How Much Should You Tip? A US Guide
In the US, the standard tip for good sit-down restaurant service is 18% to 20% of the pre-tax bill, with 15% seen as the low end and 20%+ for great service. Other services have their own norms — from a couple of dollars for a coffee counter to 20% at a salon. Below is a plain-English guide to what's customary, how to split a bill, and whether to tip on tax.
Standard tips by service
Tipping is a big part of how service workers in the US earn their income, since many are paid a lower base wage that assumes tips. Here are widely accepted ranges. They're customs, not rules, so adjust up for great service and down for poor service.
| Service | Customary tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18–20% of pre-tax bill |
| Food delivery | 15–20%, often a $5 minimum |
| Bartender | $1–$2 per drink, or 15–20% of the tab |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | 15–20% of the fare |
| Hair salon / barber | 15–20% |
| Taxi | 15% of the fare |
| Coffee / counter service | Optional; a dollar or rounding up is kind |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–$5 per night |
To turn any of these percentages into a dollar amount instantly, use the tip calculator — it handles the percentage and the split for you.
Restaurants and bars
At a full-service restaurant, 18% to 20% is the everyday standard for solid service. Some diners tip on the pre-tax subtotal and some on the total; either is fine, but tipping on the pre-tax amount is the more traditional approach (more on tax below).
Watch for an automatic gratuity already added for large parties — often 18% to 20% for groups of six or more. If it's on the bill, you don't need to tip again on top unless service was exceptional. At a bar, a dollar or two per drink is common for simple orders; for a running tab, 15% to 20% of the total works well.
Delivery, rideshare, and salons
For food delivery, 15% to 20% is standard, but very small orders warrant a flat minimum — usually around $5 — because the driver still made the trip. Bad weather or a long distance is a good reason to tip more. Note that a "delivery fee" charged by the app usually goes to the company, not the driver, so it isn't a substitute for a tip.
For rideshare, 15% to 20% of the fare is typical; the apps let you add it after the ride. For salons and barbers, 15% to 20% is expected, and if several people worked on you, you can split the tip among them. Other personal-care services — nail techs, massage therapists, tattoo artists — generally follow the same 15% to 20% range.
How to split a bill
Splitting a check is easier if you agree on the approach before the bill lands. Two common methods:
- Even split: Add the tip to the total, then divide by the number of people. Simple and fair when everyone ordered similarly.
- By what you ordered: Each person covers their own items, then adds the same tip percentage to their share. Fairer when orders differ a lot.
Either way, calculate the tip on the whole bill first, then divide — don't have each person round separately, or the server can end up short. A quick example: a $120 dinner for four with a 20% tip is $24, making the total $144, or $36 each. The tip calculator can split among any number of people, and the percentage calculator is handy if you want to double-check the math.
Should you tip on tax?
Technically, tips reward service, and sales tax isn't part of the service — so the traditional practice is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal. In states with high sales tax, tipping on the total instead of the subtotal can add a noticeable amount.
That said, the difference is usually small, and many people simply tip on the grand total for convenience. There's no wrong answer here; both are common and acceptable. If you want to be precise, use the pre-tax figure. If you'd rather round up and keep it simple, tip on the total — it just means a little extra for the server.
Counter-service "tip screens" and when to skip
Tipping prompts now appear at coffee shops, food trucks, and self-checkout kiosks — often suggesting 15%, 20%, or 25% before you've received any table service at all. This "tip creep" leaves a lot of people unsure what's actually expected.
A reasonable approach: for genuine counter service where someone simply rings you up or hands you a pre-made item, a tip is optional. Rounding up or dropping a dollar is a kind gesture but not obligatory. Save your standard 15%–20% for situations involving real service — someone waiting your table, making a custom drink, carrying your bags, or driving you somewhere. There's no shame in selecting "no tip" or "custom" on a screen when no service was performed. Tipping norms exist to fairly compensate service work, not to tax every transaction.
Cash vs card, and other etiquette
A few practical points round out good tipping etiquette:
- Cash is often appreciated. Workers usually receive cash tips immediately and in full, whereas card tips can be pooled or delayed. Either is fine, but cash can be a small kindness.
- Tip on the original price, not the discounted one. If you used a coupon or gift card, calculate the tip on what the full meal would have cost — the server did the same amount of work.
- Buffets and takeout are lighter. A modest tip (around 10%) is common for buffets where staff clear plates, and for takeout a small tip or none is normal, though a dollar or two is thoughtful for a large order.
- Adjust for great or poor service. Tipping rewards service, so it's fair to go above 20% for something exceptional — and to tip lower if service was genuinely bad, ideally after mentioning the issue to a manager.
When in doubt, the tip calculator takes the guesswork out: enter the bill, pick a percentage, and it shows the tip and total, split as many ways as you need.
This article is general information, not financial advice, and figures are estimates. Rules and rates change — confirm current details for your situation. See our disclaimer.