still tip individually in a tipping pool?
But in practice, in many buildings with tipping pools, owners continue to tip individually; at least for the staff members they see the most. Are renters expected to tip as much as owners?
How much do you tip a building superintendent?
How much do doormen make?
Why do you tip building staff?
What happens when you tip building staff?
What to say on a thank you card for a building?
Do renters tip?
Who is Cait Etherington?
See 2 more

Do I have to tip building staff?
While no one is obliged to tip, whether you're a renter or owner, choosing not to tip is discouraged. Living in a service building carries many perks.
How much do you tip a doorman at a large building?
$25 to $150Doorman and/or concierge : $25 to $150 on average. Porter, handyman and maintenance staff: $20 to $30 on average. Garage attendant: $25 to $75 on average.
Should you tip your building concierge?
It's best to give cash in envelopes and to tip the entire staff. If you're not sure of how many people are on staff, ask your manager for a list. Doormen and Concierge: $25-$150. Tips are highly appreciated and influence the level of service you receive.
Should I tip my building super?
You should tip when your site manager carries out any repairs for you or arranges a visit from tradesmen. Handing over a few dollars when your super helps you out with your mail or dry-cleaning also is a good idea.
Should you tip your mailman?
4. Mailman. Regular U.S. Postal Service mail carriers aren't allowed to get cash tips, gift cards or checks, so tipping them is a no-no. They also can't accept gifts valued at more than $20.
How much should you tip your mailman?
$20Paper carrier: *Civil servants are not allowed to receive cash tips. But if you wish to recognize your mail carrier, the U.S. Postal Service asks that your gratuity not exceed $20 in cash value.
Should I tip apartment manager?
Tipping the landlord or a building management company is generally not expected, but there are ways to show appreciation if it's warranted—or potentially useful.
Should I tip apartment maintenance?
Despite coming to tenants' rescue, most renters don't tip their maintenance staff. According to a Rent.com survey, an overwhelming 78 percent of renter's don't tip maintenance. It's not necessary to tip maintenance staff every time they tighten a bulb or unclog a drain.
How much do you tip your garage attendant at Christmas?
Garage attendant: $25-$75 on average (broad range $15-$100)
Who should you tip at Christmas?
“A holiday tip or gift should be given to anyone you do business with on a regular basis — babysitters, gardeners, hair stylists, mail carriers, pet sitters, housekeepers, etc.,” says Aileen Avery, author of “Gift Rap: The History and Art of Gift Giving” and founder of The Art of Gift Giving.
Who do you tip at Christmas?
Hirst recommends a tip of one week's pay for home and family service providers such as cleaners, nannies, gardeners and private chefs. Meanwhile, it is appropriate to tip personal service providers – including hairstylists and manicurists – the monetary equivalent of one visit.
Should I tip TV installers?
Cable installer Cable companies often do not allow their employees to accept tips. And be wary of the installer who asks for a tip in exchange for “free” extra channels — this is most likely against company policy.
How much should I give my doorman for Christmas NYC?
Here's a basic guideline: Super, resident manager: $75-$175 on average (broad range: $50-$500) Doorman and/or concierge: $25-$150 on average (broad range: $10-$1,000) Porters, handyman, and maintenance staff: $20-$30 on average (broad range: $10-$75)
Do people tip their doorman?
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)
Do you tip doorman when moving out?
Building Manager: $75-$175 on average (up to $500) Doormen and Concierge: $25-$150 on average (up to $1,000) Maintenance Staff: $20-$30 on average (up to $75)
Do you tip doorman when you move in?
About 25 percent of renters in doorman buildings tipped up to $250, another quarter tipped in the $250 to $500 range, and another quarter in the $500 to $1,000 range. About 20 percent tipped more than $1,000.
The new rules of tipping: How much to tip in every situation
Showing gratitude for a service with a tip is a customary practice. But ever since the pandemic took a toll on the service industry, tipping is no longer just an act of civility — it’s crucial ...
How Much Should I Tip My Doorman? | RentHop
Learn just how much you should be tipping your apartment building staff around the holiday seasons. Determining how much you should tip depends on long you've used someone's service, how important their service is to your quality of life and where you live. Giving is better than receiving!
What Services to Tip Your Building Superintendent For
Don't feel as though you have to tip your building superintendent for tasks that aren't directly linked to you. It will obviously benefit you if a faulty elevator gets fixed in your apartment building, but any work carried out in communal areas of your complex aren't necessarily tip-worthy.You also shouldn't feel bad about failing to grease your site manager's palm if he's not done a good job.
Yes, you have to tip (normally all of) the staff in your building
I will admit that when I first moved, I had absolutely no idea that it was a thing, and luckily I was put right quickly. It’s really quite a snub for those who carry your trash, manage parcels, and open the door for you if you don’t tip properly; even if you didn’t know.
So how much do you tip the workers in your building?
Using data I compiled from all over the internet, and by asking you each year how much is appropriate, I’ve built the handy form below!
How should you give your holiday tip?
Place it in an envelope with their name on it (and yours), and drop it either at the desk downstairs (or if you’re like me, text your super and say you have an envelope for them).
What other groups of people in your life could get a tip through the holiday season?
There are lots of groups of people that you might engage with daily, weekly, or monthly throughout the year who would sincerely appreciate a tip. These ones are not nearly as essential as the above but are just an indication if you do want to be extra merry.
When should you tip?
During the holiday season (between Thanksgiving and Christmas), it's an especially appropriate time to tip your apartment staff. Check with your building manager to see if there's a shared pool. If the money is divided among the staff, you may want to give individual tips to recognize your hardest working staff members.
Why do you tip your apartment staff?
Tipping your apartment staff can be confusing. While there are no hard and fast rules, tipping is your opportunity to show your appreciation and can go a long way towards making your home a comfortable space. By building a good relationship with your doormen, concierge, maintenance staff and superintendent, you're more likely to be able to count on them to help you when the need arises.
How much does a building manager cost?
Superintendent/Building Manager: $75- $200. It's best to give cash in envelopes and to tip the entire staff. If you're not sure of how many people are on staff, ask your manager for a list.
How much does a garage attendant cost?
Porters/Handymen/Maintenance Staff/Parking Garage Attendant: $20-$30. Give a gratuity based on your experience with these individuals. If you have had a lot of help during the year, give more.
Can you leave a tip at the front desk?
If you have a personal relationship with your apartment staff, you may want to give your tip in person , but it's also fine to simply leave cards with the front desk staff. Give cash, not checks and include a note that says something like, “Thanks for your help throughout the year."
Do you have to tip a building staff?
While there's no formal requirement to tip, keep in mind that many building staff members are living below the city's estimated living wage and tips can make a big difference in helping them support their families.
Who is Rachel Cooper?
Rachel Cooper. Rachel Cooper is a freelance writer and author with more than a decade of online journalism and content creation experience. She has written for About.com, Washingtonian, Federal City Council, Montgomery Parks, Destination Maryland, Conde Nast Traveler, Payscale, Valpak, Grandparents.com, Washington Parent and more.
How much do doorman buildings tip?
While a good chunk of renters in doorman buildings tipped between $250 and $500, the majority of respondents in both categories tipped less than $250 to building staff collectively. A big takeaway: 30 percent of renters in non-doorman buildings skip the holiday gratuities altogether. (Seriously, don’t be that guy.)
How much does a doorman cost?
Doorman and/or concierge: $25-$150 on average (broad range: $10-$1,000)
How much should I tip a building staff?
For building staff (superintendent, doorman, elevator operator), the suggested amounts start at $15 per person —significantly lower than Brick Underground’s recommendations—and go up from there. But, as the EPI notes, “tipping averages tend to be higher in cities.” (And you should definitely take how pricey New York City is—and how much you rely on your building staff throughout the year—into account.)
Is it better to give cash or check?
When it comes to what to give, cash is preferred if gifts are being doled out directly, but if a super or other building staff member is collecting gifts, a check may be the way to go. Considering a gift-gift over a monetary gift? Brick Underground notes that “until colleges start accepting cookies for tuition payments or ConEd for utility bills, gifts are no substitute for money.” (Plus, some doormen have already confessed to providing less thorough service to residents who stiff them during the giving season.)
Is tipping a building resident's choice?
When it comes down to it, tipping is a building resident’s choice, but remember—everyone could use a little kindness this year.
Does Brick Underground have a tipping guide?
For the past few years, Brick Underground has rolled out a comprehensive tipping guide that addresses the nuances of holiday tipping in this day and age. Here’s a basic guideline:
Is it a good idea to tip someone?
Tipping isn’t a necessity, but it is a meaningful way to show one’s appreciation for those that make day-to-day living a little bit easier—and there’s no time like the present to get those gifts in order.
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 (more on that below), personal chemistry, your financial circumstances, and whether you're frugal, generous, or somewhere in between.
How much should I budget in total for the entire building staff?
Much will depend on the size of your staff and the other factors cited above, but it may help to review the results of Brick Underground’s 2020 holiday tipping poll, completed by over 900 New Yorkers, to get a sense of what others do. Here's an overview.
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. For instance, a first-year doorman may collect half of what a senior doorman does. Again, it is ok to use your common sense here.
Is it ok to tip my favorite doorman more than the rest?
It’s ok to play favorites, like tipping some doormen better than others depending on how useful they are to you. Just try to keep everyone’s tip within the range of acceptability.
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. If you’re a family that enlists a lot of help at the door corralling kids and helping with your stroller, or someone who works from home and receives a lot of deliveries or visitors, you probably get more assistance from the staff than a single person who travels a lot for work and doesn't place many online orders, so tip accordingly.
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.
Should I tip my landlord or management company?
You are probably thinking, “What? Isn't the rent enough?!” Seriously, there are actually situations where a gift, if not a cash tip, makes sense. If you have a close rapport with your mom-and-pop landlord, a nice bottle of wine is a nice gesture. Similarly, if you are calling the management company every other day to see if a larger apartment has become available to accommodate your growing family, a little something to stay on the landlord's mind, in a good way, certainly wouldn't hurt.
How much do you tip a building superintendent?
Whether or not you like your superintendent, he or she gets the highest tip ($75 to $200 is the average, but some residents leave as much as $500). Also, when it comes to tipping building staff, seniority matters. A superintendent who has been in a building for 10years will generally receive larger tips than a new superintendent. Next in line for big bonuses are doormen and concierge staff ($25 to $150). Once again, a doorman with 25 years of service merits a larger tip than a doorman who just started two months ago. The same holds true for porters ($20 to $30). Senior porters generally receive higher tips than junior porters, but regardless of seniority, you may also have good reason to tip up a porter who frequently helps you unclog your sink, change your light bulbs or move your furniture.
How much do doormen make?
First, if your doormen are unionized with Local 32BJ SEIU, they likely have an average salary of just under $50,000. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, in New York City, anyone supporting a family of four on a single income needs at least $57,357 before taxes to cover their basic housing, food, transportation, childcare and miscellaneous expenses. This means that many building staff are living somewhat below the city’s estimated living wage. Fortunately, seasonable tips can and do make a difference. For instance, if there are 200 units in a building and every unit leaves a $50 tip, a doorman reporting an average annual salary of $50,000 can expect to make closer to $60,000, which is above rather than below the region’s living wage for a family.
Why do you tip building staff?
The other obvious reason to tip is that many building staff do go above and beyond the call of duty, performing all sorts of tasks not officially written into their job description. For example, if your doorman has ever watched your toddler while you ran back upstairs to retrieve an umbrella or your porter has ever helped you move a heavy piece of furniture across the apartment, they are definitely performing tasks that are not officially part of their jobs. Tipping them once a year is a great way to reciprocate.
What happens when you tip building staff?
Rather, you are giving a seasonal bonus to the people who support you and your family throughout the year. As a rule, give as much as you can and keep the exchange as formal as possible.
What to say on a thank you card for a building?
Also, while being a big tipper will be welcome, there is no need to be big on words. Stick with something simple, such as “Thanks for your help throughout the year!” or “We are grateful for your service.” Finally, while you may be celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, don’t assume your building staff are celebrating too. For this reason, it is safer to opt for a card that simply celebrates the holiday season.
Do renters tip?
Renters generally do tip less than owners. This is due to the fact that renters often feel like they have less to gain from investing in their building and its staff, and due to the fact that renters often assume their landlord (or the owner of their unit) has already tipped. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing for certain whether or not one’s landlord is tipping and if so, how much. Asked whether or not absentee landlords do tip, one doorman who works in a prewar co-op on Park Avenue told CityRealty, “Sure, every year, one of my biggest tips is from this couple I’ve never met. I think they live in France. But there are a lot of absentee landlords who don’t tip too.” A few blocks away on Third Avenue, a doorman working in a high-rise building with a high percentage of renters agreed: “Some absentee owners do tip but some don’t, and some of my biggest tips are from renters not shareholders. It’s really about the people and not about who owns or rents.”
Who is Cait Etherington?
Contributing Writer Cait Etherington Cait Etherington has over twenty years of experience working as a journalist and communications consultant. Her articles and reviews have been published in newspapers and magazines across the United States and internationally. An experienced financial writer, Cait is committed to exposing the human side of stories about contemporary business, banking and workplace relations. She also enjoys writing about trends, lifestyles and real estate in New York City where she lives with her family in a cozy apartment on the twentieth floor of a Manhattan high rise.
