How much to tip a dog groomer
Fifteen to 20 percent of the bill is the usual tip for a dog groomer in the US. On an $85 groom that is $13 to $17, with around $15 as a fair middle. Add more when the groom was harder than usual.
There is no official rule, so the figures here come from two published guides, both named at the bottom of this page.
- of the bill, in both published guides
- 15 to 20%of the bill, in both published guides
- on a typical $85 groom
- $13 to $17on a typical $85 groom
- the Emily Post holiday tip for a groomer
- One sessionthe Emily Post holiday tip for a groomer
Groomer tip calculator
Suggested tip
Lower end
$13
15% of the bill
Usual tip
$15
18% of the bill
Higher end
$17
20% of the bill
- Total to pay
- $100
- Tips over a year
- $122
- Grooming plus tips, a year
- $802
There is no official rule for tipping a groomer. Estimate only. For health questions, ask your vet.
In short
Key takeaways
- Two published guides both give 15% to 20% of the bill as the usual tip.
- The percentage does not change by venue. A mobile groomer gets the same rate on a bill that is usually larger.
- A matted coat, an anxious dog or a very large dog is worth more. Neither source puts a number on how much more.
- The holiday tip is a separate thing: Emily Post puts it at up to the cost of one session.
- Tipping the salon owner is optional, not forbidden.
The evidence
What the published guides say
| Source | Dated | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| NerdWallet | 12 Oct 2025 | Follows "the industry standard for tipping service professionals is 15% to 20% of the bill", which on a typical $50 to $75 groom is $7.50 to $15. Notes that mobile grooming costs more because of the van, the equipment and the one-dog-at-a-time model. |
| The Academy of Pet Careers | 15 Aug 2023 | Recommends "between 15% and 20% of the total cost of the grooming service". Says tipping the salon owner is not mandatory but is welcome. Notes cash is the most common method, and that long or thick coats mean more time and effort worth acknowledging. |
| The Emily Post Institute | Holiday guide | Lists a dog groomer under holiday tipping at "Up to the cost of one session or a gift". |
Published guidance on tipping a dog groomer, quoted as each source states it.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Where you go
Salon, mobile or big-box
The percentage is the same in all three. What changes is the size of the bill and who actually receives the money.
In a salon
Tip the person who did the work. If a bather and a stylist both handled your dog, say so at the desk and ask for it to be split, rather than assuming it will be.
With a mobile groomer
Usually the person in the van is the whole business, so the tip goes straight to them. Mobile bills are higher, which NerdWallet links to the cost of running the van and the fact that only one dog can be groomed at a time. At the same 15 to 20 percent, that naturally comes to more in dollars.
At a big-box store
Chain groomers are normally paid a commission on the service price. A tip is on top of that and goes to the groomer, so it works the same way as in an independent salon.
Same %
no published source sets a different rate by venue
December
Tipping at Christmas
The holiday tip is a different thing from the per-visit tip, and it does not replace it. The Emily Post Institute lists a dog groomer in its holiday tipping guide at “up to the cost of one session or a gift”. So if a full groom costs you $85, a holiday thank-you of up to $85, once, is in line with that guidance.
Emily Post also makes the point that nobody should go past their own budget over this, and that a handwritten note matters. If money is tight, a note and a small gift is squarely within the etiquette.
The guide applies to a groomer who has looked after your dog through the year. A one-off visit in December is just a normal visit.
1 session
the holiday tip for a groomer, on top of your normal per-visit tip
Practical
Owners, cash and cards
The Academy of Pet Careers says it is not mandatory to tip the owner of a salon, but it is welcome if you are happy with the work. There is no rule against it.
The Academy of Pet Careers says cash is the most common way to tip a groomer, and that a gift or gift card is a fine alternative.
One practical note: a groomer rarely has a free hand when you arrive to collect. Having the tip ready, in whatever form, saves everyone the shuffle at the door.
FAQ
Questions people ask
- Do you tip dog groomers?
- Yes, it is the normal practice in the US. There is no rule requiring it and no law about it, but two published guides both place a groomer alongside other personal-service jobs where tipping is expected. NerdWallet puts it at the industry standard of 15% to 20% of the bill.
- How much should I tip a dog groomer?
- Fifteen to 20 percent of the bill is what both of our sources give. On an $85 groom that is $13 to $17. Add more if the groom was harder than usual, which both sources suggest without putting a figure on it.
- How much do you tip a mobile dog groomer?
- The same percentage. No published source sets a higher rate for mobile grooming. NerdWallet does point out that a mobile groomer carries the cost of the van and its equipment and works on one dog at a time, and because a mobile bill is usually higher to start with, the same percentage comes to more in dollars.
- Do you tip the owner of a grooming business?
- It is optional. The Academy of Pet Careers says it is not mandatory to tip the owner of a salon, but it is welcome if you are happy with the work. The older convention that you never tip an owner has largely faded in this trade.
- How much do you tip a dog groomer at Christmas?
- The Emily Post Institute puts a holiday tip for a dog groomer at up to the cost of one session, or a gift. That is a once-a-year thank-you on top of your usual per-visit tip, and it applies when the same person has groomed your dog through the year.
- Should I tip in cash or on the card?
- Either works. The Academy of Pet Careers notes that cash is the most common way to tip a groomer, and that a gift or gift card is a fine alternative. Cash reaches the groomer immediately and in full, which is why many people prefer it.
- Should I tip more for a matted coat or an anxious dog?
- Both sources say a harder groom deserves more. Neither prints a number for it, so the extra five percentage points this calculator adds is our own rounding of that advice rather than a published figure, and the page says so.
- What if I am not happy with the groom?
- Say so, politely and at the time, so it can be put right. On the tip itself there is no published guidance we would cite, so we do not suggest a figure for a job you were unhappy with.
Method
How we calculate this
Tipping has no official rate, so this page shows its sources rather than asserting a rule. The 15 to 20 percent band comes from the two guides below. The holiday figure comes from the Emily Post Institute. The five extra points for a harder groom is our own rounding of advice that both sources give without a number, and it is labelled as such in the calculator. See how we calculate for more.
Sources
3 sources behind the figures on this page.
How Much to Tip a Dog Groomer
NerdWallet - dated 2025-10-12 - read 2026-10-08
nerdwallet.comHow Much to Tip a Dog Groomer
The Academy of Pet Careers - dated 2023-08-15 - read 2026-10-08
theacademyofpetcareers.comHoliday Tipping Guide
The Emily Post Institute - read 2026-10-08
emilypost.com
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Last reviewed . Estimate only. For health questions, ask your vet.