How Much to Tip in Every Situation (The 2026 Guide)
Tipping culture has gotten complicated. Between tip screens at coffee shops and 30% suggested tips at restaurants, nobody knows the right number anymore. Here is clarity.
Tipping in the United States has expanded dramatically since 2020. Tip screens now appear at self-serve frozen yogurt shops, fast-casual counters, and retail stores where no tipping tradition ever existed. The suggested percentages have crept from 15/18/20 to 18/20/25. Many people now tip 20%+ everywhere out of guilt or confusion rather than informed choice. Here is what each situation actually calls for.
Restaurants (Table Service): 18-20%
This is the baseline for sit-down restaurants with a server who takes your order, brings your food, refills drinks, and handles your check. 18% for standard service, 20% for good service, 25% for exceptional service. Below 15% sends a message that something went wrong. The tip should be calculated on the pre-tax subtotal — though honestly, the difference between tipping on pre-tax and post-tax amounts is usually $1-2, which is not worth the mental energy.
Counter Service / Fast Casual: $0-15%
The tip screen at Chipotle or a coffee shop is not an obligation. These workers are paid full minimum wage (unlike tipped servers who receive a lower base wage). Tipping $1-2 on a coffee or 10-15% on a larger order is generous and appreciated. Hitting "no tip" is not rude — it is the default in the rest of the world and was the default in the US until approximately 2019.
Delivery: 15-20% or $5 Minimum
Delivery drivers use their own vehicles, pay for their own gas, and face weather and traffic. A $5 minimum tip on small orders ensures the trip is worth their time. On larger orders, 15-20% is standard. For DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubble, remember that the delivery fee goes to the platform, not the driver — your tip is often the majority of their compensation for that delivery.
Other Services
Hair stylist: 15-20% of the service total. Bartender: $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of a tab. Hotel housekeeping: $2-5 per night, left daily (different staff clean each day). Valet: $2-5 when the car is returned. Movers: $20-40 per mover for a full-day move. Taxi/rideshare: 15-20%. Spa/massage: 15-20%.
Calculate the exact tip and split with our tip calculator or divide the whole check with our bill split calculator.