What this solves
Generic 20% calculators miss that in Las Vegas you are tipped on the service side AND the floor side: cocktail servers, pool attendants, and valets are all separate from the hotel-room "housekeeping $5/night" advice you'd get in any other city. A 4-night LV trip with mid-pool use, two Ubers, valet, housekeeping, and one table-play session can run $150–$220 in tips alone. Most visitors forget the floor tips entirely until they hand a $1 for the first drink and realize the server is back in 12 minutes.
Toggle the roles that match your trip. Adjust the per-interaction amount. The output gives you a per-day total, a per-trip total, and the average per tipped interaction — useful for budgeting before you go and not being surprised at the bell desk on departure day.
The calculator
| Include | Role | Interactions/day | $ per interaction | Notes |
|---|
Per-day total
Trip total
How to read the result
- Cocktail server tips are the highest-volume line item if you play tables. A 4-hour session at a busy table is ~$8–$12 in $1–$2 bills. Skipping the tip slows the server's return time and burns you in real time on the floor.
- Pool attendant is often missed entirely until you're handed a frozen towel and asked "anything else?" The convention is $3–$5 per encounter. Tipping the first encounter of the day tends to bring faster service for the rest of the afternoon.
- Bellhop is per bag at higher-end resorts. Two bags and a tip of $5 total is fine at a mid-tier property; $5/bag is the norm at Wynn/Venetian.
- Spa therapist is the one place 20% is standard. $20 on a $100 service is expected, not generous.
- Housekeeping in Vegas is a daily tip. $3–$5/night for a standard room, $5–$10 for a suite. Leaving it on the pillow each morning beats a single envelope on departure.
Limitations
- The model assumes a "mid-range" 2026 Las Vegas service tier. At Encore, Venetian Tower, Wynn Tower Suites, and the Waldorf, every line item should be multiplied by 1.3–1.5×. At Circus Circus, the STRAT, or older Station properties, ~0.85× is closer.
- Spa and salon tipping is not optional. It is a separately paid service line; failing to tip is read as an insult. Default $20 even if a custom amount is not entered.
- Show/photographer tipping is only relevant for shows/gyms you actually buy. Default $5 reflects a typical $40–$80 print purchase.
- Cocktail server count assumes "active table" pace. If you take a long bathroom/comfort break, the server skips your rotation. The "hours per day" input assumes constant play.
- Rideshare tipping via the app (default $1–$2) and cash to a taxi driver are different. Some visitors mistakenly do both. Cash only, or app only.
FAQ
Is tipping on the Strip really expected at every touchpoint?
Yes. Service staff at LV properties are typically paid the federal tipped minimum ($2.13/hr equivalent in Nevada, depending on classification). Tipped roles include everyone from the front-door valet to the poolside frozen-towel attendant. Skipping tips is read as a statement; service quality visibly drops on subsequent visits.
Should I tip on the table-game cocktail server with chips or cash?
Cash, every time. Placing a $5 chip as a "drink tip" is the move at the wrong table. The server expects $1–$2 bills per drink round. Tip consistently to keep the rotation quick.
How much do I tip the hotel concierge?
$5–$10 per specific request fulfilled, not per conversation. If they book you a sold-out restaurant and print directions, that's a $10. If they only say "try OpenTable," $5 is plenty.
What about automatic gratuities?
Most LV restaurants auto-grat 18–22% on parties of 6+. Read the receipt: if it does, an additional tip is not expected. If the auto-grat is on a smaller-than-6 party (rare but happens for banquet/event bookings), a small top-up to 25% is appreciated but not required.
Sources
- Nevada Revised Statutes 608.160, tipped employee wage classifications (2026)
- Survey of tipping expectations — Las Vegas Advisor 2025 reader poll, n=2,400
- Property concierge team tipping guidance, Wynn/Encore, Venetian/Palazzo, Caesars Palace (2024–2026)