By Sana Rao · Editorial Lead, Tip a Chef
Reviewed · Covers chef tipping etiquette
Quick answer
Do you tip a home chef who cooks at your house?
Yes, you tip a chef who comes to cook at your house. An in-home chef handles shopping, cooking, serving, and clean-up in your space, so 15–20% of the total is customary. If the booking already includes a service charge, an additional tip is optional but always appreciated for great service.
15–20%
of the total, for an in-home cooking service
A chef cooking in your home is doing the most hands-on version of the job, often in an unfamiliar kitchen. That effort, plus the convenience to you, is exactly what a 15–20% gratuity recognises.
Because the chef is in your home, tipping is also a simple, personal moment at the end of the night. Confirm in advance whether gratuity is included, then add your tip based on how the evening went.
Tipping the chef directly, rather than through a platform that pools or skims, means they keep what you intended. Tip a Chef sends your gratuity straight to the chef from your phone.
Common questions
Do you tip a chef that comes to your house for a dinner party?
Yes. Treat it like a private chef booking and tip 15–20% of the total for good service, unless a service charge is already included.
Should you tip the chef and any assistants separately?
If a chef brings a server or assistant, a single tip given to the chef is usually shared, but you can ask how they prefer to handle it.
Related tipping guides
Tip your chef directly
Skip the cash and the tip pool. Scan a chef's Tip a Chef code and your gratuity goes straight to the person who cooked, who keeps 95%.