What is a good tip at a restaurant?

15-20% is standard for restaurant service. Tip 15% for adequate service, 18-20% for good service, and 20-25% for excellent service. The average restaurant tip is now around 20%.

How much do you tip for delivery?

Tip $3-5 minimum for food delivery, or 15-20% for larger orders. For grocery delivery, tip 10-15% or $5 minimum. Bad weather or difficult deliveries warrant higher tips.

Do you tip at coffee shops?

Tipping at coffee shops is optional but increasingly expected. $1 per drink or 15-20% for specialty drinks is common. For simple drip coffee, tipping is not required.

Do you still need to tip if a service charge is already included?

No additional tip is required if a gratuity or service charge is already added to your bill, though leaving an extra 5-10% for exceptional service is a nice gesture and not an obligation.

How Much to Tip: Average Tip by Service Type (2026 Guide)

Tipping expectations vary by service type, location, and quality. Here’s a comprehensive guide to how much to tip in every situation.

Quick answer: Standard tips are 15-20% at restaurants, $2-5 per night for housekeeping, 15-20% for personal services (hair, spa), and 15-20% or $3-5 minimum for delivery. The national average restaurant tip is about 20%.

Restaurant Tipping

Sit-Down Restaurants

Service Level	Tip Percentage
Poor service	10-15%
Adequate service	15-18%
Good service	18-20%
Excellent service	20-25%
Average	19-20%

Quick Reference by Bill Amount

For tip amounts on any bill from $15 to $500 at 15% to 25%, see the tip calculator. A quick shortcut: move the decimal one place left for 10%, then double it for 20%.

Other Restaurant Scenarios

Scenario	Tip Guideline
Takeout	0-10% (optional, 10-15% if complex order)
Counter service/fast casual	$1-2 or 10-15% (optional)
Buffet	10-15%
Bartender	$1-2 per drink or 15-20% of bar tab
Sommelier	10-15% of wine cost
Large party (6+)	Often 18-20% automatic gratuity
Private dining/catering	15-20% if not included

Delivery & Takeout Tipping

Food Delivery

Order Size	Recommended Tip
Under $20	$3-5 minimum
$20-$40	$5-8 or 15-20%
$40-$75	15-20%
$75+	15-20%

Delivery Factor	Adjustment
Bad weather	+$2-5
Long distance	+$2-3
Stairs/difficult access	+$2-3
Large/heavy order	+$3-5
Holiday	+$3-5

Other Delivery Services

Service	Recommended Tip
Grocery delivery	10-15% or $5 minimum
Instacart	15-20% (heavy items warrant more)
Amazon Fresh	$5-10
Alcohol delivery	15-20%
Furniture delivery	$5-20 per person
Appliance delivery/install	$10-20 per person
Moving company	15-20% or $20-50/mover

Personal Services Tipping

Hair & Beauty

Service	Tip
Haircut	15-20%
Hair coloring	15-20%
Blow dry	15-20%
Stylist (full service)	20%
Shampoo person	$2-5
Barber	15-20%
Waxing	15-20%
Manicure	15-20%
Pedicure	15-20%
Mani-pedi combo	15-20%

Spa & Wellness

Service	Tip
Massage (60 min, ~$100)	15-20% ($15-20)
Facial	15-20%
Body treatment	15-20%
Spa package	15-20% of total
Massage therapist (private)	15-20%
Acupuncturist	Not expected (optional $10-20)
Chiropractor	Not expected
Physical therapist	Not expected

Fitness & Personal Training

Service	Tip
Personal trainer (gym)	Optional, $10-25/session or holiday gift
Private yoga instructor	15-20%
Golf caddy	$25-50 per bag
Ski instructor	10-15%
Tennis pro	Not expected (end of season gift)
Pilates reformer class	Not expected
Group fitness instructor	Not expected (optional $5-10)

Hotel Tipping

Service	Tip
Housekeeping	$2-5/night (daily)
Bellhop	$1-2/bag ($5 minimum)
Doorman (hails cab)	$1-2
Doorman (assists with luggage)	$1-2/bag
Concierge (simple request)	$5-10
Concierge (complex booking)	$10-25+
Valet parking	$2-5
Room service	15-20% (check if included)
Spa services	15-20%

By Hotel Tier

Hotel Type	Housekeeping	Bellhop	Concierge
Budget	$2-3/night	$1/bag	N/A
Mid-range	$3-5/night	$2/bag	$5-10
Luxury	$5-10/night	$3-5/bag	$10-25

Transportation Tipping

Service	Tip
Taxi	15-20%
Uber/Lyft	10-20% (in-app)
Airport shuttle	$1-2/bag
Tour bus driver	$2-5/person
Private driver	15-20%
Limo	15-20%
Parking valet	$2-5
Boat captain/crew (charter)	15-20%

Home Services Tipping

One-Time Services

Service	Tip
House cleaner (one-time)	15-20%
Deep cleaning	15-20%
Carpet cleaning	Not expected ($10-20 optional)
Window washing	Not expected ($10-20 optional)
Junk removal	$10-20/person
Painters	Not expected ($20-50 for good work)
Plumber/electrician	Not expected
HVAC technician	Not expected
Pest control	Not expected ($5-10 optional)

Regular Services

Service	Tip
House cleaner (regular)	Equivalent of one session at year-end
Lawn care/gardener	$20-50 at year-end
Pool cleaner	$20-50 at year-end
Dog walker	One week’s pay at holidays
Nanny	One week’s pay at holidays
Au pair	$50-100+ at holidays

Holiday/Year-End Tipping

Service Provider	Holiday Tip
House cleaner	1 week’s pay
Nanny/regular babysitter	1 week’s pay
Dog walker	1 week’s pay
Garbage collector	$15-30
Mail carrier	$20 max (postal regulations)
Newspaper deliverer	$10-30
Personal trainer	1 session cost
Hair stylist	Cost of 1 visit
Doorman	$20-100+
Super	$20-100+

When NOT to Tip

Situation	Reason
Business owner	Generally don’t tip owners
Professionals (doctors, lawyers)	Not tipped
Retail sales	Not customary
Fast food counter	Not expected
Government employees	May be against regulations
Auto mechanics	Not customary
Airline staff	Not customary
Hotel front desk	Not customary (except concierge)
Real estate agents	Not customary

Tipping Statistics

Statistic	Value
Average restaurant tip	19.5%
Americans who always tip at restaurants	77%
Americans who tip delivery drivers	63%
Average tip increase since 2020	+3%
Gen Z average tip	17%
Boomer average tip	21%

Tipping Etiquette Tips

Situation	Advice
Unhappy with service	Still tip 10-15%, speak to manager
Automatic gratuity added	Check bill, additional tip optional
Comped meal	Tip on original value
Discount/coupon	Tip on pre-discount amount
Gift card	Tip on full bill (cash if needed)
Owner provides service	Small tip or none acceptable
Not sure	When in doubt, tip 15-20%

Bottom Line

Restaurants: 15-20% (20% is the new normal)
Hotels: $2-5/night housekeeping, $1-2/bag bellhop
Delivery: 15-20% or $3-5 minimum
Personal services: 15-20% (hair, spa, etc.)
Home services: Not expected, but appreciated for great work
Year-end: Regular service providers get bonus equal to 1 session/week
Tip on pre-tax, pre-discount amount
Cash tips are often preferred by workers

Tipping is a real line item in your household budget — visit the Budgeting Guide hub for the full picture. Understanding how tips affect your average monthly expenses helps you plan ahead, and the Budgeting hub covers all the budgeting methods to choose from.

More Tipping Guides

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy