How Much to Tip
How much to tip depends on where you are and who served you, but the short answer for most of the United States is 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill for table service. This page gives the usual amount for every common situation — restaurants, delivery, taxis, bars, salons and hotels — with dollar figures worked out on real bills. The free tip calculator above does the maths for any bill, so you can check the amount before you pay.
Tipping norms in the US have drifted upward over the years. Fifteen percent used to be the standard for sit-down service; today 18% to 20% is the standard for good service, and 20% is what most servers expect. The reason is simple: tipped workers are often paid a cash wage of $2.13 an hour at the federal level, and the tip is most of their pay. Knowing the usual amount for each situation takes the awkwardness out of the moment, and the tables below give you the numbers at a glance.
How Much to Tip at a Restaurant
For a sit-down restaurant, the usual range is 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill. Fifteen percent is adequate service, 18% is good service, and 20% or more is excellent service. Fine dining usually calls for 20% to 25%. These are the norms used across the United States, and they are the reason the calculator’s presets start at 10% and run to 25%.
On the default $85.00 bill, 15% is $12.75, 18% is $15.30, 20% is $17.00, and 25% is $21.25. The step from 18% to 20% costs $1.70, and the step from 20% to 25% costs $4.25. When the service was genuinely good, the difference between a decent tip and a generous one is less than the cost of a coffee, and it means far more to the server than it costs you.
Step 1 — Judge the service honestly
Good service means attentive, accurate, and friendly: drinks refilled, orders correct, problems fixed quickly. That earns 18% to 20%. Adequate service — nothing wrong, nothing special — earns 15%. Truly outstanding service, or a server who rescued a difficult evening, earns 20% to 25%.
Step 2 — Pick the percentage for that service
Match the percentage to the service, not to your mood about the price. A high bill does not mean a lower percentage is fair: the percentage is the point, and the server’s work does not shrink because the food was expensive.
Step 3 — Check the dollar amount
Before you sign, look at the dollar figure, not just the percentage. On a $200.00 bill, 20% is $40.00 and the total is $240.00. If that number surprises you, it is usually because the bill itself was large, not because the percentage was wrong.
Worked Examples: How Much to Tip on Common Bills
Each row shows the tip at 15%, 18% and 20% on the same bill, so you can see what each service level costs. All figures come from the calculator above.
| Bill | 15% (adequate) | 18% (good) | 20% (excellent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50.00 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 |
| $60.00 | $9.00 | $10.80 | $12.00 |
| $75.00 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 |
| $85.00 | $12.75 | $15.30 | $17.00 |
| $100.00 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 |
| $120.00 | $18.00 | $21.60 | $24.00 |
| $150.00 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 |
| $200.00 | $30.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 |
On a $60.00 bill, the difference between adequate and excellent is $3.00. On a $120.00 bill it is $6.00. The gap grows with the bill, but it stays small next to the meal itself — which is why most Americans now default to 20% when the service was good and save 15% for service that was merely adequate.
How to Use the Tip Calculator
When you are deciding how much to tip, the calculator turns the percentage into a dollar amount instantly, so you are choosing between real numbers rather than guessing.
- Enter the bill. Type the subtotal printed on the check, before tax.
- Tap 15%, 18% or 20%. The comparison table shows all four levels side by side, with the total and the per-person share for each.
- Read the dollar amounts. Pick the level whose dollar amount matches the service you received.
- Split the bill if needed. Enter the number of people and the calculator divides the total evenly.
- Check for a service charge. If the check already includes an 18% to 20% auto-gratuity, that is the tip — add extra only for outstanding service.
The comparison table is the useful part here. It shows that on an $85.00 bill, the jump from 15% to 20% is $4.25 in total, or $2.13 per person for two people. Seeing the dollars makes the choice easy.
How Much to Tip by Situation
Different situations have different norms, and the table below covers the ones Americans meet most often. The minimums matter: a $2 delivery tip on a $10 order is only 20% in percentage terms, but many delivery drivers count on a $5 minimum to make the trip worthwhile, and the same logic applies to a short taxi ride.
| Situation | Usual tip | Minimum worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 18–20% | 15% for adequate service |
| Fine dining | 20–25% | 20% is the expected floor |
| Food delivery | 15–20% | $5 minimum, more in bad weather |
| Taxi or rideshare | 15–20% | $2 minimum on a short ride |
| Takeout or counter service | 10% | Optional, but appreciated |
| Coffee shop tip jar | 10% or $1 | Entirely optional |
| Bar (per drink) | $1–$2 per drink | Or 15–20% of the tab |
| Haircut or salon | 15–20% | Same range as restaurants |
Some services are not tipped at all in the US: fast-food counter workers, retail cashiers, and professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Tipping them is unusual and can be awkward. When a payment screen suggests a tip for a service that was never traditionally tipped, you are free to choose no tip or a small amount. The prompt is a suggestion, not an obligation.
Common Mistakes When Deciding How Much to Tip
Most tipping mistakes come from the moment of payment, when the card machine suggests an amount and there is no time to think. Decide the percentage before the machine appears.
- Accepting the card terminal’s suggestion blindly. Terminals often suggest post-tax tips of 20%, 22% or 25%. Know your own percentage first.
- Tipping on the post-tax total without noticing. On an $85.00 bill with 8% tax, the post-tax 20% tip is $18.36 instead of $17.00 — a difference of $1.36.
- Tipping twice on an auto-gratuity. Parties of six or more are often charged 18% to 20% automatically. Check the check first.
- Forgetting the delivery minimum. A 20% tip on a $12 order is only $2.40. Delivery drivers count on a $5 minimum.
- Tipping a percentage on a service charge. Some restaurants add a card surcharge; do not tip on the surcharge amount.
- Leaving no tip for bad service without saying why. If the service was genuinely bad, tell a manager. A zero tip with no explanation fixes nothing.
Where the Tip Goes: Why the Amount Matters
Tips are taxable income in the United States, and tipped workers must report them. The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 per hour, and the employer can claim a tip credit of up to $5.12 per hour, as long as the worker’s tips plus cash wage reach at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour in each workweek. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
- Servers: the tip is most of their pay, not a bonus on top of a full wage.
- Delivery drivers: they pay for their own gas and car, so the tip covers real costs.
- Bartenders: $1 to $2 per drink adds up across a shift, and a tab tip of 15% to 20% is the equivalent.
- Hotel housekeepers: $3 to $5 per night, left daily in cash, is the usual amount.
- Valet and tour guides: $2 to $5 for valet when the car is returned, and 10% to 20% for a tour guide.
Tips for Deciding the Amount
A few habits make the decision quick and fair every time.
- Default to 20% for good service. It is the modern standard, and it removes the decision in most cases.
- Drop to 15% for adequate service, not to zero. A low tip with a word to the manager says more than a silent zero.
- Go to 25% for outstanding service. On an $85.00 bill that is $21.25 instead of $17.00 — $4.25 for service you will remember.
- Use the 10% trick for a quick check. Move the decimal one place left to get 10%: $8.50 on an $85.00 bill. Double it for 20%.
- Remember the minimums. $5 for delivery and $2 for a short taxi ride, even when the percentage says less.
How Much to Tip: Quick Answers
The amounts people look up most often, on an $85.00 bill unless stated otherwise.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Good service at a restaurant | 18–20%, which is $15.30–$17.00 |
| Adequate service | 15%, which is $12.75 |
| Excellent service or fine dining | 20–25%, which is $17.00–$21.25 |
| Food delivery | 15–20%, with a $5 minimum |
| Takeout or coffee counter | 10% or $1, optional |
Related tools on this site: the main tip calculator, the percentage calculator for the raw maths, and the sales tax calculator for the tax line on the receipt. For the norms behind these figures, the NerdWallet tip calculator guide explains the US tipping percentages and the pre-tax convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant in the US?
Tip 18% to 20% of the pre-tax bill for good service, 15% for adequate service, and 20% to 25% for excellent service or fine dining. On an $85.00 bill, that is $15.30 to $17.00 for good service.
Is 15% still a good tip?
Fifteen percent is acceptable for adequate service, but it is no longer the standard for good service — 18% to 20% is. On an $85.00 bill, 15% is $12.75, which reads as “fine, nothing special” to most servers.
How much do you tip for delivery?
Tip 15% to 20% with a $5 minimum, more in bad weather or for a large order. On a $46.00 delivery order at 18%, the tip is $8.28, which clears the minimum easily.
How much do you tip a taxi driver?
Tip 15% to 20% of the fare, with a $2 minimum on a short ride. On a $20.00 fare, 20% is $4.00, so the minimum does not apply.
Do you tip on takeout orders?
Ten percent is generous for takeout, and many people tip nothing for a simple pickup. A tip jar at a coffee counter is optional — a dollar is kind, and nobody expects a percentage.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general information only. Tipping norms vary by region and establishment; the amounts shown are estimates, not legal or financial advice. Always check your bill for service charges before adding a tip.