From tipping fatigue to tipping confusion: Many Americans feel that tipping expectations have increased in recent years, making it harder to know what’s customary—and what’s optional.
Diane Gottsman, etiquette expert and owner of the Protocol School of Texas, has a simple rule: When in doubt, leave a 18% to 20% tip for most services, and use flat-dollar amounts when a percentage doesn’t make sense—such as a couple of dollars for a bartender pouring you a drink.
But that still leaves plenty of gray areas. How much should you give a DoorDash driver? Should you leave a tip on the iPad at a self-service counter? Is it ever OK not to tip? Gottsman explains how much to tip in nearly every situation, so you can stop second-guessing.
How Much to Tip by Service
Restaurants
For sit-down restaurants, Gottsman says that the typical tipping range should be 18% to 20% of the bill before tax, though many diners just calculate it based on the final total.
Technically, you’re tipping the server and not the restaurant or the food itself. That’s because in many parts of the U.S., servers rely on tips as a part of their income, and their base pay may be lower than the minimum wage. The federal minimum cash wage for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour before tips.
“Really, the cost of living has skyrocketed, so our tipping culture should be raised a little bit,” says Gottsman. “We have to remember that people accepting these tips are working for a lower wage—a lower hourly rate.”
Some general rules of thumb:
- A 15% tip is the bare minimum if you receive average service
- 18% is for good service
- 20% (or more) is for excellent service
So, if your server went out of their way to make your meal an awesome experience, you might want to leave a 20% tip or higher to show your appreciation. But if they were slow, forgetful, or rude, it’s more than okay to leave something smaller.
Fun fact: In a survey comparing tipping habits in the U.S. and Europe, 77% of Americans said they typically tip restaurant servers, more than any other country in the study apart from Germany.
Bartenders
The standard rule for bartenders is around $1 to $2 per drink, but, again, what you pay will depend on what you think is fair.
For a beer or glass of wine, you may want to leave a dollar as a thank you. But for a craft cocktail that takes more time to make? You could throw in a little extra.
“Just leave whatever you’re comfortable with,” Gottsman says. “Some extra change, or even a dollar—if you have it, then you can leave it.”
Food Delivery
A typical tip for food delivery is 15% of the order total before tax, Gottsman says. However, there are a few things to consider here.
You may want to base your tip on how far the driver traveled to deliver your meal, while a bigger order, bad weather, or something else might also be reasons to give more.
“Are they going upstairs? Are they bringing groceries to you? Think about the type of service you’re getting.” Gottsman adds the reminder that service fees for apps are not the same as gratuity, so she still recommends tipping on the total bill.
Coffee Shops
Knowing how much to give coffee shop workers isn’t always clear-cut. Some people might toss a dollar or two in the tip jar, if there is one, while others leave nothing at all. Those kiosks at the counter are another source of confusion.
“Say I walk up to the counter and buy a cup of coffee,” Gottsman says. “They pour the coffee from a spigot, and they turn around and hand it to me, and then on this little screen it’s saying 20%, 25%, 30%. Well, you may not want to give anything, because it was just a $5, $6 cup of coffee.”
For more complicated orders, leaving a tip can be a nice gesture. However, if your drink takes too long or you receive average service, don’t feel obligated to dip into your wallet.
Hotel Housekeeping
Traditionally, travelers tip hotel housekeepers a flat dollar amount rather than a percentage—Gottsman recommends three to five dollars cash for every night of your stay.
Housekeepers often clean different rooms on different days, so you may want to tip daily rather than at the end of your vacation.
“You can bring your own envelopes, use the notepad in the room, write a thank you note—and leave it with the tip, so they know it’s for them.”
Valets and Bellhops
Tipping a few dollars is customary when the valet returns your car. It’s a quick way to recognize their effort.
Bellhops perform more physical work, especially if you have lots of heavy suitcases. So, you might want to tip them a little more for their help—a common guideline is $1 to $2 per bag.
Hairdressers and Barbers
Leaving 15% to 20% is the standard range when you get a cut or style. “Same thing with spa treatments and nail places,” Gottsman says.
65% of Americans typically tip hairdressers and barbers, and if an assistant washes your hair before a service, you might want to tip them too.
Massage Therapists
Again, 15% to 20% is the usual range. Sometimes, tips are included in the bill (known as a gratuity) if you get a massage at a hotel or spa.
Ride-Share and Taxi Drivers
For ride-shares and taxis, 15% to 20% is the expected tip percentage. You may want to tip toward the higher end if the driver helped you with your bags or otherwise provided excellent service.
Movers and Home Service Providers
Tipping isn’t usually expected for home service providers like plumbers or electricians.
Movers are a bit different. Many people choose to tip them because their job involves a lot of physical labor, with a standard tip being around $20 to $50 per mover.
When You Don’t Need to Tip
We Americans are known for tipping, but not every situation calls for it.
You usually don’t need to leave a tip for:
- Fast food orders
- Takeout you pick up yourself
- Counter-service meals
- Professional services where you pay a flat fee or if there’s a medical component—think doctors, MedSpas, lawyers, accountants, and so on.
Traditionally, you also wouldn’t tip the owner of a business (for example, if your hair stylist, barber, or tattoo artist is also the owner); “However, if you ask most salon owners, they will tell you they greatly appreciate the gratuity,” Gottsman notes. “It’s up to you and your comfort level what you decide to do regarding gratuity for owners. There’s no hard and fast rule.”
When in doubt, think about whether someone went out of their way to help you, and then use your judgment based on the service you received.
What to Do If Service Was Poor
Don’t leave a generous tip if the service doesn’t meet your expectations. Instead, choose an amount that reflects your experience. A smaller tip is reasonable if things were just average.
When service is poor, you may want to leave much less—or nothing at all. But consider whether the issue was caused by the person you’re tipping. For example, at a restaurant, a mistake made in the kitchen might not be your server’s fault.
“Rarely do you want to skip a tip unless it was really horrible service,” Gottsman says. “I mean, if it was just okay, not the best, just do the right thing, you know? Just leave the tip, because the people around the table are watching you.”
If something isn’t right, Gottsman recommends telling your server, as long as you do so respectfully. There’s no need to be rude.
When that doesn’t work, speak to a manager, especially if the service was seriously bad. They may be unaware of the problem and want to make things right.
What to Do If a Tip Is Already Included
Remember to read your full bill before leaving a tip. That’s because some businesses automatically include a gratuity, and you’re not expected to tip on top of this. This may be listed as a “service charge.”
None of that stops you from leaving an extra tip if you felt the service was exceptional. “You can tip more when you get really wonderful service,” Gottsman says. “Wonderful might be this person calling you by your name, or establishing a relationship with you, or asking how your child is. When someone, somehow, has made an impact on you.”
Tipping Etiquette Tips
Here’s some more guidance when it comes to tipping:
Cash vs. Card
Businesses often accept both cash and card tips, but some might prefer the former because it’s accessed immediately. Card tips can take longer to process, meaning they’re paid out later.
There will be some scenarios where cash is the only option. A hotel housekeeper won’t have a card machine, so leaving a few dollars in an envelope on the bed is the easiest way to show gratitude.
“It really depends on the establishment,” Gottsman says. “If you’re wondering, you can say, ‘Would you prefer if I tip in cash or card?’ There’s nothing wrong with asking.”
In some situations, you can tip someone through Venmo, Cash App, or similar apps. However, there may be fees depending on how you make the payment.
When To Tip Abroad
Tipping may not be as common in other places as it is in the U.S., so check how locals do things before traveling—otherwise, you might overtip.
Some countries don’t have a culture of tipping at all and may even find it awkward or rude.
Math Shortcuts for Quick Tipping
You don’t always need a calculator to figure out common tip amounts. Here are some tricks:
- Start with 10%: Look at the total amount on your bill, and move the decimal point one place to the left. For example, if the bill was $50.40, your tip would be $5.04.
- For a 15% tip, do the above and then add half of that amount. Half of $5.04 is $2.52, making the total $7.56.
- For 20%, just double the 10% amount. So, $5.04 x 2 = $10.08.
Pre-Tax or Post-Tax Tipping?
Tips are usually calculated on the pre-tax bill total, but you can also tip based on the final amount if that’s easier. Either method works. “It won’t be that big of a difference,” says Gottsman.
Tipping Dos and Don’ts
Do:
- Tip based on the quality of service you receive—15% as the minimum up to 20% for great service
- Check whether a gratuity is included in your bill before tipping
- Carry small bills when traveling so you can tip bellhops and hotel housekeepers
- Speak to a manager if the service was really bad
Don’t:
- Feel pressured to tip a larger amount if you received average or poor service
- Forget that some workers, like restaurant servers, rely on tips as part of their income
- Assume other countries have the same tipping culture as the U.S.
“By the way, if you want to leave 25% or 30%, by all means, do it,” says Gottsman. “Just don’t stiff someone, don’t skip a tip, or don’t under-tip unless it was really awful service.”
