How Much Should You Tip?
Calculate tips for restaurants, delivery, salons, and services. See total bill with tip included.
Tipping Guidelines by Service (2026)
Restaurant: 18-20% is the current standard (up from 15% a decade ago). 15% for average service, 20% for good, 25% for exceptional. Delivery: 15-20% or $5 minimum. Salon/Barber: 18-25%. Rideshare: 15-20%. Hotel housekeeping: $3-5/night (leave daily, not at checkout). Bar: $1-2 per drink or 18-20% on a tab. Takeout: Optional, 0-10% — increasingly expected post-pandemic.
The Tipping Debate
Tipping culture is uniquely American — most countries pay service workers a living wage and do not expect tips. The argument for tipping: it incentivizes good service and provides income flexibility. The argument against: it creates income instability, enables employers to pay below minimum wage, and introduces racial and gender bias in earnings. Several high-profile restaurants have tried no-tipping models with mixed results.
The tipping screen at counter-service restaurants (asking for 18-25% for handing you a coffee) is called "tip creep" or "guilt tipping." Consumer surveys show 35% of people tip at counter service when prompted by a screen, compared to 15% when there is a tip jar. You are under no obligation to tip for counter service — it is genuinely optional.
