Study: Americans say they tip more often and more money during the holidays (2024)

We’re nearing the start of the holiday season — in fact, there’s a good chance some of your neighbors already have lights and decorations already up. For many Americans, this time of year is marked by the giving of gifts and the spreading of joy. And, while tipping may generally frustrate American consumers, most people feel a little more generous with some holiday cheer.

USA TODAY Blueprint asked 2,000 Americans how they feel about tipping during the holiday season and if they change their tipping habits this time of year. We’ll break down what respondents said about their holiday tipping practices and offer some guidance to help you manage your finances wisely during a time when some expenses may be heightened.

Key findings

• 73% of Americans say they tip more frequently during the holiday season, and 69% say they tip more generously as well.
• The average tip from Americans during the holidays is 20.06%. In comparison, the average tip percentage in the U.S. is 17.94% other times of the year.
• Younger generations are more generous during the holidays. 82% of Gen Z and 79% of Millennials say they tip more often during the holidays.
• So who are consumers tipping? Americans most frequently tip personal care workers, for food delivery, service industry workers, in restaurants and bars, and for personal services like home care or plumbing.

Average tips nationwide during the holiday season

A previous USA TODAY Blueprint study on tipping found that the average tip in the U.S. was about 17.94%. However, this edition of holiday tipping trends shows that the percentage tends to increase this time of year.

In fact, we found that the average tip rises to about 20.06% during the holidays — two percentage points higher than the usual tip — proving that Americans feel more inclined to hand out a bigger gratuity when their standing on Santa’s nice and naughty lists might be on the line.

What Americans say about how they tip during the holidays

Tipping is a practice readily visible in everyday American culture, but the season of giving around holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas often makes room for even more generosity. Survey respondents overwhelmingly said they were more likely to leave gratuities more frequently than normal.

Holiday tipping by age

Generosity was found across the board: The survey revealed that every generation tends to tip more money during the holiday season.

A previous USA TODAY Blueprint survey on the best (and worst) states for tips found that Millennials and Baby Boomers were the most generous tippers. However, the Silent Generation — respondents 78 years of age and older — saw the highest increase in tipping from their usual behavior during the holidays, when they’re normally the least likely to give a big tip.

Consumers 78 and up usually average around a 15.16% tip, according to our research, but that goes up to an average tip of 21.40% during the holidays.

Industries most likely to receive tips

A previous USA TODAY Blueprint tipping study found that Americans were most likely to tip personal care workers, food delivery drivers, service industry workers, and restaurant and bar workers. Beyond that, the etiquette around leaving a tip can get divisive, if not a bit unclear. With an increasing number of merchants asking for a tip at the end of a transaction, many Americans have reported feeling pressure or guilt about giving gratuities.

How to be smart with your money during the holidays

The holiday season can be a joyous time, but it can also be immensely stressful for those who are strapped for cash. Navigating this time of year with a few money tips can help you enjoy the season without accumulating unnecessary stress — or worse — a mountain of debt.

Factor holiday spending into your budget

As the end of the year holiday season rolls around, planning ahead for any decorations, gifts and vacations you may spend on this time of year can help ease some of the pressure from this period of heightened spending. Setting a realistic budget for your holiday spending ahead of time — and with an established limit — can help you prioritize what’s most important and reduce impulse buying.

Pay with the right credit card

For most people, their spending tends to increase during the holiday season. However, savvy shoppers know that using the right credit card (or two) isn’t just a convenient way to pay but can help you earn substantial rewards on these purchases.

Whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift online or treating your friends and family to a holiday dinner, it pays to know which cards offer elevated earnings for expenses in certain categories. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® fits the bill for many holiday shoppers who don’t want to pay an annual fee but want to earn rewards on their purchases.

The card earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

And, the card becomes even more attractive when you consider its welcome offer: 1.5% back on everything bought in the first year on up to $20,000 in spending, which is worth up to $300.

Last but not least, the Freedom Unlimited includes an intro APR period, which can help if you need to finance purchases over time but don’t want to pay interest: 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer applies.

Looking for a new credit card but don’t want to pay an annual fee? Our list of best no annual fee credit cards can help you find the right one.

Of course, you’ll want to shop around various offers to see which credit card best suits your needs and lifestyle habits beyond the holiday shopping season. Airline credit cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (terms apply) can be a solid option if you’re looking to accrue miles redeemable for airfare and want extra perks like a free first checked bag. Frequent online shoppers may want to apply for the Prime Visa*The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. to get generous cash-back rewards on their Amazon purchases.

Just remember that many credit cards come with high finance charges. And, no matter what card you choose, you’ll incur interest charges if you don’t pay your statement balance in full by the due date (unless you’re taking advantage of a 0% intro APR card offer).

In short, the value of any cash back or points you earn from a rewards credit card will effectively be negated if you accrue interest, so you’ll only want to play the credit card game if you’re able to manage your personal finances in confidence.

Don’t understand credit card interest and its nuances? Here’s what you need to know about credit card interest.

Know what you’re comfortable tipping for

In addition to setting a budget and limit when you’re holiday shopping, it’s helpful to determine your boundaries when it comes to gratuities. Understanding the standard tipping norms — which range between 15% and 20% in most situations — can be just as adequate even during the holiday season.

It’s worth considering that many service workers may not have the luxury of taking time off and must go to work during the busy holiday season. Therefore, it’s important to assess your own finances and see if you’re able to give extra to those who go above and beyond.

When to choose a gift instead of giving a tip

Tipping isn’t the only way to give back to show your appreciation for others. In situations where tipping may not necessarily be appropriate or standard — such as delivery drivers, mail carriers, or flight attendants — you may choose to give a small gift instead. Whether that be Starbucks gift cards or chocolates, giving back to other service workers during the holiday season is an underrated way to give thanks and show random acts of kindness.