Tipping in the United States confuses locals and visitors alike. The percentages shift depending on where you are, screens now flip around asking for 25% at the counter, and nobody hands out a rulebook. This guide keeps it simple: what’s actually expected, service by service, and where the gray areas are. Bookmark it — it’s the one page that points to everything.
Why tipping matters more in the US
In a lot of the world, a tip is a small bonus for great service. In the US, it’s closer to part of the wage. Many tipped workers — servers, bartenders, delivery drivers, salon staff — earn a lower base pay with the understanding that tips make up the difference. That’s why leaving a fair tip here isn’t just polite; for the person serving you, it’s a real chunk of their income. Once that clicks, the percentages make a lot more sense.
The quick reference chart
Here’s the fast answer for the most common situations. Tap any row to read the full guide for that one.
| Service | Standard tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 18–20% of the bill |
| Food delivery | 15–20%, $5 minimum |
| Uber / rideshare | 15–20% of the fare |
| Hairdresser / barber | 15–20% |
| Nail salon | 15–20% |
| Massage therapist | 15–20% |
| Dog groomer | 15–20% |
| House cleaner | 15–20% or holiday bonus |
| Movers | $4–$5/hr each, or 15–20% |
| Tattoo artist | 15–20% |
| Tour guide | 10–20% or $5–$10/person |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–$5 per night |
| Valet | $2–$5 at pick-up |
When you need an exact dollar figure, skip the mental math and use the tip calculator — it handles the percentage, the tax, and splitting the bill.
Restaurants: the one everyone asks about
Sit-down restaurants are the anchor of American tipping. The standard is 18–20% of the pre-tax bill for normal-to-good service, 15% if something was genuinely off, and 20%+ when your server went above and beyond. For a full breakdown — including tipping on tax, what to do with a group gratuity, and buffet vs. full-service — see the restaurant tipping guide.
A couple of quick rules that carry across most dining:
- Counter service (coffee, fast-casual) is optional — the tip screen asking for 20% at a register is a nudge, not an obligation. A dollar or rounding up is generous.
- Bartenders get about $1–$2 per drink, or 15–20% on a tab.
- Buffets still warrant a small tip (around 10%) for the staff clearing plates and refilling drinks.
Personal care and appointments
Anything where someone works on you or for you by appointment follows the same 15–20% logic as a restaurant. That covers your hairdresser or barber, your nail tech, your massage therapist, your tattoo artist, and your dog’s groomer. Lean toward 20% for detailed, custom, or physically demanding work, and remember that cash usually reaches the worker faster than a card tip that the shop has to process.
Delivery, rides, and getting around
- Food delivery: 15–20%, but never below about $5 — distance and weather matter more than the order size.
- Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): 15–20% of the fare, more for help with bags or a long haul.
- Valet: $2–$5 when they bring your car back; tip each time at a hotel.
Hotels and travel
Hotels have a handful of small, easy-to-forget tips:
- Housekeeping: $2–$5 per night, left daily rather than in one lump at the end (different people clean on different days).
- Bellhop: $1–$2 per bag.
- Concierge: $5–$20 if they pull off something special, like hard-to-get reservations.
- Tour guides: 10–20% of the tour cost, or $5–$10 per person for a group day tour.
Moving and home services
Bigger, physical jobs have their own patterns. Movers typically get $4–$5 per person per hour (or 15–20% split across the crew on a big job), while a regular house cleaner is more often thanked with a year-end holiday bonus than a per-visit tip. In both cases, cash handed over directly is the norm.
When you don’t have to tip
Tipping fatigue is real, and not every screen deserves a yes. You generally don’t owe a tip for:
- Grabbing a pre-made item off a shelf or a simple counter pickup.
- Business owners who set their own prices (though many people still tip them — it’s a kind gesture, not a duty).
- Services where a mandatory service charge or auto-gratuity already appears on the bill — check before you add more.
- Genuinely poor service, though it’s fairer to leave a smaller tip and mention the issue than to stiff someone entirely.
The rule of thumb: tip generously when a person provided a real service, and don’t feel pressured by a screen when they didn’t.
Cash or card?
Either works, but cash has real advantages. It reaches the worker immediately, isn’t shaved by payment processors, and doesn’t get held until payday. For valets, housekeeping, movers, and salon staff especially, cash is king. When cash isn’t handy, adding the tip on the card is completely fine — the important thing is that you tip fairly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard tip in the US?
For sit-down restaurants, 18–20% of the bill is standard. Most personal services (salons, spas, grooming) land in the same 15–20% range.
Is 15% still an acceptable tip?
It’s the low end of acceptable for a restaurant — fine for so-so service, but 18–20% is now the everyday norm for good service.
Do you tip on tax?
It’s slightly more generous to tip on the pre-tax total, but many people just tip on the full amount for simplicity. On a normal bill the difference is small.
Do I have to tip at counters and self-checkout screens?
No. Counter and pickup tips are optional. Reserve your tipping budget for full service, where it actually makes up part of someone’s wage.
How do I calculate a tip quickly?
Find 10% by moving the decimal one place left, then double it for 20%. Or use the tip calculator to get the exact amount and split it across your group.
Bookmark this guide, and when you need the exact number, open the free tip calculator — enter your total, set the percentage, add tax, and split the bill in one step.