How much to tip in the US: 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill at a sit-down restaurant, with 20% the norm for good service. Tip bartenders $1 to $2 a drink, delivery drivers 15% to 20% (at least $3 to $5), hair stylists 15% to 20%, and hotel housekeeping $3 to $5 a night.
Tipping in the US is a bit of a social puzzle. The card reader spins around, offers you 20%, 25% or 30%, and the barista is right there watching. So how much to tip, really? Below is a straight answer for every common situation, plus the math tricks that make it painless.
How much to tip: chart by service
These are typical US ranges for good service in 2026. Treat them as a starting point, then round up for great service, holidays or a tough job.
| Service | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15% to 20% (20% for good service) |
| Bartender | $1 to $2 per drink, or 15% to 20% of the tab |
| Buffet | About 10% |
| Takeout / counter order | Optional, $0 to 10% |
| Coffee shop barista | Optional, $1 or so per drink |
| Food delivery | 15% to 20%, at least $3 to $5 |
| Rideshare or taxi | 15% to 20% |
| Hair stylist or barber | 15% to 20% |
| Massage or spa | 15% to 20% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3 to $5 per night |
| Bellhop / skycap | $2 per bag |
| Valet | $2 to $5 when your car comes back |
| Movers | $20 to $50 per mover, more for long days |
| Tour guide | 10% to 20% of the tour price |
How much to tip at restaurants and bars
Table service: 15% is the floor for okay service, 18% is solid, 20% is the go-to for good service. If the server comped your dessert or wrangled three toddlers and a birthday cake, go higher. I usually do.
Bars: a buck or two per beer or simple drink. For a craft cocktail that took four minutes and a blowtorch, tip like a restaurant, 15% to 20% of the tab.
Buffets: someone still clears your plates and refills your water, so about 10% is common.
Takeout: optional. If the order was big or fussy (twelve sandwiches, all with edits), 10% is a kind move.
Coupons and comps: tip on what the meal would have cost before the discount. The server did the same work either way.
Tip math you can do in your head
Forget the phone calculator. Three tricks cover almost everything:
20% = 10% × 2 ($6.40 × 2 = $12.80)
15% = 10% + half of it ($6.40 + $3.20 = $9.60)
Dinner for two in Austin comes to $68.50 before tax, $74.15 after tax. You want to leave 20% on the pre-tax amount.
10% of $68.50 is $6.85. Double it: $13.70. Round to $14 and your total is $74.15 + $14 = $88.15. Tipping on the after-tax total instead would be $14.83, about a dollar more. Either is fine.
Splitting it four ways? Divide the final total, not the tip alone. Our tip calculator does the split and the rounding at once, and the percentage calculator handles odd rates like 18%.
Tip amounts by bill size
| Bill (pre-tax) | 15% | 18% | 20% | 22% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $3.00 | $3.60 | $4.00 | $4.40 |
| $35 | $5.25 | $6.30 | $7.00 | $7.70 |
| $50 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 | $11.00 |
| $75 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 | $16.50 |
| $100 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 | $22.00 |
| $150 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 | $33.00 |
| $200 | $30.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 | $44.00 |
See how small the gaps are? On an $80 dinner, moving from 18% to 20% costs $1.60. If you’re torn, round up. It matters more to the person on the other end.
Those tablet tip screens: do you have to tip?
No, not always. The screen doesn’t know whether anyone served you. A fair way to think about it:
- Someone made something for you (a latte, a custom sandwich): $1 or 10% is a nice gesture, not a must.
- You grabbed a bottle of water and paid: skip it, no guilt.
- Self-checkout kiosks: there’s no service to tip for.
And notice the preset buttons. Some screens calculate the percentage on the after-tax total, and some start at 20% or 25%. Hit “custom” if you want a different number. That’s what it’s there for.
Do You Tip Extra on Auto-Gratuity and Service Charges?
No, if an automatic gratuity of about 18% to 20% is already on the bill, which many restaurants add for parties of six or more, you do not owe another tip. Lots of restaurants add an automatic gratuity of about 18% to 20% for parties of six or more. Read the receipt before signing, because people double-tip here all the time. If gratuity is already on the bill, you don’t owe another tip, though a few extra dollars for great service is always welcome.
A line that says “service charge,” “kitchen fee” or “wellness fee” is different. It may or may not reach the staff. Just ask your server. Most will tell you straight.
Traveling? These numbers are for the US. In much of Europe and Japan, service is built into prices and big tips are rare. Check local custom before you go.
Why Do Tips Matter So Much in the US?
Federal law lets employers pay tipped workers a cash wage of just $2.13 an hour, as long as tips bring them up to the $7.25 federal minimum wage. Federal law lets employers pay tipped workers a cash wage of just $2.13 an hour, as long as tips bring them up to at least the $7.25 federal minimum wage. The employer has to cover any shortfall. Many states set higher tipped wages, and a handful, including California, require the full state minimum before tips. Still, for a lot of servers, tips are most of the paycheck.
For workers, there’s a 2026 tax angle too. Under the 2025 tax law, people in jobs that customarily receive tips can deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips from federal taxable income for tax years 2025 through 2028, with the deduction shrinking above $150,000 of modified adjusted gross income ($300,000 for joint filers). Social Security and Medicare taxes still apply to those tips. If you work for tips, the hourly to salary calculator helps you see what your base plus tips adds up to per year.
How much to tip: quick recap
- How much to tip at a sit-down restaurant? 18% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the norm in 2026.
- How much to tip for delivery? 15% to 20%, with $5 as a sensible floor for small orders or bad weather.
- How much to tip a barber or stylist? 15% to 20%, and a bit more for a long color appointment.
- How much to tip at a coffee counter? Nothing is required, but $1 a drink or rounding up is kind.
- How much to tip a mover? $20 to $40 per person for a half day is common.
- When you’re unsure how much to tip, check whether a service charge is already on the bill, then use the tip calculator to split it fairly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you tip at a restaurant?
15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill for table service, with 20% the usual mark for good service. Go higher if the server handled a big or messy order well.
Do you tip on the total before or after tax?
Before tax is the traditional rule, since tax isn’t part of the service. Tipping on the after-tax total is fine too. The gap on a $60 bill is usually under a dollar.
How much should I tip on a $100 bill?
$15 for 15%, $18 for 18% and $20 for 20%. For quick math, move the decimal one place ($10) and double it for 20%.
Do I have to tip at a counter or on a self-checkout screen?
No. Tipping for counter service is optional. A dollar or two for a made-to-order drink is a nice gesture, but skipping the tip at a kiosk where no one served you is normal.
Should I tip if a service charge was added?
Check what it is first. An automatic gratuity for a large party usually covers the tip, so you don’t need to add another 20%. A vague ‘service fee’ may not go to staff, so ask.
How much do you tip a food delivery driver?
15% to 20% of the order, and at least $3 to $5 for small orders. Tip more for bad weather, long distances or stairs.
Why is tipping expected in the US?
Because federal law lets restaurants pay tipped workers as little as $2.13 an hour in cash wages, as long as tips bring them to at least the $7.25 minimum wage. Many states require more.
Sources
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- Fact Sheet #15: Tipped Employees Under the FLSA, U.S. Department of Labor
- Tip Recordkeeping and Reporting, Internal Revenue Service
- One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions, IRS, including the no tax on tips deduction