Tipping in the United States works differently from most of the world. In many restaurants and bars the tip is not a bonus; it is a large part of the server’s pay. Federal law lets employers pay tipped workers a cash wage as low as $2.13 an hour and count tips toward the rest of the minimum wage (29 CFR Part 531; a “tipped employee” is someone who customarily receives more than $30 a month in tips under 29 U.S.C. § 203). Many states require more, but the custom of tipping grew up around that structure.
At the same time, tip prompts have spread to places that never used to ask. Americans have noticed: in Pew Research Center’s 2023 survey, 72% of adults said tipping is expected in more places than it was five years earlier, and only about a third found it easy to know whether or how much to tip.
The quick answer: customary US tips by service
These ranges reflect long-standing US etiquette guidance, including the Emily Post Institute’s tipping guide. Treat them as defaults for good service; local norms in expensive cities can run higher. To apply them to a real bill, split among friends, use our tip calculator.
| Service | Customary tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15–20% of the pre-tax bill | The server’s wage often depends on it. Tip on the full value if you used a coupon or comp. |
| Buffet | About 10% | For the staff who clear plates and refill drinks. |
| Bartender | $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of the tab | Tip per round if you pay as you go. |
| Food delivery | 10–15%, minimum a few dollars | More for bad weather, long distances or large orders. |
| Takeout, coffee, counter service | Optional | A small tip for complex or large orders is gracious, not required. |
| Taxi or rideshare | 15–20% | Add a little for help with luggage. |
| Hair stylist or barber | 15–20% | Assistants who wash hair can receive a few dollars separately. |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–5 per night | Leave it daily with a note, since staff may change. |
| Valet | $2–5 | Usually when your car is returned. |
| Hotel bellhop or porter | A few dollars per bag | More for heavy or awkward items. |
| Movers | Varies by job | Cold drinks plus a per-person cash tip for a long or difficult move is customary. |
What Americans actually tip
Etiquette guidance and actual behavior don’t always match, and the gap is worth knowing about so you can set your own policy with open eyes.
Restaurants
Sit-down dining is still the place where tipping is near-universal. Pew found that 92% of adults always or often tip at a sit-down restaurant. Bankrate’s 2025 survey, which asks a stricter question, found 70% always tip their server, up from 65% in 2023 but below the 75% recorded in 2021.
The amount is where people split. In Pew’s data, 57% said they would leave 15% or less for an average meal, while about a quarter would leave 20% or more. Bankrate found that 35% of diners typically tip 20% or more, with a steep generational gradient: 16% of Gen Z versus 49% of baby boomers.
Everywhere else
| Service | Always or often tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 92% |
| Haircut | 78% |
| Food delivery | 76% |
| Drink at a bar | 70% |
| Taxi or rideshare | 61% |
| Coffee | 25% |
| Fast casual restaurant | 12% |
Source: Pew Research Center, survey of 11,945 U.S. adults, August 2023.
How to handle the tip screen
The swiveling tablet is the single biggest source of tipping anxiety. According to Bankrate, 38% of Americans are annoyed by pre-entered tip screens, and 27% say they tip less or not at all when they see one, while 11% say the screen makes them tip more.
A few principles make the moment painless:
- Decide in advance. Set a personal policy for counter service (for example, “I tip on complicated orders and when someone goes out of their way”) so the screen doesn’t make the decision for you.
- Know that “No tip” is legitimate. At a counter where you order, wait and carry your own food, a tip is a kindness, not an obligation.
- Use Custom freely. Preset buttons are only suggestions; entering your own amount is perfectly polite.
- Don’t over-explain. Staff see hundreds of choices a day. A warm “thank you” matters more than the button you press.
- Tip in cash when you can. It reaches the worker directly and quickly.
Do
- Tip on the pre-discount value when using a coupon or gift card
- Tip more for large parties, special requests or long stays at the table
- Speak to a manager about poor service rather than “punishing” with a zero tip
- Check whether a service charge is already included
Don’t
- Leave a server nothing because the kitchen was slow
- Make a show of tipping or of not tipping
- Assume a “service fee” goes to staff; ask if it matters to you
- Let embarrassment push you to an amount you resent
Special situations
Large groups and splitting the bill
Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity for parties of six or more. If they don’t, aim for the upper end of the range: large tables take more work. When splitting a check, agree on the tip before the cards come out so no one is left covering a shortfall.
Poor service
Etiquette guides generally advise against withholding a tip entirely at a sit-down restaurant, because the problem is often outside the server’s control. Leave a reduced tip and mention specific problems to a manager; that is more likely to fix things than silence.
Tips for people who work in tipped jobs
If you’re on the receiving end, two practical notes. First, many restaurants pool tips among front- and back-of-house staff; the free tip pool calculator from All Things AI splits a pool by hours, points or equally, to the cent. Second, a federal deduction for qualified tips now applies: the IRS says eligible workers can deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips per year for tax years 2025 through 2028, with phase-outs at higher incomes. Check the IRS guidance or a tax professional for your situation.
Gratuity included vs. service charge
Three phrases on a bill mean different things:
- Gratuity included — the tip has been added. No more is expected.
- Service charge — a mandatory fee. It may or may not be distributed to staff; ask if you want to know.
- Suggested tip — a calculation printed for convenience. Check which total it was calculated on.
Traveling? Tipping customs abroad can be the opposite of home; see our guide to tipping in other countries. For year-end gratuities to the people who help you all year, read our holiday tipping guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do you tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?
Etiquette guides such as the Emily Post Institute suggest calculating the tip on the pre-tax amount. Tipping on the full total is a small, generous rounding-up and is never wrong.
Is 15% still acceptable at a sit-down restaurant?
Yes. 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the customary range for good table service. In Pew's 2023 survey, a majority of adults said they would tip 15% or less for an average meal, while about a quarter would tip 20% or more.
Do I have to tip when a screen asks me to?
No. At a counter where you order and pick up yourself, a tip is optional. Choosing 'No tip' or 'Custom' is acceptable; if staff went out of their way, a small tip is a kind gesture. Be consistent rather than letting the screen decide for you.
Should I tip if there is already a service charge?
Read the bill. If a service charge or gratuity is already included, an additional tip is not expected, though you can add a little for exceptional service. Ask staff whether the service charge goes to the people who served you if you are unsure.
Is it rude to tip in cash rather than on a card?
No. Many service workers appreciate cash because they receive it immediately. Either is perfectly polite.
Sources
- Pew Research Center — Tipping Culture in America: Public Sees a Changed Landscape (Nov. 2023)
- Bankrate — Tipping survey 2025 (YouGov, 2,277 U.S. adults, April 2025)
- Bankrate — Press release: 63% of Americans have a negative view about tipping (June 2025)
- Emily Post Institute — General Tipping Guide
- eCFR — 29 CFR Part 531 (tip credit and $2.13 cash wage)
- Cornell LII — 29 U.S. Code § 203 (definition of tipped employee)
- IRS — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: tax deductions for working Americans and seniors
Statistics are quoted from the linked publishers as of October 2026. See our methodology.