FAQs
20% is the REAL standard for tips
Am I tipping enough? ›
For waitstaff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be at least 18 percent of the pretax bill, according to Cortney Norris, an assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management at Oklahoma State University who studies tipping habits.
Is it ever OK not to tip? ›
As a blanket rule, you don't need to tip anyone who earns a salary or performs a trade. That means you don't have to tip doctors, lawyers, teachers, plumbers or cable technicians.
Is 15% tip rude? ›
15% is appropriate for average service ; 20% if your server is above average. You should feel free to tip above 20% if you received excellent service. If you received poor service, it is better to talk to the manager than skip on the tip. Leaving no tip does not correct the problem of poor service.
Is 15% tip enough on Reddit? ›
Tons of people tip 15% and it's completely fine, there's no need to feel bad about it. Don't give in to the pressure to tip more.
What percent of Americans don't tip? ›
A majority of Americans say they would tip 15% or less for an average meal at a sit-down restaurant. Nearly six-in-ten (57%) say this, including 2% who say they wouldn't leave any tip. Only a quarter of people say they'd tip 20% or more. For most people, tipping is first and foremost about service.
Is $2 an OK tip? ›
The Web site www.tipthepizzaguy.com suggests the following: 15% for normal service, with a $2 minimum; 20% for excellent service; 10% or less for poor service; at least 10% for orders of $50 or more.
Is it rude if you don't tip? ›
“It's up to the discretion of the customer," and it's not strictly necessary to tip in a fast food or quick service restaurant. That's very different from service at a sit-down restaurant, she notes, where the expectation is still that patrons should leave a tip of between 15% and 20% of their bill.
What happens if I don't tip? ›
Servers might comp your meal (give it to you for free), send your table dessert, or, at the very least, offer you a sincere apology. If you get confronted for not leaving an adequate tip, understand that this is normal. Avoid this in the future and express problems with your server before you pay the bill.
Am I bad person if I don't tip? ›
And as such, you have some real responsibility when being served by a tipped professional that you don't have when being served by someone else. It's nice to give a coffee barista a tip, but you're not a horrible person if you don't because at least they're getting paid without you.
At the end of the Civil War, America's labor force “was flooded” with formerly enslaved people and immigrants, says Zagor. Employers took advantage of this class of “low-educated, low-income” workers, he says, and hired them for jobs that paid very little, encouraging patrons to tip as a supplement to wages.
Are people tipping less now? ›
Seven out of 10 Americans reporting tipping less than they used to and tipped below etiquette expectations at just 12.9 percent. Poor service and concerns about saving money were the top reasons for the decline in tipping. TIPPING AT THE COUNTER: ARE YOU BEING RUDE IF YOU DON'T LEAVE SOMETHING EXTRA?
Do you tip at McDonald's USA? ›
In most cases, it is customary to tip waiters or service providers. However, there are certain restaurants or franchises, particularly fast food establishments like McDonald's, where employees are not allowed to accept tips.
Is 15% a generous tip? ›
Deciding how much to tip depends on what kind of service provider you're working with and how well they do their job. But if you're looking for a general rule for services in the U.S., 15% to 20% of the bill is a common guide, according to most etiquette experts we interviewed.
Is it better to tip 15 or 20? ›
People generally tip 15-20% of the bill. To calculate tip multiply the total check by 1 plus the decimal percentage tip you'd like to leave. If you wanted to leave a 20% tip, you would add 1 to 0.20 to get 1.20. Multiply the bill by 1.20 to get the total amount you'd leave including tip.
Do most people tip at restaurants? ›
Most Americans tip 15% or less at a restaurant — and some tip nothing, poll finds. Fifty-seven percent of people tip 15% or less for a sit-down meal at a restaurant, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Of those, 37% said 15% is their standard tip and 18% tip something less than 15%.
What is tipping fatigue? ›
Tipping fatigue is this growing sense of frustration or exhaustion customers feel when they're constantly asked to tip in a bunch of different situations, especially in situations where tipping isn't typically expected.
Has tipping gone too far? ›
The survey also found that 35% of Americans believe tipping culture has gone too far. Compared to last year's tipping survey, more respondents now believe tipping culture has gotten increasingly out of control. More than 1 in 3 (35%) of Americans surveyed in 2024 agreed, compared to 30% in 2023.
Is 20% tip rude? ›
20% is the REAL standard for tips
Industry insider: common consensus says 15-20% is considered a normal tip, but honestly any amount less than 20% is considered a bad tip.
Has tipping culture gotten out of control? ›
More people than last year believe tipping culture has gotten out of control. When compared to last year's tipping survey, one opinion stands out: tipping culture has gotten increasingly out of control. More than 1 in 3 (35 percent) Americans surveyed in 2024 agreed, compared to 30 percent in 2023.