Tipping 101

The complete guide to tipping in the United States

Tipping (or “gratuity”) is a voluntary payment that rewards service and, in the U.S., often makes up the bulk of a service worker’s income. Knowing how much to tip — and when — saves you from awkward moments and makes sure the people serving you are paid fairly. This guide covers standard tipping percentages, how to calculate a tip in your head, etiquette, and answers to the questions people ask most.

How much should you tip?

For sit-down restaurants, 15–20% is the U.S. standard: 18% for good service, 20%+ when service is excellent, and closer to 15% if something fell short. Counter service and takeout are optional — a few dollars or 10% is generous. For taxis and rideshare, 10–15% is customary; for bartenders, $1–2 per drink or 15–20% of the tab; and for food delivery, 10–15% with a $3–5 minimum.

How to calculate a tip quickly

The fastest mental shortcut: find 10% by moving the decimal one place to the left, then scale it.

• 10% — move the decimal one place ($48.00 → $4.80).
• 20% — find 10% and double it ($4.80 → $9.60).
• 15% — take 10% plus half of that ($4.80 + $2.40 = $7.20).

Or skip the math entirely — enter your bill in the calculator above, pick a percentage, and split it across everyone at the table.

Should you tip on tax?

Etiquette experts say to tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since tax isn’t part of the service. In practice many people tip on the total because it’s simpler and the difference is small. Either is acceptable — consistency matters more than the few cents.

Etiquette: when to tip more, less, or not at all

Large parties (typically 6 or more) often have an automatic gratuity of 18–20% added to the check — read the bill before adding another tip. Tip on the full value of a comped or discounted meal, as if you’d paid full price. When traveling abroad, check local norms: tipping is modest or already included in much of Europe and considered unnecessary in places like Japan.

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