When to Tip Your Flower Delivery Driver

We spoke to two etiquette experts on this topic, and they both agreed: tipping flower delivery drivers isn’t required, but it is often considered the gracious default, just as it is for many other services.

“Is tipping expected? Not strictly. But someone drove something perishable and fragile to your door on a schedule, which is a service. And acknowledging service is what tipping is all about,” says Nick Leighton, etiquette expert and co-host of the podcast Were You Raised by Wolves?

That said, whether to tip or not depends on a few factors. First, sometimes a gratuity is already included on the receipt, in which case tipping is not necessary. However, ensure you distinguish between a delivery fee and a tip. The delivery fee is not a gratuity, so if you are only being charged the delivery fee, an extra tip for the driver is a thoughtful gesture.

Second, the details of the order matter, especially if you’re on the fence about whether you should tip or not. Considering the complexity of the delivery goes a long way toward determining whether you should tip and, if so, how much.

“Large arrangements require more effort to carry. A third-floor walk-up with no elevator or confusing addresses can be tedious for a delivery,” says Nikki Sawhney, a certified Etiquette Consultant and the Director of the New England School of Protocol. “Timing also matters. A driver may be juggling dozens of deliveries in narrow windows, dealing with parking issues, and navigating buildings where no one answers the buzzer. And same-day deliveries, especially last-minute ones, often require drivers to hustle.”

How to Tip Your Flower Delivery Driver

Often, the easiest way to tip flower delivery drivers is to add gratuity at checkout, whether you are ordering flowers online or over the phone. This is especially true if you are sending the flowers as a gift.

If you are ordering flowers for yourself or for an event, tipping upon receipt of the flowers is also acceptable. Keeping a $5 or $10 bill on hand for the delivery driver is a kind, thoughtful gesture that acknowledges the time and effort it took to execute a professional, seamless delivery.

In hospitality, acceptable tipping rates are usually determined in percentages, i.e., 18%, 20%, or even 25% of your total bill, depending on how pleased you are with your service. When it comes to flower delivery, the rules aren’t so strict. Generally, etiquette experts say that $5 to $10 is an acceptable baseline, or 10% of the total bill.

However, keep in mind that tipping ranges vary by area, so an acceptable gratuity for a small delivery to an easily accessible location in the suburbs will likely differ from a more complex delivery to a location in New York City, Leighton notes.

When Not to Tip for Flower Delivery

So, are there any situations where you shouldn’t include a tip? The pros say there are a few.

First, if you are the recipient of a gifted flower delivery, you don’t need to worry about scrambling to find a tip for the driver. It is reasonable to expect that the person who bought the flowers has already covered the gratuity. If a delivery gratuity is automatically included on the receipt, you also don’t need to add anything extra.

Additionally, if your flowers arrive damaged or there is an obvious issue with the delivery, skipping a tip would be reasonable. Remember that tipping is about appreciating excellent service. If you feel compelled to tip, then do it! If you feel as though the service was lacking, skipping a tip is acceptable, but ensure you don’t announce that you’re withholding.

All that said, Sawhney assures us that there is no rule against not tipping for flower delivery. “If you don’t tip, it won’t be a social faux pas, though it's more about being a kind gesture,” she says.

Ultimately, tipping is a personal choice. Whether or not you choose to tip is up to you, but it is a kind, thoughtful gesture that recognizes a job well done and is always well-received.