How Much Should You Tip for a $100 Massage? A Guide from The Mark of Massage

At The Mark of Massage, we’ve been providing high-quality, personalized massage therapy since 2004 and now in the Castle Rock, Colorado area . Whether you’re booking an in-home session for deep tissue relief after a long day on the trails, a therapeutic sports massage to recover from your latest workout, or something gentler like Esalen or Swedish massage in the comfort of your own space, (or our private lower-level home office) hot stone, one question comes up often: tipping!

Tipping isn’t mandatory, but it’s a thoughtful way to show appreciation for the time, skill, and care your massage therapist puts into your session—especially in a mobile or independent setup like ours, where we handle travel, setup, and everything in between.

The Standard Tipping Guideline

The widely accepted etiquette for massage therapy in the US is 15-20% of the service cost. For a $100 massage, this typically means:

•  15% → $15 (a solid, appreciative tip for good service)

•  20% → $20 (the most common and generous standard, easy to calculate and greatly appreciated)

Many sources describe 20% as the “hospitality standard” for spa and wellness services, similar to tipping at a restaurant or for other personal care professionals. This range holds true in 2025-2026 guidelines from etiquette experts and industry sites.

If the session was exceptional—say, your therapist zeroed in on that stubborn trigger point, tailored a prenatal or structural integration approach just right, or helped with chronic tension from desk work or Colorado adventures—bumping it to 20-25% ($20-$25) is a wonderful way to say “thank you.”

Special Considerations for Mobile/In-Home Massage

Since The Mark of Massage primarily offers convenient in-home visits (within about 30 minutes of our Castle Rock home office at 216 Douglas Fir Ave, 80104), tipping often trends toward the higher end of the range. Mobile therapists invest extra effort in travel, hauling equipment, and setting up in your space (or adapting to our family-friendly home setup, where sessions are fully private in the lower level—though you might occasionally hear the lively sounds of kids playing upstairs outside the room).

Many clients add a bit more (like 20-25%) to recognize that added convenience and effort. That said, it’s always optional—our rates are set so that tips are a bonus, not an expectation.

When Might You Tip Less (or Not at All)?

Tipping is personal and based on your experience:

•  If the session met expectations but wasn’t standout, 15% is perfectly fine.

•  In rare cases of dissatisfaction, it’s okay to tip less (or skip it) while providing polite feedback so we can improve.

•  Some independent therapists (including many solo practitioners) price services to be all-inclusive and don’t expect tips—though most still appreciate them!

The key is gratitude. Even a heartfelt “thank you” or a referral/review means a lot after 20+ years in this field.

Quick Tips for Tipping at The Mark of Massage

•  Cash is always welcome (and lets us enjoy it right away!).

•  If paying digitally, we can add it easily.

•  Focus on what felt right for you—your appreciation keeps us doing what we love: helping Castle Rock locals feel better through expert therapeutic work.

Ready for your next session? Whether it’s deep tissue, sports massage, prenatal, hot stone, or something custom, book today and experience the difference personalized, in-home care makes.

Sources for Verification (based on recent 2025-2026 etiquette and industry guidelines):

•  Real Simple: Standard 20% for massage/spa treatments (https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/work-life-etiquette/how-much-to-tip-for-massage)

•  Spa Theory Wellness: 15-20% range, with 20% recommended for $100 sessions (https://www.spatheory.com/spa-theory-wellness-beauty-blog/how-much-tip-for-massage)

•  NerdWallet: 15-20% as the standard gratuity (https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-much-to-tip-massage-therapist)

•  Reader’s Digest: At least 20% customary (https://www.rd.com/article/how-much-to-tip-for-massage/)

•  Thervo (2025 guide): 15-20% standard, with notes on mobile services (https://thervo.com/costs/how-much-to-tip-a-massage-therapist)

•  Various massage professional discussions (e.g., Reddit r/massage community insights on independent/mobile tipping)

We hope this clears things up! Your comfort and satisfaction are our top priorities—see you soon at The Mark of Massage. 😊