Holiday Tipping Guide 2026: How Much to Tip, With Emily Post Amounts and USPS Gift Limits

The Emily Post Institute’s Holiday Tipping Guide suggests $15 to $80 for a doorman and $20 to $80 for a building superintendent, while the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) lets a mail carrier accept only a non-cash gift worth $20 or less. This guide puts the Emily Post amounts in one table, explains the USPS limits, and offers a printable checklist with tick boxes to use before Christmas Day.

Emily Post’s own framing matters: “These are not rules.” The amounts are given “as a suggestion only,” and the guide says “averages and ranges can vary based on the type of establishment, regional customs, and your own budget.” It adds that “Tipping averages tend to be higher in larger cities” and that you “shouldn’t feel obligated to go beyond your personal budget.” Every figure below is Emily Post’s suggestion, not an average and not a requirement.

How much does Emily Post suggest tipping building and outdoor staff?

Provider	Emily Post suggestion
Superintendent	$20-$80 or a gift
Doorman	$15-$80; $15 or more each for multiple doormen, or a gift
Elevator operator	$15-$40 each
Garage attendants	$10-$30 or a small gift
Handyman	$15-$40
Trash and recycling collectors	$10-$30 each
Yard or garden worker	$20-$50 each
Pool cleaner	Up to the cost of one cleaning, split among the crew
Newspaper delivery person	$10-$30 or a small gift

What does Emily Post suggest for home help, child care and personal services?

Provider	Emily Post suggestion
Au pair or live-in nanny	Up to one week’s pay and a gift from your child(ren)
Regular babysitter	Up to one evening’s pay and a small gift from your child(ren)
Day care provider	A gift from you or $25-$70 for each staff member who works with your child(ren), and a small gift from your child(ren)
Housekeeper or cleaner	Up to one week’s pay and/or a small gift
Live-in help	Up to one week to one month of pay plus a gift
Personal caregiver	Up to one week to one month’s salary or a gift
Private nurse	A thoughtful gift
Home health employees	A thoughtful gift, if not against company policy
Nursing home employees	A gift the staff can share, such as flowers or food
Barber	Up to the cost of one haircut or a gift
Beauty salon staff	Up to the cost of one salon visit, divided among the staff who work with you
Personal trainer, massage therapist, pet groomer	Up to the cost of one session or a gift
Dog walker	Up to one week’s pay or a gift

Emily Post also says any gift or tip should come with “a short handwritten note of appreciation.”

What are the USPS rules for tipping a mail carrier?

Emily Post lists a mail carrier as “small gift only” and points to USPS rules. The USPS ethics page for current employees says an employee “may accept a non-cash gift with a market value of $20 or less per occasion from a customer” but “not more than $50 worth of gifts from that same customer in a calendar year.”

Accepting “cash, including cash equivalents” is prohibited, and USPS gives Visa, Mastercard and American Express gift cards as examples. A USPS Employee News reminder from Dec. 3, 2024 repeats the point: “Employees may not accept cash, checks, money orders or cash equivalents.”

Emily Post’s USPS section adds that snacks and beverages or perishable gifts that are not part of a meal are allowed, and small gifts should be “clearly no more than $20 in value.” Perishable gifts worth more “must be shared with the entire branch.” If you are also mailing presents, see the USPS holiday shipping deadlines for 2026.

Can you tip a package deliverer?

Emily Post says to give a package deliverer a small gift only, no cash, and only if you receive regular deliveries: “Small gift in the $20 range. Most delivery companies discourage or prohibit cash gifts.” We could not confirm the current gift rules for UPS or FedEx drivers, so check with the carrier before you give anything.

What about teachers, tutors and coaches?

Emily Post’s holiday tipping guide has no entry for teachers, tutors or coaches, so there is no suggested amount to quote here. School and district gift rules vary, so check with the school before giving. We did not confirm a specific district rule.

Which tipping checklist can you print?

The printable below lists the Emily Post suggestion for each provider in three groups (building, home and family, delivery and mail) and a “Before you give” section: set a budget, check employer rules and write a note. Mark the date you give each tip against the December 2026 printable calendar.