The Complete Tipping Guide: How Much to Tip in Every Situation

In the United States, tip 15–20% at sit-down restaurants, 15–20% for delivery, 15–25% at salons, $2–$5 per night for hotel housekeeping, and 10–15% for counter service if you choose to tip. Always tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Below is a detailed breakdown for every common tipping scenario with exact percentages and dollar amounts.

Restaurant Tipping (15–25%)

Sit-down restaurants are where most tipping questions arise. In the US, servers earn a base wage well below minimum wage (as low as $2.13/hour in some states), so tips make up the majority of their income.

• 15% — Adequate service, nothing went wrong
• 18% — Good service, the standard default
• 20% — Great service, attentive and friendly
• 25%+ — Exceptional service, large parties, or complex orders

Pro tip: Tip on the pre-tax subtotal, not the total after tax. On a $100 meal with 9% tax, a 20% tip is $20 (on $100), not $21.80 (on $109). Both are acceptable, but pre-tax is the standard.

For large parties (6+ people), many restaurants add an automatic 18–20% gratuity. Check your bill before adding an additional tip on top.

Delivery Tipping (15–20% or $5 Minimum)

Food delivery drivers use their own vehicles and fuel. Whether you order through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or directly from a restaurant, a fair tip reflects the distance and effort involved.

• 15–20% of the order total, with a $5 minimum
• Add $2–3 for bad weather, long distances, or apartment buildings with no elevator
• Tip at least $5 even on small orders — the driver makes the same trip regardless of order size

For pizza delivery specifically, $3–5 per pizza is common, or 15–20% of the total — whichever is more. Delivery drivers appreciate cash tips since app-based tips may be delayed.

Salon & Barber Tipping (15–25%)

Hair stylists, barbers, and other salon professionals rely on tips as a significant portion of their income, especially if they rent their chair.

• Haircut: 15–20%
• Color, highlights, or complex services: 20–25%
• Shampoo assistant: $3–5
• Nail services: 15–20%
• Massage or spa treatments: 15–20%

If the salon owner does your hair, tipping is optional but appreciated. For everyone else, tipping is expected. Cash is preferred at many salons since it goes directly to the stylist.

Hotel Tipping

Hotels involve multiple service providers, each with their own tipping norms:

• Housekeeping: $2–$5 per night, left daily (not just at checkout) since different staff may clean each day
• Bellhop/porter: $1–$2 per bag, $5 minimum
• Concierge: $5–$20 for restaurant reservations or special requests, more for hard-to-get tickets
• Valet parking: $2–$5 when your car is returned
• Room service: 15–20% if gratuity is not already included on the bill

Travel & Transportation Tipping

• Taxi/rideshare: 15–20%, minimum $2
• Airport shuttle driver: $1–2 per bag
• Tour guides: $5–10 per person for half-day, $10–20 for full-day tours
• Fishing/boat charter captain: 15–20% of the trip cost, split among the mate(s) too
• Ski instructors: 15–20% of the lesson cost

Counter Service & Takeout (0–15%)

The rise of tablet-based payment systems has made tipping prompts appear everywhere, even at quick-service counters. Here is how to navigate it:

• Coffee shops: $1–2 per drink, or 10–15% if you order a complex specialty drink
• Fast casual (Chipotle, Sweetgreen): Tipping is optional; 0–10% is typical
• Bakeries and ice cream shops: Tipping is appreciated but not expected; rounding up or $1 is common
• Takeout from sit-down restaurants: 10–15% is a kind gesture, especially for large or complex orders

You should never feel pressured by a screen prompt. If the employee simply rang up a pre-made item, no tip is necessary. If they prepared something custom or went above and beyond, a small tip is a nice way to say thanks.

How to Split the Tip with a Group

When dining with friends, the fairest approach is to split the tip proportionally based on what each person ordered. If you ordered 40% of the food, you pay 40% of the tip. Equal tip splitting only makes sense when everyone ordered similar amounts.

Use our Tip Split Calculator or Bill Split Calculator to get the exact amount each person owes, including their share of tax and tip.

General Tipping Etiquette Tips

1. Cash is always appreciated. Credit card tips may take days or weeks to reach the worker, and some employers deduct processing fees from card tips.
2. Check for included gratuity. Many restaurants add 18–20% for parties of 6+. Look at the bottom of your bill before doubling up.
3. Bad food is not the server's fault. Reduce the tip for poor service, not for kitchen mistakes. Talk to a manager about food quality issues instead.
4. When in doubt, tip 20%. It is a safe, generous default that shows appreciation and keeps things simple.