Occasional sitter: round up or about 15% on top. Regular sitter: their agreed rate, no per-night tip.
A holiday bonus of one evening's pay for an occasional sitter, up to one or two weeks' pay for a full-time nanny.
$0 on a normal shift for a sitter you already pay a set rate; the bonus is a holiday or end-of-run gesture instead.
Occasional vs regular sitter
A date-night sitter you use now and then is worth a round-up or about 15% for a late or hard night. A weekly sitter or nanny is paid a wage, and the thank-you is a holiday bonus, not a tip every time.
A long or hard night
If they stayed past the plan, handled a sick kid, or cleaned up more than expected, add to the pay. That is a fair adjustment, not an obligation.
The holiday bonus
For a regular sitter, about one evening's pay at the holidays is the common thank-you. For a full-time nanny, one to two weeks' pay is the norm, often with a small gift from the children.
Raising the rate instead
For a sitter you rely on, a raised hourly rate over time does more than an occasional tip. Pay the market rate first, then treat the bonus as extra.
United States (default)
Babysitter tipping in the US is a round-up or a holiday bonus, not a per-shift percentage. These ranges are compiled custom, not a wage survey.
High-cost cities
The hourly rate itself is higher in expensive cities, so the round-up and the bonus scale with it.
Outside the US
Norms vary by country. Follow local practice; this page is the American custom.
Do you tip a babysitter?
Not on every shift for a regular sitter, since they are paid a wage. For an occasional sitter, round up or add about 15%, and give a holiday bonus once a year.
How much do you tip an occasional babysitter?
Round the cash up to a clean number, or add about 15%, especially for a late night or a hard evening.
How much is a babysitter holiday bonus?
About one evening's pay for a regular sitter. A full-time nanny is often one to two weeks' pay, plus a small gift from the kids.
Do you tip a nanny?
Not per day. Pay the agreed rate, and give a holiday bonus of one to two weeks' pay as the yearly thank-you.
Should you tip or raise the rate?
For someone you rely on, a fair and rising hourly rate matters more than tips. Treat a bonus as extra on top of good pay.