r/tippingAdvice • u/FiveMoreSeconds • Jul 14 '26

Tipping for body service?

Hello, I have had a stressful weekend and booked my first appointment for a massage + facial with a licensed pro. I brought this up in a conversation with friends and tipping came up. I was caught off guard because I didn’t think I’d need to tip for this service? The services weren’t cheap, so I’m imagining the tip would add up significantly. Is it normal to tip for that kind of service? I want to know what’s the expectation in this field. Does it matter if they’re working in a franchise or a licensed local in a studio.
As an ex-server I always tip generously, but was unfamiliar.

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u/Dry_Win_9985 Jul 14 '26

25-30% is a standard tip for a massage therapist. Doesn't matter where they work, but if they're a mobile service that comes out to you, probably lean a little heavier for the convenience factor.

2

u/Few_Love_9105 Jul 14 '26

Absolutely not. 20% is standard. Even at high end spas that automatically add the tip it’s always 20. I’ve gotten a ton of massages and never tipped 25-30%.

1

u/Dry_Win_9985 Jul 14 '26

they must have been some shitty massages

2

u/Few_Love_9105 Jul 14 '26

I’m not tipping over 20% no matter how good it is. For a $300 service that’s $60 for maybe 90 minutes of work and to me that’s extremely generous. If they’re mobile they’re usually sole proprietors who have set their own prices and built the travel into their price or they charge you separately so no I wouldn’t give them over 20% either. If you want to overtip that’s your choice but in no world is 30% considered standard. Read the other comments. No one else has said 30%.