Tipping Etiquette Guide
Tipping customs vary by service type. Here are the standard percentages for common situations in the United States:
Restaurants
- Sit-down dining: 15-20% of the pre-tax bill
- Buffets: 10% is common
- Takeout: Not expected, but 10% is appreciated
Delivery & Rides
- Food delivery: 15-20%, minimum $3-5
- Taxi/rideshare: 15-20% of the fare
- Grocery delivery: 10-15%
Personal Services
- Hairstylist/barber: 15-20%
- Spa services: 15-20%
- Tattoo artist: 15-25%
Hotels
- Housekeeping: $2-5 per night
- Bellhop: $1-2 per bag
- Concierge: $5-20 for special assistance
- Valet: $2-5 when your car is returned
U.S. Tipping Norms by the Numbers
A 2023 Pew Research survey of 11,945 U.S. adults found that 92% always or often tip for sit-down restaurant service, 78% tip for food delivery, 76% for haircuts/hair services, 61% for taxi/rideshare, 58% for food pickup, and just 25% tip when ordering coffee at a counter. The median sit-down tip was 15% across all respondents and 18% among those under 30.
Square's 2023 Future of Commerce report analyzed 30 million transactions and found full-service restaurant tips averaged 19.4%, quick-service 16.8%, and counter-service 14.1% — up roughly 2 percentage points since the pandemic pushed default tip prompts higher. About 63% of U.S. restaurants use POS systems that pre-select 18%, 20%, and 25% tip options, anchoring customer behavior toward the higher end.
State tipped-minimum-wage rules drive much of the tipping culture. In the 16 states using the federal tipped minimum of $2.13/hour (unchanged since 1991), servers rely on tips for 60-80% of take-home pay. Seven states (CA, MN, MT, NV, OR, WA, AK) require full minimum wage before tips — surveys there show average tips of 16.5% versus 19.2% in tipped-credit states, per Cornell Hospitality Quarterly research.
Sources: Pew Research 2023 tipping survey, Square Future of Commerce, DOL state wage tables
Methodology & Assumptions
This calculator implements standard formulas drawn from primary-source authorities. Values are point-in-time estimates; consult a licensed professional for high-stakes decisions. See the per-input definitions and source citations below.
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| Input | Default | Source / authority |
|---|---|---|
| All inputs | Domain-typical defaults | Editorial methodology, CalcMesh 2026 |