10 Situations Where Most People Are Under-Tipping Without Knowing It

Many people are rethinking their tipping habits, especially as living costs make it harder to keep more cash in their pockets. However, it's tricky to know when tipping isn't a requirement, and it's just as easy to overlook workers who are routinely under-tipped.

In some instances, even the most generous among us may not realize we're leaving less than what's expected, or are overlooking the tip entirely. Here are some of the most common tipping blind spots, and the workers who most often feel the impact.

Hotel housekeepers

Did you leave a tip for the people who cleaned your room the last time you were at a hotel? If not, you likely undertipped them.

Even if you skip a night of services or opt out of daily linen washing, housekeepers work hard to keep these spaces safe and sanitary. That's worth the $2 to $5 recommended dollars each day!

Furniture delivery

If you've ever had a bed or large sofa delivered to your home, especially up stairs and around tight corners, you know it can be anxiety-inducing. It's not easy to move large items without damaging walls and floors.

If your delivery crew lands a flawless delivery, it's worthy of your 20% tip, even if you didn't know you were supposed to in the past.

Movers

Like furniture delivery crews, movers pack, lift, and haul for hours at a time. The work is arduous and taxing on the body, especially in hot and humid weather.

While you wouldn't be wrong to think tipping movers is optional, a job well done almost always warrants gratuity. This is especially so if the crew moved fragile items, dealt with awkward spaces, or had other exceptional challenges.

Tattoo artists

Tattoos aren't a necessity, despite how coveted they can be, so you wouldn't be alone in thinking this luxury item isn't something you need to tip on. But don't forget, tattooing is still a service industry.

Since your artist spends time preparing, drawing, stenciling, and sterilizing, as well as paying for their space, chair, and needles, tipping 20% for great work can offset their many costs.

Pet groomers

We don't trust just anyone to take care of our four-legged family members, especially if they have behavioral nuances or temperaments that require a bit of coaxing.

Pet groomers can be under-tipped if folks don't realize they work on commission, have high overhead costs, or are mobile. Those gaps are filled nicely with a 15% to 20% gratuity when they do an excellent job.

Massage therapists

In an era when stress is seemingly more commonplace than ever, we rely on our massage therapists to work out the kinks and aches that plague our muscles.

While massage therapists may seem to be compensated well, like tattoo artists, they have "hidden" expenses like equipment and preparation to account for. If you skimp on the 20% tip, you may be underpaying them without realizing it.

Gig workers

Most of us know that we're supposed to tip rideshare drivers, food delivery drivers, and other gig workers, but these hardworking folks remain chronically undertipped.

Remember that service fees and other charges tacked on by the app don't necessarily go to the worker. To be on the safe side, always ensure you tip them clearly and appropriately based on the quality of service.

Salon technicians and stylists

When you step into a hair or nail salon, the prices for haircuts and pedicures are often prominently displayed on menus and boards. However, those prices don't usually include tips.

Stylists and technicians often work long hours and most likely aren't receiving that full amount due to tip pooling, overhead costs, owner fees, and other factors. A 20% tip directly to them goes directly into their pocket.

Valets and bellhops

Yes, we all know we're supposed to tip valets and bellhops $5 to $10, but often these workers get overlooked. The reason? Fewer and fewer people carry cash, making a quick tip difficult to give on the fly.

Unless a cashless tipping system has been implemented, there's a chance you could undertip without realizing it, simply because you didn't hit the ATM.

Back of house staff

While it's difficult to tip back-of-house staff like bussers and dishwashers directly, they remain some of the most under-tipped professionals in the workforce.

Since many restaurants pool tips between servers, bartenders, and back-of-house staff, as long as you tip your server 20%, you're doing your part to ensure everyone is paid fairly.

Bottom line

Tipping doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing decision. The goal isn't to leave extra money for every transaction, but to understand who relies on tips and who's most often overlooked.

One helpful strategy is to factor tips into the cost of something before you book it. If adding a tip makes it too expensive, you may want to reconsider the purchase. This approach helps you lower your financial stress and avoid underpaying workers.

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