How Much to Tip a Massage Therapist?

I do 20% of the market rate. I get a monthly massage at a local chain where I am a member so I get a discount but I tip on the full value of the service.

I fairly regularly get massages. Standard is 15-20% just like for wait staff. Which end of that range depends on how good it was. As well, if it's kind of a discount chain place, I tip on the "market value" of the massage. At high end spas, a massage is way more expensive and people still tip the same percentage on the higher price. So I tip at the massage chains more like 35-40%. They encourage that. I'm saving big on the massage but the therapists are as good or better than at fancy spas. So I like to tip them more as if they were charging fancy spa prices.

I always give 20%, but I've always been thrilled with the service, too.

I am a 20% tipper and if it is something extraordinary, I will tip more.

As an ex-massage therapist I would say you should base your tip on how much you enjoyed your massage.

If I enjoyed the massage - I give 20% of the cost of the session.

You tip what you can afford and how you liked the service, don't worry about what others do. If you can't afford 20% - give what you can afford.

I always tip salon/service people 20%.

You tip the therapist who works in another practice or as part of a salon, because a big chunk of her/his fee goes to the owner, not to the practitioner. 15% is minimum unless you are dissatisfied, 20% is better. Try to tip cash directly unless the receptionist can provide an envelope you mark for that therapist.

If someone has their own studio in an office setting or in their home, for example, their fee is their fee, and that's what you pay. If you are a regular, then it's acceptable to give something extra once or twice a year, such as at Christmas.

I generally get my massages at the local school. The therapists there do not get paid for their time--it's mostly just about them "clocking hours" for their certification. The school charges $27 to "rent" the room for an hour massage. I tip my therapist $5-$7, depending on how well they followed my directions :) Hubby tips them a bit more, like $10. If you plan to go back and perhaps schedule with the same therapist, I'd suggest going towards the high end of what you're comfortable paying--they will remember you and keep up the good work. Otherwise, yes, anywhere on the scale of 10-20% is appropriate, just like in a restaurant, you tip based on the level of satisfaction with service.

some places don't allow tipping, but if they do, 20% if you're pleased, less if you're not, more if you're thrilled.
nerts to those who don't.
khairete
S.

So why does tipping HAVE to be a certain percentage? Why can't you tip what you FEEL is appropriate based on the service rendered? You are not required to tip, there is no law...so please do not feel obligated to do so. You are already paying for a service, if you received anything above and beyond the service you paid for, then feel free to tip. But I do not believe that tipping is mandatory.

Some will agree and some will disagree with me, but here is the bottom line. Wait staff, aesthetic individuals, massage therapists etc, they already get paid for doing their job. If they do it well, they can get the tip, but if they are simply performing their regular duties then they are already paid for that.

And YES I was a waitress for over 12 years - and YES I was tipped and YES I worked hard for those tips because I gave outstanding service, I remembered drink orders, I offered suggestions based on food choices etc.

Kay, it's up to you, make a decision that YOU feel good about.

The place I go suggests $12-20 for an hour long massage.

Not sure, but here is how I handle it, if i am getting the massage together with a bundle of other beauty treatments, I tip each of the technicians, i.e. a few bucks for the nails, a few bucks for the wax girl, a few bucks for the massage chair person, then round up for good measure (probably works but to 10-15%.
In a spa setting, i.e attendant to a resort, the masseuses were not allowed to accept tips (these were built into the rates).
Apart from that my massages have been at the hands of chiros or pts, neither of which I've ever thought to tip.

Thanks,
F. B.

Take your pick...it depends on how good the massage is.