How Much Should You Tip? The Complete Guide to Tip Etiquette

Few things cause more table-side anxiety than the tip line on a restaurant bill. The standard has crept from 15% to 20%, and tip prompts on tablets at coffee shops and bakeries have made the decision feel public and pressured. Knowing the actual norms lets you tip fairly and confidently.

Our tip calculator handles the arithmetic instantly. This guide covers the reasoning behind the numbers and how norms vary by service type.

Restaurant tipping: the real standard

The widely accepted range for full-service restaurant tipping in the United States is 18-22%, calculated on the pre-tax total. The old 15% standard has shifted upward over the past decade due to rising costs and the expansion of tipped service categories.

Service quality	Tip percentage	On a $80 bill
Exceptional	25%+	$20+
Good	20%	$16
Average	18%	$14.40
Below average	15%	$12
Poor	10%	$8

Servers in most states earn a tipped minimum wage below the standard minimum — often $2.13/hour federally — with tips expected to make up the difference. Poor service caused by kitchen delays or understaffing is not the server's fault.

The fast mental math for 20%

Move the decimal one place left to get 10%, then double it for 20%.

Bill: $67.50. 10% = $6.75. 20% = $13.50.

For 18%: take 20% and subtract 10% of the tip. $13.50 - $1.35 = $12.15.

For 25%: take 20% and add a quarter of it. $13.50 + $3.38 = $16.88.

Tipping by service type

Coffee shops and counter service

No obligation. Tip prompts at counter-service establishments have expanded aggressively, but there is no social contract requiring a tip on a transaction that took 30 seconds. Regulars often tip $1-2 as a relationship gesture, not a formula.

Food delivery

Tip 15-20% on the subtotal, with a $3-5 minimum regardless of order size. The delivery app fee does not go to the driver. In bad weather, tip more.

Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)

15-20% is standard. Drivers receive 100% of the tip. On long rides, a flat amount like $5-10 on a $40 fare is appropriate.

Hotel

Service	Amount	Notes
Bellhop / luggage	$2-3 per bag	Tip at time of service
Housekeeping	$3-5 per night	Leave daily — staff rotates
Valet	$3-5 per retrieval	Not required on drop-off
Room service	18-20%	Check if gratuity already included

Hair, nails, and personal care

15-20% is standard at salons. If the owner performs your service, tipping is optional by tradition but most people tip anyway. Tip the shampoo person separately, $3-5.

Tattoo artists

20% is the norm, applied to the full session cost. Tip in cash when possible.

Splitting the bill fairly

Add the tip to the total first, then divide. Calculating tip per person separately leads to small discrepancies.

Example: Dinner for 4, bill is $148, 20% tip.

Tip: $148 x 0.20 = $29.60. Total: $177.60. Per person: $44.40.

If amounts were unequal, the tip calculator handles itemized splits.

When gratuity is already included

Many restaurants add automatic gratuity (typically 18-20%) for parties of 6 or more. Check the bill before adding another tip. If the line is labeled "gratuity" or "service charge," you do not need to add more unless service was exceptional.

International norms

In Japan, tipping is considered rude. In Australia, tips are appreciated but not expected — service workers earn full minimum wage. In most of Europe, rounding up is common; American-style 20% tips are seen as a US custom. Research local customs before traveling abroad rather than exporting American expectations.

The bottom line

In the US: 20% at full-service restaurants, 15-20% for delivery and rideshare, 15-20% for personal care services. Counter service and coffee: tip if you want to — there is no obligation. For quick calculation on any amount, use the tip calculator.