Etiquette · Pay
How much to tip a babysitter
Whether a tip is expected, what to figure it on, and what to give at the holidays.
Short answer
Tipping a babysitter is optional. Where it’s common, a few dollars on top of the agreed pay is typical, more for a last-minute job, lots of kids, a holiday or exceptional care. Figure a percentage on base pay only, never on reimbursed expenses.
Tip calculator
Time worked × the hourly rate. Not sure? Use the pay calculator.
Gas, takeout, tickets. Paid back in full, not tipped on.
| Tip | Tip amount | You pay in total |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $10.50 | $115.46 |
| 15% | $15.74 | $120.70 |
| 20% | $20.99 | $125.95 |
When a tip makes sense
Care.com lists the situations where families most often add something extra:
- Last-minute bookingsThe sitter rearranged their evening for you.
- A big group of kidsSiblings, cousins, a sleepover crowd.
- HolidaysNew Year’s Eve especially. Some sitters set a higher rate instead.
- Exceptional careA sick child, a hard bedtime, a kitchen left cleaner than they found it.
Tip, bonus or higher rate?
A tip is voluntary and set by you after the fact. A higher rate is agreed up front, which is better for predictable extras like a third child or driving. A bonus is a one-off amount, often for holidays.
Keep reimbursements separate from all three. Paying back $18 of gas and takeout isn’t a tip, and adding a percentage on top of it isn’t expected.
Holiday tips and bonuses
The Emily Post Institute’s holiday tipping guide suggests:
- Regular babysitter: up to one evening’s pay, and a small gift from your children.
- Au pair or live-in nanny: up to one week’s pay, and a gift from your children.
Sittercity reports that 54% of families sometimes or always tip their nannies. If your nanny is a household employee, a cash holiday bonus counts as cash wages for the year (see babysitter and nanny taxes).
Tips and taxes in 2026
In April 2026 the Treasury and IRS finalized the list of occupations that customarily receive tips. It includes “Nannies and Babysitters”. Workers in those occupations may deduct up to $25,000 a year of qualified tips for 2025 through 2028. Qualified tips must be voluntary and paid in cash (card, check and payment apps count), and the deduction phases out at higher incomes.
For the sitter, tips are income to report. See the IRS announcement for the details.
SitterRate for iPhone
The tip, worked out the same way every time
SitterRate figures percentage tips on base pay only, keeps reimbursements separate, and records the tip with each saved session.
- 10%, 15%, 20%, a custom percentage or a fixed amount
- Expenses and bonuses kept separate from the tip
- Payment history shows exactly what you paid
- Share an itemized text summary with your sitter
Get SitterRateFree on the App Store · iPhoneFree download. Pro is a one-time in-app purchase, with no subscription. What’s in the app
Questions people ask
Do you tip a babysitter on top of their rate?
It isn't required. Care.com suggests asking friends whether tipping is common where you live; if it is, a few dollars on top of regular pay is typical, especially for last-minute jobs, large groups of kids, holidays or exceptional care.
Should the tip be a percentage of the total?
Figure it on base pay, the time worked × the rate. Reimbursed expenses such as gas or takeout are paid back in full and not tipped on, and a bonus is already extra. This is how the SitterRate calculator and app work.
Do you tip a babysitter the first time?
There is no rule. A small tip after a first night that went well is a nice signal you'd like them back; paying the agreed rate promptly and in full matters more.
How much should I give my babysitter for the holidays?
The Emily Post Institute suggests up to one evening's pay and a small gift from your children for a regular babysitter, and up to one week's pay plus a gift for an au pair or live-in nanny.
Is a tip taxable for the babysitter?
Tips are income. Under the 2025 tax law, voluntary cash tips (including card, check and payment apps) received by workers in occupations on the Treasury's list, which includes nannies and babysitters, may qualify for a deduction of up to $25,000 a year for 2025 through 2028, subject to income limits and reporting rules. The sitter should check the IRS guidance.
Sources
- Care.com, “How much does a babysitter cost?” updated February 12, 2026.Tipping guidance.
- Emily Post Institute, Holiday Tipping Guide
- Sittercity, “Average Babysitter & Nanny Pay Rates by US City,” Sittercity provider data, May 2026.54% of families sometimes or always tip their nannies.
- IRS, final regulations on occupations that customarily and regularly receive tips (April 10, 2026)
- Federal Register, TD 10044 (April 13, 2026)