A 20% tip was the clear standard for sit-down restaurant service for decades. Today's digital payment screens suggest 18%, 20%, 25% — and sometimes 30% — across transactions from coffee shops to grocery delivery. Understanding what is genuinely expected in each context helps you tip fairly without being pressured by default prompts that do not reflect actual norms.
Restaurants: Sit-Down Service
The standard for full-service restaurant tipping remains 18–20% of the pre-tax bill. This range reflects that servers in most US states are paid a tipped minimum wage — as low as $2.13/hour federally — with tips legally expected to make up the difference to the regular minimum wage. In high cost-of-living cities where menu prices already reflect elevated costs, 18% is genuinely acceptable for competent service; 20–25% reflects excellent service.
For takeout orders where you pick up in person, 10–15% is now the consensus for orders where staff packaged your meal. For app-based orders where the transaction is mostly automated, 0–10% is common. For genuinely poor service, most etiquette guidance suggests leaving something — 10% — rather than zero, reserving the zero tip for situations involving actively problematic behavior.
Food Delivery
A delivery fee and a driver tip are different charges. Check the platform's current disclosures rather than assuming a fee is paid to the driver. A suggested 15–20% tip is a convention, not a universal rule or legal requirement; distance, order size, weather, service and your budget can affect the choice. Pew Research Center's 2023 tipping-culture survey documents Americans' tipping expectations and behavior, not a platform's current driver-pay schedule.
On tip timing with delivery apps: some platforms allow tip adjustment after delivery. Drivers can see the pre-delivery tip amount, and low upfront tips can reduce order priority in busy markets. Tipping upfront and adjusting afterward (if service was poor) is more equitable than defaulting to zero with the intent to add later.
Coffee and Counter Service
At coffee shops where a barista prepares your drink, 10–15% is a reasonable range — particularly for complex drinks requiring real preparation time. For a simple drip coffee handed across the counter, a $1 tip is common. At fully automated kiosks with tip prompts, there is no social expectation to tip; the prompt exists because some customers choose to, not because it is a service norm.
Hotels
| Service | Standard Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Housekeeping | $3–5 per night | Leave daily — different staff may clean on different days |
| Bellhop / luggage handling | $2–5 per bag | More for heavy or unusually numerous bags |
| Concierge (simple request) | $0–5 | For directions or basic information, a tip is optional |
| Concierge (reservations/tickets) | $10–25 | For securing difficult reservations or special arrangements |
| Valet parking | $3–5 | When dropping off and when retrieving your car |
| Room service | 15–20% if not already added | Check the receipt — many hotels include a service charge |
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft)
In-app tipping for Uber and Lyft became standard after both platforms introduced the feature. The standard range is 15–20%, with the default in-app options ($1, $2, $3, or percentage choices) reflecting this. For exceptional service — a very clean car, helpful driver, or assistance with heavy luggage — 25% or more is appropriate. Tipping is not anonymous: drivers see your rating before your tip and the tip amount afterward. Workers who receive tips are required to report them as income to the IRS.
Hair, Nail, and Spa Services
For hairstylists and barbers, the standard is 15–20% of the service cost, with 20–25% for excellent work on complex cuts or color. Nail technicians: 15–20%. Massage therapists: 15–20%, with 20%+ for highly customized or therapeutic sessions. Estheticians (facials, waxing): 15–20%. The common belief that salon owners should not be tipped is outdated — in high-rent urban markets, service owners often have tight margins and genuinely rely on gratuity.
When You Are Not Expected to Tip
- Retail purchases where no personal service was performed.
- Self-checkout or fully automated transactions — the prompt is a payment processor default, not a social expectation.
- Fast food counter service where you order at a screen and pick up at a window.
- Professional services like accountants, doctors, lawyers, and real estate agents — these are fee-for-service relationships where tipping is not customary.
- Tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, contractors) — these are paid professional rates; a tip for particularly exceptional service is thoughtful but not expected.
Calculate the Right Tip
Our Tip Calculator handles the math instantly — enter the bill amount, choose your percentage, and split the total any way you need among multiple people. It works for any service and any percentage, so you can focus on the conversation instead of the arithmetic.