For U.S. sit-down restaurant service, 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill remains a widely cited tipping range. But there is no single “correct” tip percentage for every service. Delivery difficulty, service quality, local customs, an included charge, and whether a worker performed a personal service can all change the answer.
Reviewed September 3, 2026 by Umar Malik, who maintains the CalcRange calculator library. Published percentages are attributed to the sources below and should be treated as etiquette guidance, not a legal requirement.
Tip percentages at a glance
This table summarizes common U.S. guidance from the Emily Post Institute. A range is a starting point, not a command. Check the receipt for included gratuity and consider the actual work performed.
| Service | Common U.S. tip | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15%–20% of pre-tax bill | Check first for automatic gratuity |
| Buffet wait service | 10% of pre-tax bill | Adjust for drink refills, clearing, and extra help |
| Bartender | $1–$2 per drink or 15%–20% of tab | Use the percentage for cocktails or an open tab |
| Takeout pickup | No obligation; about 10% for extra service | Consider large, complicated, or curbside orders |
| Food delivery | 10%–15%; $2–$5 for pizza delivery | Increase for distance, weather, stairs, or a large order |
| Hair stylist or barber | 15%–20% | Base it on the service price |
| Manicure or spa service | 15%–20% | Tip the person who performed the service |
| Taxi driver | 15%–20% | Consider luggage help and unusual delays |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–$5 per day | Leave it daily because staff may change |
| Valet | $2–$5 when the car is returned | A parking fee is not automatically a tip |
Ranges outside the United States can be very different. Some countries build service into prices, some add a charge to the receipt, and some do not have a broad tipping custom. When traveling, check current local guidance instead of exporting U.S. percentages.
What is the average restaurant tip percentage?
“Average” depends on the dataset. Toast reported that card and digital tips at full-service restaurants using its platform averaged 19.3% in the first quarter of 2026. Quick-service restaurants on the same platform averaged 15.8%. Those figures cover participating Toast transactions; they are not a census of all U.S. payments, and cash or zero-tip transactions may be represented differently depending on the dataset.
Survey answers tell another part of the story. Pew Research Center found that among Americans who always or often tip at sit-down restaurants, 15% was the most common answer for an average meal in its 2023 survey, while many respondents chose 18% or 20%. In other words, social expectations cluster rather than landing on one universal number.
A reasonable way to use this evidence is to treat 15% to 20% as the normal sit-down range, then choose within it based on service and your circumstances. Do not interpret a platform average as a minimum.
How much should you tip at a restaurant?
- 15%: within established U.S. etiquette guidance for standard sit-down service.
- 18%: a common middle choice and a frequent preset on payment terminals.
- 20%: widely used for good sit-down service and easy to calculate mentally.
- More than 20%: a voluntary way to recognize unusually attentive service, a demanding table, or extra help.
Before choosing, look for “service charge,” “gratuity,” or “large-party charge” on the receipt. If a mandatory 18% charge is already included, adding another 18% would nearly double the intended amount.
When should the percentage be higher?
The bill price does not always reflect effort. Consider moving upward within your chosen range—or using a higher flat minimum—when:
- a delivery involves severe weather, a long distance, stairs, or heavy items;
- a server manages allergies, substitutions, or a large group carefully;
- a stylist, driver, housekeeper, or other worker provides extra time or assistance;
- a discounted or complimentary item required the same amount of work as the full-price service;
- you received a small service where the percentage produces an unusually tiny dollar amount.
For example, 15% of an $8 delivery is only $1.20. A modest flat minimum may better reflect the trip and effort. The decision is personal, but thinking in dollars as well as percentages avoids strange results at very low bill amounts.
When can a lower tip—or no tip—make sense?
Tipping is not expected in every transaction. Emily Post lists no obligation for an ordinary tip jar or routine takeout pickup, though extra service may justify something. A no-tip restaurant may state that service is included in menu prices. A receipt may already contain a mandatory service charge. Customs abroad may discourage tipping.
If a serious service problem occurs, distinguish the worker’s performance from problems outside that person’s control, such as kitchen delays or app pricing. If safety, harassment, discrimination, or fraud is involved, prioritize reporting the incident to management or the platform rather than trying to communicate solely through a percentage.
Tip, gratuity, and service charge are not always the same
In casual conversation, “tip” and “gratuity” are often used interchangeably. For U.S. federal tax purposes, the IRS draws a sharper line: a tip is voluntary and the customer controls the amount; a mandatory service charge or automatic charge is not a tip. A suggested 15%, 18%, or 20% line can still be voluntary if the customer may choose another amount or leave it blank.
This distinction matters when reading a bill. A label is not enough—look at whether the payment is required. If you are unsure who receives a service charge, ask the business. Distribution policies vary.
Should the tip percentage use the pre-tax amount?
Traditional U.S. restaurant guidance commonly uses the pre-tax subtotal. Tipping after tax is also common because it is convenient and a little more generous. On a $100 subtotal with 8% tax, a 20% pre-tax tip is $20; a 20% post-tax tip is $21.60. The difference is $1.60.
Both calculations are easy in the CalcRange tip calculator, which keeps tax separate. The full tip before or after tax guide explains the choice and shows more examples.
How to turn a percentage into a dollar amount
Multiply the eligible bill by the percentage as a decimal:
Tip = bill × (percentage ÷ 100)
On an $85 bill:
- 15% = $85 × 0.15 = $12.75
- 18% = $85 × 0.18 = $15.30
- 20% = $85 × 0.20 = $17.00
- 25% = $85 × 0.25 = $21.25
Use the tip chart for common bills or the percentage calculator for other percentage questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is 15% still an acceptable restaurant tip?
Yes. The Emily Post Institute includes 15% within its 15% to 20% pre-tax guideline for sit-down restaurant service. Local expectations and service quality still matter.
Is 20% a good tip?
Twenty percent is widely used for good sit-down service in the United States. It is also simple to calculate: find 10% of the bill and double it.
Is 25% too much?
No. A 25% tip is generous but can be appropriate when you want to recognize exceptional service or extra effort. It is voluntary unless a disclosed charge is part of the bill.
Do you tip on a service charge?
Not automatically. First determine whether the charge is mandatory, what it covers, and whether the business expects an additional voluntary tip. Avoid paying the same gratuity twice by mistake.
What percentage should I tip for takeout?
There is generally no obligation for routine pickup. Emily Post suggests about 10% when there is extra service, such as curbside delivery or a large, complicated order.
Are suggested tip buttons mandatory?
Not if the screen lets you choose another amount or zero. The IRS notes that suggested calculations remain voluntary tips when the customer controls the amount.
Sources and limitations
This guide uses U.S. etiquette guidance, survey responses, transaction data, and federal definitions. None of those sources creates a universal legal tipping rate. Accessed September 3, 2026.
- Emily Post Institute: General Tipping Guide
- Pew Research Center: What services Americans tip for, and how much
- Toast: U.S. restaurant tipping trends
- Internal Revenue Service: Tip recordkeeping and reporting
Know your percentage? Use the free CalcRange tip calculator to calculate the tip, tax, final bill, rounding, and per-person share.