Tipping Guide: How Much to Tip at Restaurants, Hotels & More

Tipping in the US can feel like a minefield — especially with digital payment screens now prompting for 30%+ on a cup of coffee. This guide covers standard tipping expectations across every common service situation so you can tip with confidence.

Restaurants & Food Service

Situation	Tip Amount	Notes
Sit-down restaurant (good service)	18–20%	The current standard. 15% is the minimum for adequate service.
Sit-down restaurant (exceptional)	20–25%	When the server goes above and beyond.
Buffet	5–10%	For drink refills and table clearing. Not expected but appreciated.
Counter service / fast casual	Optional	Not expected, but 10–15% is kind if they put effort in.
Takeout / pickup	0–10%	Genuinely optional. 10% if they handled a complex order.
Food delivery	15–20%	Min $3–5 for small orders. Drivers rely heavily on tips.
Bartender	$1–2/drink or 15–20%	$1 for a simple beer, more for complex cocktails.

Travel & Hospitality

Situation	Tip Amount	Notes
Hotel housekeeping	$3–5/night	Leave daily (staff rotates). Leave on the pillow with a note.
Hotel bellhop / luggage	$1–2/bag	Minimum $5 for any service.
Hotel concierge	$5–20	For reservations, special requests, or extra effort.
Valet parking	$2–5	When you pick up (not drop off).
Taxi / rideshare (Uber/Lyft)	15–20%	10% minimum. More for late night, heavy traffic, or extra bags.
Airport shuttle	$1–2/person	Or $5 for a group.

Personal Care Services

Situation	Tip Amount
Hair stylist / barber	15–20%
Nail salon (manicure/pedicure)	15–20%
Spa / massage therapist	15–20%
Tattoo artist	15–25%
Personal trainer	$10–20/session or holiday gift

When You're NOT Expected to Tip

Not every transaction requires a tip. You generally don't tip: doctors, dentists, lawyers, pharmacists, teachers, flight attendants (it's against airline policy), or government employees. At fast food drive-throughs or self-checkout counters, tipping is not expected.

The "Prompted Tip" Problem

You've seen it: you order a $5 coffee and the tablet screen suggests 20%, 25%, or 30%. This is called "tip creep" or "guilt tipping." For counter-service transactions where staff simply ring up your order without table service, it's completely acceptable to tap "No tip" or "Custom amount" and enter 0.

Tip for service, not for the act of a transaction being processed.

💡 Quick rule: If someone is serving you at a table, tip 18–20%. If they're handing you something over a counter, tipping is optional. If they came to you (delivery, valet, bellhop), tip $2–5 minimum.

Tip on Pre-Tax or Post-Tax?

Etiquette says pre-tax, but in practice most people just tip on the total bill shown. The difference on a $60 dinner (6% tax) is only about $0.54 on a 15% tip — not worth stressing over.