CNY Ang Bao for Delivery Riders, Condo Staff and Regular Service Providers in Singapore

Chinese New Year ang bao planning is fairly straightforward until you get beyond the family list.

Parents, grandparents, nieces, nephews and children are the obvious recipients. Then, sometime in the week before CNY, you start thinking about everyone else who makes your daily life easier: the condo security uncle who takes in your parcels, the cleaner you see every Tuesday morning, the GrabFood rider delivering reunion-dinner ingredients in the rain, or the part-time cleaner who has been coming to your home for years.

Do you prepare ang baos for them too?

In Singapore, giving CNY ang baos to service workers is optional rather than expected, but it is a well-established way of showing appreciation to people you interact with regularly. For someone you barely know, a small packet of around $6 to $10 is already a perfectly nice gesture. For someone who helps you throughout the year, $10 to $20 is a useful starting point, while people providing regular personal services may receive more.

The key distinction is not really their job title, but your relationship with them.

You do not need to carry a stack of red packets around and distribute them to every person wearing a uniform. Someone who delivers your dinner once and someone who has collected your parcels every week for three years are not quite the same gifting situation.

Quick Guide: CNY Ang Bao for Service Staff in Singapore

There is no official rate, but these are reasonable amounts to consider:

These figures are best treated as guides. There is a significant difference between recognising someone with a small festive token and giving a substantial annual bonus.

Do You Need to Give Delivery Riders CNY Ang Bao?

No. You are not expected to prepare an ang bao every time you order food during Chinese New Year.

If a rider happens to deliver your lunch on the second day of CNY, you can simply thank them as you normally would. There is no breach of etiquette if you do not hand over a red packet.

That said, some households deliberately prepare a few small ang baos for delivery riders during the festive period, particularly on days when many people are off work and the riders are still out making deliveries.

Something like $2, $6 or $8 can be a nice surprise.

The amount matters less here because there is usually no ongoing personal relationship. It is closer to a festive tip than a traditional family ang bao.

If the app allows tipping, a digital tip can serve much the same practical purpose.

What If It Is a Delivery Rider You Know?

This is different.

Some people order so regularly that they recognise the same riders or couriers. You may have a parcel courier who comes to your block several times a week, knows where you prefer deliveries to be left and occasionally goes out of their way to help when nobody is home.

In that case, an ang bao of around $8 to $20 would be a thoughtful gesture if you want to give one.

You do not need to work out how many parcels they delivered over the year or calculate a percentage of your Shopee spending.

The relationship is what makes the gift meaningful.

Should You Give GrabFood, foodpanda or Deliveroo Riders Ang Bao?

You can, but it is entirely optional.

A rider completing a one-off delivery is not generally someone you are socially expected to give a CNY ang bao to.

There are circumstances where you may particularly feel like doing it: perhaps the weather is terrible, the delivery happens on a major public holiday, or the rider has made an extra effort to solve a problem with the order.

In those situations, handing over a small packet or adding a tip is generous without needing to become part of your annual ang bao budget.

You certainly do not need to give $10 or $20 to every delivery rider throughout the entire Chinese New Year period.

How Much Ang Bao for Condo Security Guards?

For condo security staff you regularly interact with, around $6 to $20 per person is a reasonable CNY range.

How much you give can depend on how well you actually know them.

If you occasionally exchange greetings with the guard at the entrance, $6 or $8 is already a friendly token.

If there is a particular security guard who knows your family, helps with parcels, calls when visitors arrive and has assisted you repeatedly throughout the year, you may prefer $10, $18 or $20.

There is no need to make the amount proportionate to your condo’s maintenance fee or property value. You are thanking the individual, not paying another estate charge.

Do You Have to Give Every Security Guard an Ang Bao?

This is where people sometimes turn a kind gesture into an unexpectedly expensive project.

A condo may have several security guards working different shifts. You may know two of them well and barely recognise the others.

You do not necessarily need to prepare identical ang baos for the entire security roster.

One approach is to give to the guards you genuinely interact with regularly. Another is to give a small equal amount to the team if you would rather avoid distinctions between individuals.

Some estates may also have workplace rules or management practices around employees accepting gifts, so if you are planning to hand out larger amounts, it does not hurt to check.

For ordinary $6, $8 or $10 festive packets, most people are simply expressing thanks rather than trying to create a formal reward system.

What About Condo Cleaners?

The cleaners who maintain lifts, corridors, bin areas, toilets, pools and other common spaces are another group some residents choose to remember during CNY.

Again, this is optional.

For a cleaner you see regularly, $6 to $20 is a reasonable reference range. If you barely know the person but still want to give something, a small $6 or $8 ang bao is perfectly sufficient.

If you have spoken to the same cleaner for years, they regularly help around your floor, or your family knows them by name, you might naturally give more.

The nicest part of the gesture is often that somebody noticed their work at all.

What About HDB Estate Cleaners?

The same principle applies.

You do not have to live in a condo for this kind of CNY giving to make sense. Some residents give small ang baos to the cleaners who look after their HDB block, rubbish chutes and common areas.

There is no standard HDB cleaner rate.

If you see the same cleaner every morning and want to thank them, $6, $8, $10 or another modest amount is entirely appropriate.

You do not need to give simply because somebody works in your estate. The practice makes most sense where there is at least some familiarity or regular interaction.

Regular Part-Time Cleaners Are a Different Category

Someone who comes into your home every week is not really comparable to a cleaner you pass occasionally in the lift lobby.

If your part-time cleaner has worked with your household throughout the year, something around $20 to $50 can be a reasonable CNY gift, depending on frequency, length of service and your relationship.

Some households give more, particularly for a long-standing cleaner whom they know well.

There is no need to treat this as another month’s cleaning fee. The ang bao is a festive thank-you rather than payment for a specific session.

If your cleaner happens to come just before CNY, that is an easy time to give it.

Is a Domestic Helper the Same as a Part-Time Cleaner?

Not really.

A live-in domestic helper generally has a much closer and more significant relationship with the household than an occasional service provider, so I would treat domestic-helper CNY ang bao separately.

A helper may have cared for your children, cooked family meals and lived in your home for years. Many employers therefore give considerably more than they would to an estate cleaner or delivery rider.

If you are budgeting all your CNY packets together, do not assume that “$10 for service staff” should also be the benchmark for someone working full-time in your household.

The nature of the relationship is fundamentally different.

Should You Give Ang Bao to Your Regular Hairdresser?

You can, especially if you have been seeing the same person for years.

There is no expectation that every salon customer hands an ang bao to their stylist, but regular clients sometimes give a small festive token to someone they have developed a relationship with.

For a stylist, barber or hairdresser you see regularly, around $10 to $30 would be a comfortable range if you want to give.

You could also bring a festive snack, oranges or another small gift instead.

This is one of those situations where personal familiarity matters more than any supposed market rate. If you visit a random salon once on 28 January because everywhere else was full, there is no obligation to suddenly include your stylist in the family ang bao budget.

What About Beauticians, Nail Technicians and Massage Therapists?

The same principle applies.

If you have a regular beautician, nail technician, therapist or other service provider whom you have been seeing for a long time, an ang bao can be a friendly way to wish them well for the new year.

Something around $10 to $30 is plenty for most client-service relationships.

If the person runs their own small business and you know them personally, you may prefer to give a little more or simply support the business in another way.

For employees at larger salons, spas and clinics, it is sensible to be mindful that some businesses have policies governing cash gifts from customers.

There is nothing wrong with asking discreetly if you are unsure.

What About Your Regular Gardener, Handyman or Aircon Technician?

These relationships vary enormously.

The aircon technician who appeared once because your compressor stopped working is not normally someone you need to prepare an ang bao for.

The technician who has serviced your home every quarter for five years and whom your whole family knows is a different story.

Likewise for gardeners, handymen, pool maintenance workers or other people who regularly come to your home.

If there is an established personal relationship, $10 to $30 is a reasonable festive token.

If the service is completely transactional and infrequent, there is no expectation at all.

Should You Give CNY Ang Bao to Non-Chinese Service Staff?

You can.

The recipient does not need to be Chinese for you to offer a small CNY ang bao as a festive gesture of thanks.

In multicultural Singapore, people regularly share food, greetings and festive gifts across cultural lines. A red packet given to someone who does not personally celebrate Chinese New Year can still simply mean, “Thank you for helping us throughout the year.”

Use a little social awareness, of course. You are offering a gift, not insisting that somebody participate in your traditions.

A warm explanation such as “Happy New Year, this is just a little thank-you from us” is more than enough.

What If There Are Ten Condo Staff Members?

You have three reasonable options.

You can prepare small individual packets for everyone, give only to the people you regularly interact with, or check whether your condo has a collective staff-appreciation arrangement.

There is no requirement to spend $20 on every person simply because the team is large.

If you want to include everyone, this is one situation where $6 or $8 each can make much more sense than trying to be overly generous to a long list of staff.

If there are two particular guards or cleaners who have personally helped your family throughout the year, you can always give those individuals a little more.

Is $2 Too Little?

For somebody you barely know, $2 is still a token rather than an insult, and some Singaporeans continue to use small packets for casual service encounters.

That said, in 2026 and heading into 2027, $6 or $8 feels like a more comfortable small-service ang bao if your budget allows.

The recipient is unlikely to analyse the amount as closely as relatives sometimes do, but inflation applies to ang bao conversations just as it applies everywhere else.

For someone who has genuinely helped you throughout the year, I would generally move above $2.

Is $10 Enough for Condo Staff?

Yes.

A $10 ang bao is perfectly respectable for a condo guard, cleaner or other building staff member you regularly see.

You can certainly give $18 or $20 if you know the person particularly well, but there is no need to worry that $10 looks cheap.

Remember that this category of CNY giving is optional to begin with.

The goal is to show appreciation, not to participate in an unofficial resident bidding war.

Is $20 Too Much for a Security Guard or Cleaner?

No.

If somebody has been particularly helpful to your family throughout the year, $20 can be a very nice CNY gesture.

It is more generous than necessary for a casual relationship, but hardly excessive.

The amount only becomes awkward when the gift becomes unusually large relative to the relationship or creates concerns about whether the employee is permitted to accept it.

That is why a modest personal ang bao generally works better than trying to impress someone with a large amount.

Do You Need Auspicious Numbers for Service-Staff Ang Baos?

Not obsessively.

You can certainly use amounts such as $6, $8, $10, $18, $20 or $28 if you enjoy following traditional number conventions.

Eight is especially popular because of its association with prosperity, while six is also generally regarded positively.

For casual CNY packets, there is no need to turn every denomination into a numerology exercise.

A $10 ang bao is still a perfectly good ang bao.

Should You Use New Notes?

You do not need crisp, never-before-touched banknotes for an ang bao to be meaningful.

Clean notes in good condition are perfectly acceptable, and digital CNY gifting has also become normal in Singapore.

For service staff, convenience matters. You are not conducting a formal tea ceremony; you are saying thank you.

If you are preparing several small packets, sorting them by denomination beforehand will save you from accidentally handing your condo cleaner the packet meant for your mother.

What About Digital Ang Baos or PayNow?

Digital giving can work particularly well for people you already communicate with directly, such as a regular cleaner or personal service provider.

For a security guard or estate cleaner, however, asking for their PayNow number can make a spontaneous $8 gift considerably more complicated than simply handing them a red packet.

Physical ang baos remain useful precisely because they are simple.

For delivery riders, an in-app tip may be easier than either option.

The method matters much less than the gesture.

When Should You Give the Ang Bao?

There is no need to wait until the exact first day of Chinese New Year.

For regular service providers, giving the packet during your last appointment or visit before CNY is often easiest.

Your cleaner might receive it at the final cleaning session before the holiday. Your hairdresser might receive it when you go for your pre-CNY haircut. You could hand your condo guard one during the days leading up to the festivities.

That avoids having to track everyone down during the public holidays themselves.

What If You Forgot?

Nothing terrible has happened.

You can still give the ang bao when you next see the person during the CNY period, or simply skip it this year.

An optional gesture of appreciation should not turn into a social debt that follows you into March.

If you genuinely wanted to thank a regular cleaner, guard or service provider and forgot the packet, you could just as easily tell them so when you next meet.

The relationship matters more than the date printed on the calendar.

You Don’t Need to Give Everyone an Ang Bao

This is probably the most useful rule.

Chinese New Year has a way of expanding the ang bao list until it feels as though anyone who has interacted with you since December requires a red packet.

They don’t.

You do not need ang baos for every taxi driver, cashier, waiter, courier, cleaner and security guard you encounter.

Think instead about regularity and relationship.

Is this someone you know?

Do they regularly help you?

Have you seen them throughout the year?

Would giving them something feel like a sincere thank-you rather than a compulsory transaction?

If the answer is yes, prepare a packet if you want to.

If the answer is no, a cheerful “Happy New Year” is perfectly sufficient.

A Useful Way to Set Your Service-Staff Ang Bao Budget

Rather than deciding each packet individually at the last minute, make a small list before CNY.

For example:

Condo security guards you know: 2 × $10
Regular estate cleaner: $10
Weekly part-time cleaner: $30
Regular hairdresser: $18
A few spare rider/service packets: 5 × $6

Total:

$108

That gives you a realistic picture of how quickly small packets add up and lets you adjust the amounts before you start withdrawing or exchanging notes.

It is much easier than finding yourself halfway through CNY wondering whether you have accidentally committed to giving $20 to everyone in the neighbourhood.

The Best Rule for CNY Ang Bao for Service Providers

There is no universal Singapore rule saying condo staff get $10, riders get $8 and cleaners get $18.

Those figures are useful references, but the relationship matters far more.

For someone you encounter once, no ang bao is required. If you want to give a small festive token, $2 to $8 is enough.

For condo staff or service workers you recognise and regularly interact with, $6 to $20 is a comfortable range.

For somebody who personally provides a regular service to your household throughout the year, such as a part-time cleaner or long-term service provider, $20 to $50 or more may feel appropriate.

You are not paying a CNY surcharge for having received good service.

You are simply recognising someone whose work has made your life a little easier over the past year. That is a much better reason to give than worrying about whether there is a correct “market rate” everyone else somehow knows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much CNY ang bao should I give a delivery rider in Singapore?

You do not need to give one at all. If you would like to give a festive token, $2 to $8 is plenty for a one-off delivery. For a regular rider or courier you know, around $8 to $20 can be appropriate.

Do I need to give GrabFood riders ang bao during CNY?

No. It is completely optional. You can give a small ang bao or an in-app tip if you want to thank somebody working during the festive period.

How much ang bao should I give a condo security guard?

Around $6 to $20 is a reasonable range. A familiar guard who has helped your family regularly might receive $10, $18 or $20, while $6 or $8 is fine for a more casual relationship.

Do I have to give ang bao to every condo security guard?

No. You can give to the guards you know, prepare smaller packets for the entire team, or participate in a collective staff gift if your condo has one.

How much should I give a condo cleaner for CNY?

Around $6 to $20 is a useful guide. If you regularly speak to the cleaner and they have helped your household throughout the year, you may prefer the upper end of that range.

How much ang bao for a part-time cleaner?

For a cleaner who regularly comes into your home, around $20 to $50 can be a reasonable CNY gift, depending on how frequently they work for you and how long you have known them.

Should I give my hairdresser a CNY ang bao?

You don’t have to, but some regular clients do. Around $10 to $30 is a reasonable festive token for a stylist or barber you know well.

Can I give ang bao to a non-Chinese cleaner or security guard?

Yes. It can simply be presented as a CNY thank-you and gesture of appreciation. The recipient does not have to personally celebrate Chinese New Year.

Is $10 enough for condo staff?

Yes. $10 is a perfectly respectable CNY ang bao for a security guard, cleaner or other building staff member you regularly interact with.

Is $20 too much for condo security or cleaners?

No. It is generous for a casual relationship but entirely reasonable if the person has been particularly helpful to you during the year.

Do I need to use auspicious amounts?

No. Amounts such as $6, $8, $10, $18 and $20 are all commonly sensible choices. The gesture is more important than finding a mathematically perfect lucky number.

When should I give service providers their CNY ang bao?

The last time you see them before Chinese New Year is often the easiest. There is no need to wait until the first day of CNY.

Can I PayNow a CNY ang bao to a service provider?

Yes, particularly if you already communicate with the person directly. For casual staff such as condo cleaners or security guards, a physical red packet is often simpler.

Is it compulsory to give CNY ang bao to service workers?

No. Service-worker ang baos are voluntary gestures of appreciation. You should not feel obliged to give to every person who provides a service during the CNY period.

About the author

Vivian YEditor & Researcher

Covers Singapore wedding pricing, wedding ang bao rates, local gifting etiquette, Chinese New Year ang bao customs, banquet pricing and Singapore occasion-based gifting..

Editorial policy · Methodology