Should You Tip Your Plumber? Your Questions, Answered

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Follow these tipping guidelines for plumbers and other contractors

Co-authored by Hunter Rising Reviewed by Tami Claytor

Last Updated: December 25, 2023 Fact Checked

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Are you expected to tip a plumber?

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How much should you tip?

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Alternatives to Cash Tips

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Should you tip other contractors?

Plumbers are skilled tradespeople and one of the most requested home services for fixing clogs and leaks. Even though they won't necessarily expect a tip, giving your plumber a little cash shows how much you value their hard work. Tip amounts can vary depending on the plumbing services and job difficulty, so we’ll cover when it’s appropriate to tip your plumber and what to give them if you can’t afford to spare the extra cash.

Things You Should Know

You don’t need to tip plumbers, but consider leaving one if the work was well done, if the job took longer than expected, or if they responded to an emergency.
Give plumbers a 10–15% tip of the total bill if you’re happy with the service.
Offer food and drinks, recommend the plumber to friends and family, and leave a review online as an alternative to a monetary tip.

Section 1 of 4:

Are you expected to tip a plumber?

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Plumbers don’t expect tips but still appreciate it if you give them one. Most plumbers are paid by the hour or day, and don’t rely on tips as part of their income. However, if your plumber did an exceptional job, worked on a long, strenuous project, or responded to an emergency call, then offering them a tip will really show your gratitude and be a nice bonus for them. ^{[1]
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- It’s not necessary to tip for small jobs, like fixing a simple leak or unclogging a drain, but consider tipping for jobs like installing a toilet or running new pipes through your home.
- Some plumbing companies don’t allow their employees to accept tips. If you try offering a tip and they refuse, they may have a no-tip policy in place.
- If you’re feeling financially burdened and can’t afford to tip, don’t worry about giving one.

Section 2 of 4:

How much should you tip?

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Tip a plumber 10–15% Check the bill from your plumber and find the subtotal for their services. If the job was straightforward and easy, like a simple drain cleaning or leak repair, then it’s okay to tip on the lower end since it wasn’t a lot of work. For larger repairs, like replacing pipes, installing appliances, or running new water lines through your home, then consider the higher end of the range. Some common jobs and the standard tip amounts are: ^{[2]
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- Drain cleaning: $20–30 USD
- Leak repairs: $20 USD or more (depending on the leak’s severity)
- Appliance installations: $20–50 USD
- Water line installations: $100–200 USD

Section 3 of 4:

Alternatives to Cash Tips

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Rather than giving extra cash at the end of a plumbing job, offer them coffee, tea, water, or a snack, especially if they’re working all day. They’ll appreciate the refreshments while they’re making repairs so they can stay focused on the job. ^{[3]
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Recommend the plumber to other people. If you have a friend or family that’s looking for a plumber, tell them about the good experiences that you’ve had with the one you hired. The positive word of mouth will help the plumber get more paying customers for their business.
- You could also give a recommendation on a relevant social media or neighborhood group or page.
Find the plumbing business on Google or Yelp, and click the “Write a Review” button. Give the service a rating out of 5 stars and give your review a short title, like “Phenomenal service” or “Best plumber in town.” Then, write your review , being sure to note how the plumber went above and beyond. Your positive review will help convince other people to choose the plumber’s business.

Section 4 of 4:

Should you tip other contractors?

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Tip contractors if they do provide exceptional service. Most home contractors, like electricians, HVAC installers, painters, and window installers, don’t expect tips since gratuities are usually already worked into the service costs. Still, if you’re really happy with the service and the workers went above and beyond, then it doesn’t hurt to offer a tip that’s less than 20% of the total bill.
- If you’re tipping a cleaner or yard maintenance worker, give them a larger tip or gift around the holiday season rather than providing one every time they visit. ^{[4]
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- If there are multiple workers, split the tip amount evenly between them. ^{[5]
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Tips

Don’t be afraid to ask your plumber directly about whether they accept tips or not. They’ll let you know what their past customers have done for similar services.

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Plumbing is a difficult task in itself, plumbers sometimes even go through bad condition making them unable to work, so, it is always a good decision to tip a plumber who is honest, loyal and hardworking.

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Should You Tip Your Plumber? Your Questions, Answered

Things You Should Know

Steps

Are you expected to tip a plumber?

How much should you tip?

Alternatives to Cash Tips

Should you tip other contractors?

Expert Q&A

Tips

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