How Much Should You Tip the Hotel Bellhop?

Tipping is a long-standing custom in the service industry, and bellhops, who assist hotel guests with their luggage, are among those who rely on tips as a significant part of their income. Wondering how much to tip the hotel bellhop? Here’s an easy answer: between $1 to $5 per bag. 

The standard bellhop tipping practice varies depending on location, hotel policies, and local customs. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), the general guideline for tipping bellhops is $1 to $5 per bag. This range takes into account the level of service provided, with higher tips typically warranted for exceptional assistance or particularly heavy or numerous bags.

At upscale hotels and resorts, the expectations for tipping may be higher. We recommended tipping bellhops at luxury properties $4 to $7 per bag, reflecting the high level of service and luxury associated with the property.

Don’t want to deal with tipping the hotel bellhop? You can decline the bellhop’s services and bring your own bags up to your hotel room—after all, you did cart your bag all the way to your destination from your home without any assistance. 

How Much to Tip the Hotel Bellhop

While the guidelines above provide a general framework for tipping bellhops, several factors can influence the appropriate tip amount:

1. Level of service: If a bellhop goes above and beyond, providing exceptional service or assistance, it’s customary to tip more generously.

2. Number and weight of bags: Guests with numerous or particularly heavy bags may consider tipping at the higher end of the recommended range or adding a few extra dollars to account for the additional effort required.

3. Local customs and expectations: While the guidelines provided are based on industry standards and expert recommendations, local customs and expectations can vary. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to ask hotel staff or consult local travel guides for specific tipping advice.

4. Personal preference: Ultimately, tipping is a matter of personal choice and discretion. Some guests may choose to tip more or less than the recommended amounts based on their financial situation or level of satisfaction with the service received.

How Much to Tip the Bellhop in Las Vegas?

Las Vegas is known for its glitz, glamour, and over-the-top hospitality. It should come as no surprise, then, that bellhops in Sin City often receive generous tips. Seventy-four percent of Vegas.com staff surveyed recommended tipping bellhops between $1 and $5 per bag with another 20 percent recommending you tip between $5 and $10 per bag. 

How Much to Tip the Bellhop in Hawaii?

The Waikiki Resort Hotel recommends tipping around $2 per bag to your bellhop in Hawaii, saying, “Don’t forget that bellmen are the gatekeepers of the hotel—if you treat the bellmen well, they’re likely to return the favor.”

How Much to Tip the Bellhop at Disney?

Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland is a dream come true for many families, and the level of hospitality and service provided by the staff, including bellhops, is a key part of the Disney experience.

If you’re traveling with a family and a lot of big bags, we recommend tipping $5 per bag in Disney. If you have less luggage, feel free to tip closer to $2 per bag.

How Much to Tip a Bellhop for Holding Luggage

Sometimes, hotel guests may need to check out but still have time before their departure. In these situations, bellhops can hold onto guests’ bags for a period, allowing them to explore the area or attend to other matters without being weighed down by their luggage.

We recommend following the same general tipping guidelines of $1 to $5 per bag that you would when checking in. You do not need to tip when dropping off your luggage—only when picking it up.

How to Tip a Hotel Bellhop

After your bellhop has brought your bags up to your room and given you a room tour, you can discreetly transfer a cash tip in your palm when you shake hands and say thank you.

The Importance of Tipping Bellhops

While tipping may seem like a small gesture, it can have a significant impact on the lives of bellhops and other service industry workers who rely on tips as a substantial part of their income.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for bellhops in the United States is around $31,000. For many bellhops, tips can account for a substantial portion of their overall earnings, making them a crucial component of their livelihood.

Beyond the financial aspect, tipping is also a way to show appreciation for the hard work and excellent service provided by bellhops. Their job requires physical labor, attention to detail, and a commitment to ensuring a positive guest experience.

More Tipping Guidance

Looking for more gratuity guidance? Read our guides to tipping in Austria and tipping your hotel bellhop.

More Stories to Read

• Paris is a city that demands a transportation experience as grand as its landmarks and as stylish as its fashion. Treat yourself to a luxury car rental in Paris from one of these six best rental shops.
• As someone who has been fortunate enough to travel the world reviewing luxury hotels and resorts for over a decade, I’ve experienced some truly incredible properties. After reviewing Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay, I can confidently say it’s the best adults-only, all-inclusive resort in Jamaica.

• We’ve traveled to all seven continents and personally vetted hundreds of properties to find the best luxury hotels in the world, where your experience will be unparalleled from check-in to check-out. Read our full list of our 14 favorites here.

• All-inclusive, adults-only, and a beautiful beach: these were the three requirements I had when planning a romantic getaway to Mexico, and the TRS Yucatán hotel did not disappoint. Read our full review here.

• If we had to choose the best hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, it would be Villa Copenhagen. This stately hotel ticks all the boxes: location, style, luxury, and service. Read our full review here. 

• When planning my bucket list trip to the Maldives, there were a few factors that influenced my hotel choice. I wanted an adults-only resort, overwater villas, all-inclusive, and I needed it to be somewhat affordable. Read our review of the Mercure Maldives Koodoo here.

• Float among icebergs, gaze at penguins, and soak up mesmerizing views—an Antarctica cruise is a trip of a lifetime. These are the Best Antarctica Luxury Cruises. 

• A luxury train ride across Canada is the best way to see the country. These are the five most majestic trains to take.

• Famous for being one of the happiest countries in the world, a trip to Bhutan will be unlike anywhere you’ve ever visited. Read our full Bhutan travel guide here.

• Read our honest review of the Grand Hotel Europe Lucerne, and find out why we didn’t think this 4-star hotel was worth the price.
• As Las Vegas becomes more of a family-friendly destination, Circa Resort & Casino stands out for its strict adults-only policy, which is why I chose it for my Las Vegas hotel. Additionally, this was my third trip to Sin City, I wanted to explore a different area than The Strip, and Circa’s downtown location appealed to me. Read my full review here.