Tip Calculator

Tipping Etiquette Guide

Tipping customs vary by country, service type, and situation. In the United States, tipping is customary and often expected as service workers receive lower base wages. Here's a comprehensive guide to tipping in different scenarios.

Restaurant Tipping Guidelines

Full-Service Restaurants

• Standard Service (15-18%): Adequate, attentive service
• Good Service (18-20%): Friendly, prompt, knowledgeable service
• Exceptional Service (20-25%+): Outstanding service, special accommodations
• Poor Service (10-15%): Below standard but not egregious (consider speaking with manager)

Special Considerations

• Large Parties: 18-20% (often automatically added for 6+ people)
• Fine Dining: 20%+ is standard for elevated service
• Buffets: 10% is typical for drink service and table clearing
• Bar Service: $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of bar tab

Food Delivery Tipping

Delivery Apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub)

• Standard: 15-20% or minimum $3-5
• Bad Weather: 20-25% for rain, snow, extreme heat
• Large Orders: 20%+ for multiple bags or heavy items
• Long Distance: Add $1-2 per mile beyond 5 miles

Pizza Delivery

• Standard Order: $3-5 or 15-20%
• Large Orders: $5-10 minimum
• Bad Weather: Add $2-5 extra

Service Industry Tipping

Hair Salon / Barber

• Stylist: 15-20% of service cost
• Shampoo Person: $3-5
• Colorist: 15-20% (separate from stylist if different person)
• Owner: Tipping optional but appreciated

Spa Services

• Massage Therapist: 15-20%
• Esthetician: 15-20%
• Nail Technician: 15-20%
• Multiple Services: Tip each provider individually

Hotel Staff

• Housekeeping: $2-5 per night (leave daily, not at end)
• Bellhop: $1-2 per bag
• Concierge: $5-20 depending on service complexity
• Valet: $2-5 when car is returned
• Room Service: 15-20% if not already added

Transportation

• Taxi: 15-20% of fare
• Uber/Lyft: 15-20% (app makes it easy)
• Airport Shuttle: $2-3 per bag
• Valet Parking: $2-5

When NOT to Tip

• Fast Food: Counter service with no table service
• Coffee Shop Pickup: Optional for takeout (tip jar appreciated)
• Carryout Orders: Optional, 10% if complex order or exceptional service
• Self-Service: Buffets where you serve yourself completely

International Tipping Customs

Countries Where Tipping is Expected

• United States: 15-20% standard
• Canada: 15-20% standard
• Mexico: 10-15% common, often not included

Countries Where Tipping is Less Common

• Japan: Tipping can be seen as insulting, exceptional service is expected
• Australia: Tipping not expected, 10% for exceptional service
• New Zealand: Similar to Australia, tipping becoming more common

Countries Where Service is Usually Included

• United Kingdom: 10-15% if service not included, check bill
• France: Service compris (included), small additional tip optional
• Germany: Round up or add 5-10%
• Italy: Coperto (cover charge) common, small additional tip appreciated

Tip Calculation Tips

Quick Mental Math

• 15%: Take 10% (move decimal left one place), then add half of that
• 20%: Take 10%, then double it
• 18%: Take 10%, add that to the original, then subtract 2% (or just use calculator)

Example: $86 Bill

• 10%: $8.60
• 15%: $8.60 + $4.30 = $12.90
• 20%: $8.60 × 2 = $17.20

Tipping Etiquette Do's and Don'ts

Do:

• Tip on the pre-tax amount (or total if you prefer to be generous)
• Tip in cash when possible (servers receive it immediately)
• Leave daily tips for housekeeping, not just at checkout
• Tip extra for special requests or accommodations
• Adjust tip based on service quality, not food quality

Don't:

• Withhold tip for kitchen mistakes (not server's fault)
• Tip on gift certificate value (tip on the full meal value)
• Assume service charge is a tip (often goes to house, not server)
• Leave loose change only (appears thoughtless)
• Skip tipping for poor service without speaking to management first

Special Situations

Split Checks

When splitting bills, each person should tip on their portion. Use this calculator's "Number of People" feature to split evenly, or calculate individual portions based on what each person ordered.

Comped Meals

If your meal is comped or you're using a gift certificate, always tip on the full original value. The server still provided full service.

Coupons and Discounts

Tip on the pre-discount amount. The server did the same work whether you paid full price or used a discount.

Poor Service

If service is genuinely poor, speak with the manager first. Withholding tip without explanation doesn't help the server improve. If service was terrible despite management intervention, 10% is acceptable minimum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I tip on tax?

Either way is acceptable. Tipping on the pre-tax amount is traditional and mathematically correct, but tipping on the total (including tax) is simpler and slightly more generous. Most people round up anyway.

What if service charge is already added?

Check your receipt carefully. "Service charge" often goes to the house, not the server. If you want to ensure your server gets tipped, add 5-10% extra. For automatic gratuity (18-20% for large parties), additional tipping is optional but appreciated for great service.

How much to tip on a gift card?

Tip on the full value of the meal before the gift card discount. If your $100 meal is covered by a gift card, tip $15-20, not zero.

Should I tip at the counter?

For counter service (coffee shops, fast casual), tipping is optional but appreciated. $1 or rounding up is typical. For complex orders or exceptional service, 10-15% is generous.

Is it rude to tip less than 15%?

In the US, 15% is considered the minimum for adequate service. Tipping less signals dissatisfaction. If service was truly poor, speak with management and consider 10%. Never stiff completely unless service was egregiously bad.

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