Should You Tip Your Contractor?

You’ve just had your kitchen remodeled, a deck built, or a bathroom gutted and rebuilt. The crew did great work, finished on schedule, and cleaned up after themselves. Now you’re wondering: should you tip them?

The short answer is that tipping contractors is not expected, but it’s not unwelcome either. The longer answer depends on who did the work, the scope of the project, and what feels right to you.

The General Rule

Unlike restaurants or hair salons, construction is not a tipping industry. Contractors set their prices to cover labor, materials, overhead, and profit. When you pay the agreed-upon price, you’ve fulfilled your end of the deal. Nobody on the job site expects a tip.

That said, there’s a meaningful difference between the general contractor (the business owner) and the workers on site.

Tipping the General Contractor

You generally do not tip the general contractor or business owner. They set the price for the job, and their profit is built into that number. Tipping the GC is like tipping the owner of a restaurant — it’s unusual and unnecessary.

If a GC went above and beyond — absorbing unexpected costs, managing a particularly difficult project gracefully, or delivering results that exceeded expectations — a positive review, referral, or a bottle of something nice is a better way to show appreciation than cash.

Tipping the Workers

The crew members — carpenters, laborers, plumbers, electricians — are a different story. These are often hourly or salaried employees who don’t directly benefit from the project’s profit margin. A tip for workers who did exceptional work is a kind gesture that’s always appreciated.

When tipping workers makes sense:

The job was large (multi-week or longer)
The crew went out of their way to accommodate your schedule or preferences
They maintained a clean, respectful work site
The quality of craftsmanship was clearly above average
They worked through difficult conditions (extreme heat, tight spaces, complex problems)

When you can skip it:

Small jobs (a few hours or a single day)
The work was adequate but unremarkable
You’re already paying a premium rate
The workers are the business owners themselves

How Much to Tip

There’s no formula, but here are common ranges:

Small job (1–3 days): $20–$50 per worker
Medium job (1–2 weeks): $50–$100 per worker
Large renovation (3+ weeks): $100–$200 per worker, or a percentage of the total job (1–5%)
Lead carpenter or foreman: 10–20% more than the other workers, if you want to differentiate

These are rough guidelines. Tip what feels comfortable for your budget. Any amount is appreciated — $20 and a sincere thank-you goes further than you might think.

How to Give a Tip

Cash is king

Hand it directly to each worker individually rather than giving a lump sum to the foreman or GC. This ensures each person receives their share. If you don’t know everyone’s name, ask. A brief “I really appreciate the work you did” makes it personal.

Timing matters

The best time to tip is on the last day of the job, after a final walkthrough confirms everything is done to your satisfaction. Don’t tip before the work is complete — it can create an awkward dynamic if issues come up that need to be addressed.

Alternatives to Cash Tips

Not everyone is comfortable handing out cash, and that’s fine. There are other ways to show appreciation that workers value just as much — and some that have a bigger long-term impact for the contractor’s business.

During the project

Food and drinks. Providing lunch, a cooler of cold drinks on a hot day, or morning coffee and donuts is universally appreciated by crews. It costs less than a cash tip and builds goodwill throughout the project rather than just at the end.
Snacks and water. At minimum, keep a case of bottled water available. It’s a small thing that signals respect.
Access to a clean bathroom. This sounds basic, but many homeowners don’t offer it. Letting the crew use an indoor bathroom rather than forcing them to find alternatives is a real quality-of-life improvement on longer jobs.

After the project

Online reviews. A detailed, positive Google or Yelp review is arguably more valuable to a contractor than a cash tip. It generates future business. Mention specific workers by name if possible.
Referrals. Tell your neighbors, friends, and family. Word-of-mouth is how most residential contractors get their best jobs.
A thank-you note. It sounds old-fashioned, but a written note to the company owner praising specific crew members can lead to bonuses or recognition for those workers.
Repeat business. Calling the same contractor for your next project is the ultimate compliment.

What Not to Do

Don’t tip to get better work. A tip should be a thank-you for good work already done, not an incentive to do the job properly. If quality is an issue, address it directly with the contractor.
Don’t tip the GC and assume it reaches the workers. It might not. Tip workers directly.
Don’t feel obligated. If the work was mediocre or the experience was frustrating, you don’t owe a tip. Paying the contract price is sufficient.
Don’t offer a tip as a substitute for full payment. This should be obvious, but always pay the agreed-upon price in full before considering extras.

The Bottom Line

Tipping in construction is optional and should never feel like an obligation. The contract price is the compensation. But if a crew did great work on your home — the place where you and your family live — a modest tip, a hot lunch, or a glowing review is a straightforward way to say thanks. Most of the time, the gesture matters more than the amount.