How Much Should You Tip?

The amount you should tip varies depending on the type of service you receive and how well the person does their job, though it’s common in the U.S. to tip at least 15% to 20% of the bill. For example, if you had a $50 meal at a restaurant, a tip of $7.50 to $10+ is expected.

If you want to make sure the tip you add to a credit or debit card transaction is what you actually get charged, you can use a payment validator, like the one offered by WalletHub. When you go to a restaurant, for example, you can add the transaction to your WalletHub account and input the tip. If the amount that is charged is different, WalletHub will notify you.

However, tipping is not just for waiters and bartenders. It’s also expected for many other types of professionals, such as hairstylists, house cleaners, and rideshare drivers. The table below gives an overview of how much you should tip each service provider, and you can find more detailed descriptions after the table.

How Much to Tip Common Service Providers

Food Services

Sit-down restaurant: Aim to tip your servers 15% to 20% of your pre-tax meal. However, feel free to tip more than 20% for servers who you feel went above and beyond, such as serving large groups. It’s important to note some restaurants may automatically include gratuity for large groups in the bill, so you may want to double check your bill before calculating the tip.

Buffet: Even though you are getting your own food, it is still customary to tip at a buffet. That’s because you will have servers who will get you seated, bring you drinks, refill items at the buffet, and clear tables. Since they are doing half the work of a server who brings the food to your table, a 10% tip is appropriate. 

Takeout: Tipping for a takeout order is usually not expected, but if you have a large order or one that is complicated, you may want to leave a 10% percent tip for the people who had to prepare it. 

Bartenders: It’s customary to tip bartenders $1 to $2 per drink that you ordered or 15% to 20% of your final tab. 

Fast-food restaurant: Tipping at a fast food restaurant is not expected. Fast-casual restaurants, such as Chipotle and Panera Bread, offer a more upscale atmosphere than traditional fast food restaurants but don’t expect tips either. However, fast-casual restaurants may have tip jars and credit card payment systems that may encourage tipping. 

Coffee shop: It’s not expected to tip at a coffee shop, though if you have a complex or large order, you may want to consider tipping 10% to 15%.

Deliveries

Food: If you are getting dinner, lunch, or breakfast delivered, you should tip the driver 15% to 20% of the bill.

Groceries: Some grocery delivery companies may automatically include a default tip, though 10% to 20% of the bill is typically the recommended amount.

Furniture and appliances: Even though it’s not required, you can choose to tip $5 to $20 per person depending on factors like how many stairs they had climbed and if they hauled away your old appliance. Some companies may prohibit tipping, so it’s important to check the store’s policy.

U.S. Postal Service: Due to federal law U.S. Postal Service workers are not allowed to accept cash tips or anything equivalent, such as checks or gift cards. However, you can give a mail carrier a gift valued at $20 or less per occasion, such as during the holidays, and these gifts can total up to $50 per calendar year. 

Drivers

Rideshare: Aim to tip 10% to 20% of the cost of the ride. You may want to tip extra for very clean cars and perks like water bottles, snacks, or accessible phone chargers. 

Valet: It’s customary to tip $2 to $5 dollars when your car is returned to you. 

Shuttle drivers: You can tip shuttle drivers at places like airports and hotels $1 to $2 per person, though it’s not expected.

Hospitality

Housekeeping: It’s customary to tip the housekeeper at your hotel $2 to $5 a day. You should leave the tip daily as you may get a different housekeeper every day.

Concierge: It’s not expected to tip the concierge for just answering questions, but you may want to tip them $5 to $15 for making restaurant reservations or getting event tickets for you.

Door attendants: No tip is expected for opening the door for you, but you can tip them $1 to $4 for performing services, such as carrying your luggage or hailing a taxi for you.

Bellhop: You can tip them $2 for assistance with your first bag and then $1 for each additional bag. You can also give hotel staff $2 to $3 for additional tasks, such as providing room service.

Salons and Spa 

Hairstylists and barbers: You should tip 15% to 20% of your bill and ask for it to be split among the people who served you. A cash tip is typically preferred. 

Nail technicians: It’s customary to tip 15% to 20% of your bill, and cash is usually preferred. 

Massage therapists: Whether it’s expected for you to give a tip for a massage depends on where you get the massage. For instance, it’s standard to give a 15% to 20% tip for massages at spas or resorts, but you are not expected to tip for massages done at a chiropractor’s office, physical therapy clinic, or any other medical facility.

Home Services

Movers: The tip amount can vary depending on the distance and the complexity of the move, but general guidelines recommend tipping 5% to 10% of the bill or $4 to $10 per mover, per hour.

House cleaner: A 15% to 20% tip is standard for one-off cleanings, and 25% may be warranted for more complex deep cleans.

If you are working with a cleaning company for recurring cleanings, you may want to check their policies to see whether tipping is allowed. If it is allowed, you can tip 15% to 20% per standard cleaning.

For independent or self-employed cleaners you use on a regular schedule, you can decide to give a holiday bonus instead of tipping for every visit.

Electricians and plumbers: It’s generally not expected to tip electricians and plumbers for their services, and some companies even prohibit it. If a company does allow tipping, you can tip 10% to 20% of the bill.

Landscapers: You can tip $10 to $25 per crew member for landscapers who come in for one-off jobs. If you hire a crew for regular lawn maintenance, you may consider giving a holiday or seasonal tip of $10 to $50 per crew member.

How People Feel About Tipping Culture in America

Nearly 9 out of 10 Americans feel that tipping has gotten out of control, according to a WalletHub survey. The term tipflation has even become common, describing the growing number of businesses asking for tips and the increasing tip percentage that is now standard. See the stats below to get a better sense of how the current tipping culture is perceived in America.

• A 2023 survey by Pew Research Center found that about 7 in 10 people in the U.S. believe tipping is expected in more places than it was a few years prior.
• More than 50% of customers say they have encountered a check out screen asking for a tip at a business that previously didn’t ask for one, according to Capterra, a company that reviews and sells software for businesses.
• Pew Research Center found that 40% of people opposed companies suggesting tip amounts.
• 51% of people say they often leave a tip due to social pressure rather than good service, according to a WalletHub survey.
• WalletHub found that about 3 in 10 people tend to tip less when they are presented with a tip suggestion screen.

Learn more about what Americans think about tipping.