Massages are one of the best ways to treat yourself. Is there anything more relaxing than laying in a quiet room and breathing in the aromatherapy while someone gets rid of all those knots in your back? By the time you’re done, you’re fully blissed out—until it comes time to figure out the tip. As a veteran etiquette writer covering tipping etiquette rules for more than a decade, I’ve come to realize that most of us, if we had all the money in the world, would be delighted to give generous tips to everyone … but that’s just not the reality in today’s economy. So trying to figure outhow much to tip a massage therapist, or any other service worker, can become stressful. And that can take away from the joy of getting a massage in the first place.
“I never want anyone to feel stressed out about tipping me,” says Kat Muller, a licensed massage therapist of 30 years. “Ultimately, I’m there to help and heal, and I don’t want all my hard work undone because you’re worried about tipping.”
Showing gratitude should be the basis for tipping. “While tipping does provide an essential part of a massage therapist’s income, the point of leaving a good tip is to show appreciation for someone who is personally taking care of us in some way,” says Diane Gottsman, a national tipping etiquette expert and the author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life. And what is more personal than amassage?
There are ways to enjoy luxurious services, like massages,and be a kind and polite customer—without breaking the bank. So how muchdoyou tip amassagetherapist? We asked Gottsman, etiquette expert Valerie Sokolosky and twomassagetherapists to give us the inside scoop. Read on to get expert advice on all the ins and outs ofhow much to tipfor amassage.
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Do you have to tip for a massage?
Yes. “Massage therapists are considered part of the service industry, and in the United States, it’s customary to tip workers in the service industry,” Gottsman says. Licensed massage therapists are often independent contractors or in private practice, and they can be paid per session or an hourly wage. They often rely on tips as part of their salary, especially since they’re usually not getting all of the money you’re paying for a treatment—much of the fee goes to the spa or medical facility to cover costs like the front desk, and your massage therapist gets only a percentage. So adding a tip can make a huge difference to how much they bring home each night.
“You should always tip something after a massage—it’s rude not to,” says Beth Rose, a licensed massage therapist and business owner in Kennewick, Washington. “We are providing a service. Plus, massage is hard physical work! A good tip gives us an incentive to serve you better the next time.”
Muller agrees but says there can be a gray area. “Some people just don’t tip for massages, but most do,” she says. “And there’s a small group that tip very generously, so it all evens out.”
How much do you tip for a massage?
An appropriate tip is 20% of the bill, according to Sokolosky. This is similar to the rules for tipping a nail technician or hairdresser. “Trust that the massage therapist or their boss will adjust charges based on the services rendered at the time, so you don’t need to calculate anything extra beyond the flat percentage,” she explains.
For instance, a regular massage may be $100 for 50 minutes, in which case you would tip $20, making your total cost $120. The same spa may offer a 90-minute deep-tissue massage for $200, making your tip $40 and your final cost $240.
Did your massage therapist go above and beyond to provide excellent or exceptional service? Feel free to tip more—up to 25% or 30%—Sokolosky says.
How should you tip a massage therapist?
“Cash is king when it comes to tips,” Gottsman says. “It gets them the money right away and ensures it is going to the person who provided the service.”
Muller agrees. “Everyone prefers to be tipped in cash,” she says. “It’s immediate, and they don’t take taxes out.”
After your massage therapist leaves the room for you to get dressed, you can leave the cash on the massage table or countertop, Gottsman says. Another option is to simply hand it to them as you are leaving or put it in an envelope at the front desk if you’re at a spa and your wallet is in a locker. That said, it’s perfectly fine to add a tip on your credit card bill if that is your preference, Muller adds.
Do you still tip if you’re using a coupon or gift certificate?
Yes, you should tip at least 20% based on the regular cost of the service, even if you’re using a coupon or gift certificate, says Sokolosky. So if a massage normally costs $100, tip $20 even if you have a coupon that discounts the massage to $80 or a gift card that covers the full cost. Skipping or reducing a tip when using a coupon is one of the most common etiquette mistakes, so be sure you don’t fall into that trap!
The one exception? Some gift-givers choose to include the tip in the amount they put on a gift card. They might give you a $60 gift certificate to use on a $50 Swedish massage, noting in the card that the gift is good for “one massage and $10 tip.” In that case, you don’t need to tip on top of that, although you can if you want to, Muller says.
Do you have to tip extra for a massage around the holidays?
It isn’t standard practice to tip more for a massage during the holidays, particularly if it’s a one-time massage. However, if you have a regular relationship with a particular provider, like a monthly massage appointment, a holiday bonus is a nice gesture for their hard work, Gottsman says. The question, of course, is how much to tip for a massage in this case. Sokolosky suggests giving an amount equal to the cost of one appointment. Put cash in an envelope with a nice thank-you note.
You may also want to consider tipping a little more for other special occasions and services, like a honeymoon couples massage or an in-home visit. “It’s not expected, but it is a nice surprise,” says Rose.
Do you have to tip if the massage therapist is also the spa owner?
“Strictly speaking, it’s not necessary to tip the owner,” Gottsman says. “However, most owners will tell you that they appreciate a tip.” Even as the owner of the business, they are still working in the service industry, providing a service to you, she explains.
According to Rose, who owns her own spa, this is a bit of a gray area. “I don’t expect people to really tip when they come to me,” she says. “I set the prices at what I think is fair, and I have little overhead, so the whole price of the massage goes straight to me. But everyone tips anyway, which I really appreciate.”
Do you have to tip for a massage at an all-inclusive resort?
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“All-inclusive” means that tipping isn’t required. That said, most people will still tip service-industry workers, including massage therapists and hairstylists, a small amount—perhaps $5 to $10—Gottsman says. And some may still opt to tip 20%, especially if there’s a tip line at the end of the bill. If you see that line and are unsure what to do, ask the person at the front desk what is customary for that resort and location.
If you have the same massage therapist for multiple treatments, you can wait to tip once at the end of your resort stay, says Rose, adding that it’s best to hand cash directly to your massage therapist. However, if it’s a different person each time, give the tip at the end of each massage to ensure the person who did the work gets the tip. The same is true for other service workers, such as hotel housekeepers.
Do you need to tip for a bad massage?
Your massage therapist went to town with the face-massage tools instead of focusing on your sore shoulders, and you weren’t into it at all. Many of us have been there, wondering how much to tip for a less-than-stellar massage—and whether we could skip out without leaving a tip at all. The answer? You should still tip your massage therapist even if you weren’t 100% satisfied, says Sokolosky.
Rose agrees. “You should always tip something,” she says. “They usually do at least one or two things right, even if the whole thing isn’t perfect.”
And the next time you get a massage, save yourself a bad experience by speaking up. According to Rose, a good massage therapist will check in with you regularly during the massage to ensure a good experience. “I ask questions throughout the session to make sure they’re happy and adjust if needed,” she says. “If you are unhappy with something, you should speak up right then so we can fix it.”
Are there any situations in which you don’t have to tip a massage therapist?
Massage therapists who work in medical settings—think chiropractic offices, physical-therapy practices and hospitals—usually don’t get tips, says Sokolosky. The massage is considered a medical treatment, and the bill goes through insurance, so you don’t pay anything at the time of service.
Massage therapists in medical settings are often paid a salary or an hourly rate, regardless of whether or not they have clients, so the employer takes care of all payment, says Rose.
This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, however, as some massage therapists independently work out of chiropractic offices. In those cases, you would tip them, but you would not tip the chiropractor, Gottsman says. “When in doubt, simply ask the front desk or the massage therapist what is the norm there,” she adds.
What if you can’t afford to leave a tip?
“If you can afford to get a service, then you can afford to tip appropriately for that service,” Gottsman says. “This needs to be part of your budget planning before you ever make the appointment.”
That said, Muller is not personally offended if someone can’t afford to tip her. “Ultimately, I’m here to help and heal, and that’s what comes first,” she says. “If someone tells me they can’t tip me, a really sincere thank-you or a hug is great. We’ve all been there. Life happens.”
Another option? Some massage therapists will work “in kind,” trading services. So if you have a service you can offer them, you can work out a trade, Muller says. For instance, if you are a graphic designer, you could offer to do graphic-design work on the massage therapist’s marketing materials in exchange for massages. This arrangement should be worked out in advance, though, not when you are presented with the bill.
About the experts
- Diane Gottsman, MS, is a national etiquette expert, the author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life and the founder of the Protocol School of Texas. She holds a master’s degree in human behavior.
- Valerie Sokolosky is an etiquette expert, an executive coach and the author of eight etiquette books, including Do It Right, a comprehensive etiquette guide. She is one of only 20 master brand strategists worldwide and has served on executive boards, including the prestigious Leadership America.
- Kat Muller has been a licensed massage therapist for 30 years and currently works for Life Time LifeSpa in Broomfield, Colorado. She specializes in neuromuscular and Thai walking massages.
- Beth Rose is a licensed massage therapist and business owner in Kennewick, Washington.
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on how much to tip a massage therapist, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest.We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, ourcontributorsand our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert, author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life and founder of the Protocol School of Texas; phone interview, July 24, 2024
- Valerie Sokolosky, etiquette expert, executive coach and author of eight etiquette books, including Do It Right; phone interview, March 2024
- Beth Rose, licensed massage therapist and salon owner in Washington; phone interview, March 2024
- Kat Muller, licensed massage therapist at Life Time LifeSpa in Broomfield, Colorado; phone interview, July 30, 2024
