How much should I tip at a restaurant?

The standard restaurant tip is 18-20% for good service, 15% for adequate service, and 20-25% for exceptional service. Tip on the pre-tax bill amount. For parties of 6 or more, 18-20% is typically expected (some restaurants add it automatically).

Should I tip on takeout orders?

Tipping on takeout is optional but increasingly expected. A 10-15% tip is considered appropriate, especially for large or complex orders. During busy periods, even 15-20% is appreciated.

How much should I tip for delivery?

Tip food delivery drivers 15-20% or a minimum of $3-5 for small orders. For large orders, poor weather, or long distances, tip 20%+. Most delivery drivers rely heavily on tips.

Tip Calculator: How Much to Tip in Every Situation (2026)

Tipping can be confusing — who to tip, how much, and when. Here’s a straightforward guide with calculated amounts for every common situation.

Restaurant Tipping Guide

Standard Tips by Service Quality

Service Level	Tip %	On $30 Bill	On $50 Bill	On $100 Bill	On $200 Bill
Poor	10%	$3.00	$5.00	$10.00	$20.00
Adequate	15%	$4.50	$7.50	$15.00	$30.00
Good	18%	$5.40	$9.00	$18.00	$36.00
Great (standard)	20%	$6.00	$10.00	$20.00	$40.00
Exceptional	25%	$7.50	$12.50	$25.00	$50.00

Always tip on the pre-tax amount.

Group Dining Tips

Group Size	Expected Tip	On $200 Bill	Notes
1-5 people	18-20%	$36-40	Standard
6-8 people	18-20%	$36-40	Many restaurants auto-add 18%
9+ people	20%	$40+	Auto-gratuity common
Private event	20-22%	$40-44	Confirm if service charge is included

Check your bill — many restaurants automatically add 18-20% gratuity for groups of 6 or more.

Quick Tip Calculator

Tips on Common Bill Amounts

Bill	15%	18%	20%	22%	25%
$15	$2.25	$2.70	$3.00	$3.30	$3.75
$20	$3.00	$3.60	$4.00	$4.40	$5.00
$25	$3.75	$4.50	$5.00	$5.50	$6.25
$30	$4.50	$5.40	$6.00	$6.60	$7.50
$40	$6.00	$7.20	$8.00	$8.80	$10.00
$50	$7.50	$9.00	$10.00	$11.00	$12.50
$60	$9.00	$10.80	$12.00	$13.20	$15.00
$75	$11.25	$13.50	$15.00	$16.50	$18.75
$100	$15.00	$18.00	$20.00	$22.00	$25.00
$150	$22.50	$27.00	$30.00	$33.00	$37.50
$200	$30.00	$36.00	$40.00	$44.00	$50.00
$300	$45.00	$54.00	$60.00	$66.00	$75.00
$500	$75.00	$90.00	$100.00	$110.00	$125.00

Mental Math Shortcut

To calculate a 20% tip quickly:

Move the decimal point one place left (= 10%)
Double it

Example: $47 bill → $4.70 (10%) → $9.40 (20%)

For 15%: Calculate 10%, then add half of that. Example: $47 bill → $4.70 (10%) + $2.35 (5%) = $7.05 (15%)

Tipping Guide by Service

Service	Expected Tip	Notes
Sit-down restaurant	18-20%	Pre-tax amount
Buffet	10-15%	Server still brings drinks, clears plates
Takeout	10-15% (optional)	Higher for complex/large orders
Food delivery	15-20% (min $3-5)	More in bad weather or long distance
Coffee shop (counter)	$1-2 or 15-20%	Optional but appreciated
Bar (drinks)	$1-2 per drink or 18-20% of tab	$1 per beer, $2 per cocktail minimum
Bartender (open bar)	$1-2 per drink	Even when drinks are “free”
Barista (complex order)	$1-3	For specialty drinks

Delivery & Rideshare Tips

Service	Expected Tip	Minimum
Food delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.)	15-20%	$3-5
Grocery delivery (Instacart, etc.)	15-20%	$5
Uber/Lyft (short ride)	15-20%	$2-3
Uber/Lyft (long ride)	15-20%	$5
Uber/Lyft (airport trip)	20%	$5+
Pizza delivery	15-20%	$3-5
Large catering delivery	10-15%	$10-20

Personal Care & Salon Tips

Service	Expected Tip	On $50 Service	On $100 Service
Haircut	18-20%	$9-10	$18-20
Hair color/highlights	18-20%	—	$18-20
Shampoo assistant	$3-5	—	—
Spa/massage	18-20%	$9-10	$18-20
Manicure	20%	$10	—
Pedicure	20%	$10	$20
Facial	18-20%	$9-10	$18-20
Waxing	15-20%	$7.50-10	$15-20
Tattoo artist	15-20%	—	$15-20

If the stylist owns the salon, tipping is appreciated but not expected.

Hotel & Travel Tips

Service	Expected Tip
Housekeeping	$3-5 per night (left daily)
Bellhop/Porter	$2-5 per bag
Concierge (restaurant reservation)	$5-10
Concierge (hard-to-get tickets)	$15-25
Valet parking	$3-5 per retrieval
Room service	18-20% (check if included)
Shuttle driver	$2-5
Tour guide	15-20% of tour cost
Ski instructor	15-20%

Hotel Tipping by Stay Length

Stay Length	Housekeeping Total	Bellhop (arrival + departure)	Total Tips
1 night	$3-5	$4-10	$7-15
3 nights	$9-15	$4-10	$13-25
7 nights	$21-35	$4-10	$25-45

Home Services Tips

Service	Expected Tip	Notes
Furniture delivery	$5-20 per person	More for heavy items, stairs
Appliance installation	$10-20 per person	Optional
Moving company	15-20% of total or $20-50/person	Full-day move
Plumber/Electrician	Not expected	But appreciated for exceptional work
House cleaner (one-time)	15-20%
House cleaner (regular)	Tip at holidays (1 session’s pay)
Lawn care	$10-20 per visit or holiday tip
Pet groomer	15-20%
Dog walker (regular)	Holiday tip (1 week’s pay)

When NOT to Tip

Situation	Why
Fast food counter	No table service provided
Retail stores	Service is part of their role
Doctor/dentist offices	Professional services
Auto mechanics	Professional services
Business owner performing service	They set their own prices
Service charge already included	Check the bill
Countries where tipping isn’t customary	Research local norms

Annual Tipping Budget

How much the average household spends on tips:

Category	Monthly Estimate	Annual Total
Restaurants (2-3x/week)	$80-120	$960-1,440
Coffee shops	$20-40	$240-480
Food delivery	$15-30	$180-360
Rideshare	$10-20	$120-240
Hair salon (every 6-8 weeks)	$10-15	$75-120
Hotel stays (3 trips/year)	—	$60-135
Other services	$10-20	$120-240
Total	$145-245	$1,755-3,015

The average American spends approximately $2,000-3,000/year on tips.

Key Takeaways

20% is the new standard for sit-down restaurants with good service
Tip on pre-tax amounts — don’t include sales tax in your calculation
Delivery drivers depend on tips — always tip at least $3-5
Check for auto-gratuity on large groups before adding your own tip
Mental math: Move the decimal left (10%) and double it (20%)
Hotel housekeeping — leave $3-5 daily, not just at checkout
The average household tips $2,000-3,000/year — worth budgeting for