Las Vegas Tipping Guide — Who to Tip and How Much in 2026

Why tipping matters more here than at home

Las Vegas is a service city in a state where tipped workers can legally be paid below a living wage on the assumption that gratuities fill the gap. A cocktail server on a casino floor, a valet at Caesars Palace, a bellhop at Wynn and the housekeeper who resets your room are all paid with your tips in mind. That is not a guilt trip, just the economics: the price of the free drink at the blackjack table is the dollar or two you hand the server who brought it.

The amounts below are the ranges a local would consider normal in 2026. They are not laws, and nobody will chase you for skipping one, but service in this city is remarkably responsive to a tip and remarkably slow without one. Carry small bills; the cash guide explains how to get them without paying casino ATM fees.

Arrival: valets, bellhops and the front desk

Valet: $2 to $5 when the car is returned, more if it is raining, they were quick, or you asked for it to be kept up front. Most Strip resorts now charge a valet fee on top; the tip is separate. The tip goes to the person who brings the car, not the one who takes it.
Bellhop: $2 to $5 per bag, $5 minimum for a cart load, delivered to the room. If they show you the room's features, a little more.
Front desk: no tip is expected. The "$20 sandwich" (a folded bill under your ID at check-in while asking if any upgrades are available) still works at some properties on quiet days and is politely ignored at others. Do not expect a suite; expect a higher floor or a better view when they can.
Airport shuttle drivers: $2 to $5 per person if they handle bags. See the airport guide.

Housekeeping and in-room service

Leave $3 to $5 per night for housekeeping, more for a suite or if you have been messy, and leave it daily rather than as a lump at the end because the person cleaning the room may change. Put it somewhere obvious with a note ("Thank you, housekeeping") so it is not mistaken for forgotten cash; many resorts train staff not to touch loose money. If you decline daily cleaning, tip on the day the room is serviced.

Room service bills at most resorts already include a service charge of 18 to 20 percent plus a delivery fee; check the slip. If the gratuity line is blank and no service charge is listed, tip 15 to 20 percent. If both a service charge and a gratuity line appear, a few extra dollars is generous but not required. Do not double-tip out of confusion; ask the person delivering whether the charge is their gratuity.

On the casino floor: dealers and cocktail servers

Cocktail servers bring free drinks to people who are gambling. The expected tip is $1 to $2 per drink, cash, handed over or placed on the tray; $5 for a round for the table or if you are ordering something premium. Tip well on the first drink and the second arrives faster. A player who does not tip may find the server's route mysteriously longer.

Dealers are tipped ("toked") in chips. There are two ways: hand over a chip as a tip, or place a small bet for the dealer alongside your own so they win when you win. A $1 to $5 toke every 30 to 60 minutes at a low-limit table, or more when you are on a heater, is normal. At a $25-plus table, $5 to $10 an hour is standard. You do not tip when losing steadily, and nobody expects you to. Tip the dealer when you color up and leave. Slot attendants who pay a hand-pay jackpot are usually tipped 1 to 2 percent of a modest jackpot, less as a percentage of a big one; $20 on a $1,200 win is typical. See casino basics for table etiquette.

Restaurants, bars and buffets

Restaurants: 18 to 20 percent of the pre-tax total is the norm; 15 percent reads as a complaint about the service. Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity for parties of six or more, and some add a service charge for everyone, so read the bill before adding a tip. Bars and lounges: $1 to $2 per drink, or 18 to 20 percent of a tab. Buffets: $2 to $5 per person for the server who clears plates and refills drinks, left on the table. Coffee counters and quick-service places: the screen will ask; nothing or a dollar is fine. Sommeliers and specialist servers at fine-dining rooms are tipped via the overall percentage rather than separately. The dining hub has more on how bills are structured at each price level.

Pools, cabanas and dayclubs

A pool attendant who sets up chairs, towels and an umbrella gets $5 to $10 for the day, and more if they found you a spot by the water on a busy morning. Poolside servers: 18 to 20 percent of the tab, or $1 to $2 per drink for cash orders. Cabana and daybed bookings already add an 18 to 20 percent service charge to the food and drink minimum, but it is customary to add something for the server on top, 10 to 20 percent, plus a tip for the host who set you up. Dayclub security hosts who look after a table also expect a tip. The cabanas guide goes into the minimum-spend math.

Rideshares, taxis, shows and everyone else

Rideshare and taxi: 15 to 20 percent, or $2 to $5 on a short Strip hop; more if they helped with bags. Tip in the app or cash. See rideshare and taxis.
Show ushers: $5 to $20 can get a better seat in a general-admission or "best available" section at some older-style showrooms; at reserved-seat theaters there is nothing to tip for.
Nightclub hosts and bottle service: a service charge is added to the minimum; tip the host who walked you in $20-plus and the server 10 to 20 percent on top.
Spa therapists: 18 to 20 percent, often added automatically.
Tour guides: $5 to $10 per person for a half-day, $10 to $20 for a full-day trip, more for a private guide.
Concierge: $10 to $20 for a hard-won reservation or a genuine favor; nothing for answering a question.

Cash versus card, and the service-charge trap

Cash is king for anyone you tip directly: servers, dealers, valets, housekeeping, attendants. It arrives immediately and is not pooled or delayed. Card tips are fine in restaurants and rideshare apps, where staff receive them through payroll. Bring a stack of $1 and $5 bills; the front desk and casino cage will break larger notes if asked, and slot machine "ticket in, ticket out" vouchers can be cashed at kiosks for exact change.

The trap is the growing use of service charges and "concession and franchise fees" (CNF) on bills across the Strip. A service charge is not always a tip; some venues pool it, some keep part of it. The gratuity line may then appear on top. Read the slip, ask if unsure and tip once. The hidden costs page explains CNF and where it shows up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I tip the cocktail server for free drinks?

Yes, $1 to $2 per drink in cash. The drinks are free because you are gambling; the tip is how the server is paid.

How do I tip a dealer?

Hand over a chip or place a small bet for the dealer beside your own. $1 to $5 every half hour or so at a low-limit table, more when winning, and a tip when you leave.

How much do I tip housekeeping in Las Vegas?

$3 to $5 per night, left daily somewhere obvious with a note. More for suites.

Is tipping the valet required if I pay a valet fee?

The fee goes to the resort; the tip, $2 to $5 when the car is returned, goes to the attendant. They are separate.

Does the $20 trick still work at check-in?

Sometimes, at some properties, on quieter days, and for a modest upgrade like a higher floor. It is not reliable and not worth building a plan around.

Should I tip on top of a service charge?

Check whether the service charge is described as a gratuity for staff. If it is, extra is optional. If it is a venue fee or unclear, tip normally and ask.

Can I tip by card?

In restaurants and apps, yes. For anyone you hand a tip to directly, dealers, servers on the floor, valets, housekeeping, cash is strongly preferred.

What if I am on a tight budget?

Tip at the low end of each range rather than skipping. Skip the valet and self-park, eat where a tip is not expected, and budget tips into the daily cash figure.