Do You Tip for a Haircut? 8 Reasons to Offer a Generous Tip

Everything you need to know about tipping your barber no matter the cut, color, or service

Co-authored by Dan Hickey

Last Updated: December 25, 2022 References

Average Tipping Amount

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How should I tip?

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What if the cut is discounted?

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Reasons to Tip More

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Reasons to Tip Less

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Do I tip salon assistants?

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Do I tip the owner?

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Tips

You’re on your way to a new barber for a cut when you remember you only have $1 or $2 on you for a tip. Is that enough? Should you leave a bigger tip on your card? Not knowing exactly how much to tip a barber or hairdresser is common, and a lot of people leave the salon wondering if their gratuity was too little or too much. Thankfully, the standard for tipping a barber is pretty consistent across services, shops, and cities. In this article, we’ll show you exactly how much to tip your barber for great service, not so great service, and every circumstance in between. Keep scrolling to prevent a financial faux pas at your next haircut!

Things You Should Know

Tip your barber 15-20% of the total cost of the service they provided (including cuts, coloring, styling, beard trims, or shaves). Tip in cash if possible.
Offer 20% or more if they did an excellent job, you were late to an appointment, they traveled to you, or you’re feeling generous around the holidays.
Offer 15% for quick, simple cuts or as low as 10% for an unsatisfactory job. Only skip the tip if your barber is correcting an error from a previous appointment.
Tip the owner of the shop the same 15-20% you’d offer a regular barber if they’re the one cutting your hair. Make sure assistants who shampoo you get $3-5, too.

Section 1 of 7:

Average Tipping Amount

Tip your barber or stylist 15-20% of the total cost of the service. This includes all services like cuts and trims, coloring, styling, and beard trims or shaves. Tip 20% for more complicated services, like detailed fades or hand-painted highlights, that make use of your barber’s skill and creativity. For simple cuts or routine maintenance, tip closer to 15%.^{[1]
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- Tipping in the United States isn’t technically mandatory, but it’s usually considered rude not to.
- Many people go for a 20% tip because the math is easier. Just move the decimal in the final price one spot to the left, then double that amount.

Section 2 of 7:

How should I tip?

Tip in cash when possible. Tipping in cash is the best way to make sure your barber gets as much of the tip as possible, so stop by an ATM on your way to the barber shop. When you add a tip to a debit or credit card charge, money gets taken out for taxes and processing fees (barbers should be paying taxes on cash tips anyway, but what the IRS doesn’t know can’t hurt them!).^{[2]
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- Bringing cash also makes it easier to tip multiple people if you had your hair shampooed by a salon assistant, for example.

Section 3 of 7:

What if the cut is discounted?

Tip 15-20% of the full price, even if it was discounted or gifted. The barber cutting your hair is still providing a quality service, so budget for a full-price tip (this ensures your barber doesn’t get paid less for the cut). This applies to gift cards or coupons for free cuts, too. Bring cash or ask the receptionist if you can use some of the gift card towards a tip.^{[3]
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- Your barber or salon is taking care of you by offering a discounted cut, so take care of them in return with your gratuity.

Section 4 of 7:

Reasons to Tip More

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Give a few extra bucks if their service went above and beyond. Tip 20% or more if your barber took their time, was attentive to your needs and requests, maintained a clean and sanitary work station, and did an excellent job overall. If they gave you everything you could want out of a trip to the barber shop, throw them an extra couple of dollars. They’ll certainly appreciate it!^{[4]
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Give at least 20% if you’re late. Quality barbers often have appointments back-to-back-to-back most days. Show them you respect their time by offering at least 20% (or a few bucks more) if you were late, rescheduled your appointment within 24 hours of the original time, or got an appointment squeezed into a break in their schedule.^{[5]
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- Being late forces a barber to try and give you quality service in a shorter window than they planned and might skew their schedule for the rest of the day.
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Tip around 25% or so if they traveled to you for an appointment. If your barber came to you (at your home or another venue for a special occasion, like a wedding), tip 25%. The extra couple of dollars compensates them for commuting time, plus the effort of carrying around all of the supplies and products they need to do a good job.^{[6]
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Add at least an extra 10% if it’s the holidays. If you visit your barber frequently or have been going to them for a long time, offer an extra big tip during the holiday season. Try increasing your tip by 10% or so. Some people even offer a 100% tip as a small gift or a “bonus” (for example, giving a $30 tip on a $30 haircut). A holiday tip is a generous way to show your gratitude for years of good service (plus it just feels good to give gifts!).^{[7]
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- Consider bringing your barber a small gift when you're at the salon around the holidays. Try a gift card, a bag of gourmet coffee or candy, or a nice mug.
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Offer 20% or more to show your appreciation or build a relationship. If you’ve known your barber for forever or you’re trying to get on a new stylist’s good side, offer at least a 20% tip. It shows you appreciate the work they’ve done for you and are interested in maintaining a good rapport. If you know them well enough to know they’re going through a hard time, for example, a few extra dollars can mean a lot to them (and make them eager to work with you again).^{[8]
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- Non-monetary gestures are appreciated too. Try bringing your barber a coffee or snack in addition to a normal tip to help them make through a packed day.

Section 5 of 7:

Reasons to Tip Less

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Offer 15% if you just came in for a quick trim or a small service. If you were only in the seat for a couple of minutes or you’re coming back in a short time for a more expensive service, tip closer to 15%. It’s still a respectable tip and shows you value their time and work regardless of how simple the cut was.^{[9]
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- For example, if you have short hair and it didn’t take the stylist long to clean up the ends, 15% is totally acceptable.
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Tip 10% if they did a lackluster job or didn’t give you the cut you wanted. If you leave the chair wishing you could reverse time, tip 10-15%. Aim closer to 10% if the barber had a messy station, rushed through your appointment, was rude or inattentive, or made a noticeable mistake. It’s not recommended to skip the tip entirely since they still put in time and effort to cut your hair.^{[10]
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- It’s possible the barber didn’t even realize there was a problem because of a communication error.
- Voice your problem with your haircut in a calm, professional manner. This gives the barber a chance to offer solutions and have you leave happy.
  - For example, they might schedule a discounted followup appointment or offer you discounted products or styling tips to spruce up your cut.
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Offer 0% if they’re fixing a mistake from a previous appointment. If they’re repairing an error they made with your hair or beard at a past appointment, skip the tip. This is the only situation where a tip isn’t expected, and most barbers and stylists will probably refuse your offer since they’re working on something they should’ve gotten right the first time.^{[11]
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Section 6 of 7:

Do I tip salon assistants?

Yes—offer salon assistants at least $3-5 depending on the service. If your appointment includes shampooing, conditioning, or another service provided by a salon assistant, make sure they get a tip too. Bring cash so you can hand-deliver it to them, or ask the salon receptionist if the assistants will get a cut if you add a tip on a credit or debit card.^{[12]
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Section 7 of 7:

Do I tip the owner?

Tip the shop owner like a normal barber if they're cutting your hair. Owners don’t always expect a tip, but offering 15-20% is appropriate. It was customary not to tip the owner in the past, but today, it’s much more common and the “rules” around it are looser.^{[13]
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