NYC Doorman Tip Calculator
Plan your New York City holiday tips for the super, doormen, porters, and other building staff: a per-person range and a total budget for your building, time in the building, and staff count.
1 to 4 years: the base range.
| Role (Count) | Per Person | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| Superintendent / Resident Manager (1) | $125–$250 | $188 |
| Doormen (4) | $65–$190 | $510 |
| Concierge (2) | $65–$190 | $255 |
| Porters (3) | $30–$65 | $143 |
| Handymen / Maintenance (1) | $50–$100 | $75 |
Get crisp bills from your bank branch teller for holiday cards:
Typical NYC Holiday Tips for Building Staff
Per person, by building type
A customary guide, not a rule
No government agency sets building-staff holiday tips. These ranges reflect common New York City practice and are starting points to adjust for your building, your staff, and your budget.
| Staff member | Luxury Full-Service High-Rise | Mid-Size Co-op / Condo | Walk-up / Brownstone with Part-Time Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendent / Resident Manager | $125–$250 | $100–$200 | $80–$160 |
| Doormen | $65–$190 | $50–$150 | $40–$120 |
| Concierge | $65–$190 | $50–$150 | $40–$120 |
| Porters | $30–$65 | $25–$50 | $20–$40 |
| Handymen / Maintenance | $50–$100 | $40–$80 | $30–$65 |
| Garage Attendants | $30–$95 | $25–$75 | $20–$60 |
For someone who has lived in the building 1 to 4 years, with standard service. Ranges are rounded to the nearest $5.
How the Holiday Tip Estimate Works
The adjustments and two worked buildings
- Under a year in the building: prorated by months (after 6 months, a doorman and super come to $75–$175 together in a mid-size building).
- 5 or more years: 25% more.
- Extra generous: 20% more; budget-minded: 15% less.
A full-service building with 11 staff
One super, four doormen, two concierges, three porters, and a handyman come to $655–$1,685, with $1,170 as a middle budget.
A walk-up with a part-time super and porter
Two envelopes come to $100–$200, about $150 in all.
Giving Holiday Tips: Timing and Envelopes
Practical steps so no one is missed
- Ask the super or managing agent for a staff list, including night and weekend shifts.
- Give envelopes in mid-December, before staff start holiday time off.
- Use cash or a check in a card with each person’s name and a short note of thanks.
- The calculator’s envelope plan shows how many bills of each kind to take out of the bank.
Tipping at a restaurant works differently, as a percentage of the bill; the NYC restaurant tax and tip calculator handles that.
NYC Doorman Tipping Questions
A common range is $50–$150 per doorman in a mid-size building, $65–$190 in a full-service luxury building, and $40–$120 where staff are part-time. It is a custom, not a rule: give what fits your budget and how much each person helped you.
The super usually receives the largest envelope: $100–$200 is a common range in a mid-size building and $125–$250 in a luxury building.
Prorate by the months you have lived there. After 6 months, tip about half the full-year amount; the calculator does this for you when you enter your months.
A pooled fund makes sure staff you rarely see, like night-shift porters, are included. Residents often add a personal card for anyone who went out of their way for them during the year.