The check arrives, someone asks “so what do we tip?” — and suddenly a nice evening turns into a math debate. Here’s the short answer for the U.S. in 2026: 18 to 20% at sit-down restaurants, 15 to 20% for delivery and bars, and $1 to $5 for the quick services in between. The full picture, though, depends on where you are and what you ordered — and this guide covers all of it.
The 30-Second Rule
If you only remember one thing: 20% is the new standard for good restaurant service. A decade ago, 15% was the default everyone quoted. That floor has shifted — 15% is now the minimum for acceptable service, 18% is safe, 20% says the meal was genuinely good, and 25% is for exceptional service.
Not sure what the numbers look like on your bill? Our tip calculator does it in seconds — enter the bill, tap 18%, 20%, or 25%, and split it evenly between everyone at the table.
Restaurant Tipping: The Main Event
For a full-service restaurant — a waiter takes your order, brings food, refills drinks — the expectation is clear:
- 20% — good to great service. This is the default you should start from.
- 18% — fine, nothing memorable. Perfectly acceptable.
- 15% — the floor. Service was notably slow or inattentive.
- Below 15% — only if something was genuinely wrong. A word with the manager helps more than a thin tip: the server learns nothing from a number on a receipt.
One important habit: tip on the pre-tax subtotal, not the taxed total. The tax portion of your bill isn’t service — tipping on it inflates the tip for no reason. On a $60 subtotal with $5 in tax, 20% on the subtotal is $12.00; on the taxed total it’s $13.00. That dollar matters more on big tabs.
And before you calculate anything, check the receipt for an automatic service charge. Many restaurants add 18–20% automatically for parties of six or more. It prints right on the bill, often in small type. Tipping on top of an auto-gratuity means paying twice.
Delivery, Takeout, and Coffee
Tipping norms change once you leave the dining room:
- Food delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.): 15–20% of the order subtotal, with a $3 to $5 minimum on small orders. The driver uses their own car and gas — and tip before fees and taxes, which go to the platform, not the driver.
- Takeout / counter pickup: optional, but a dollar or two (or ~10%) is always appreciated. Nobody expects 20% when you carried the bag out yourself.
- Coffee shops: $1 per drink or round up to the nearest dollar.
Bars, Taxis, and the Rest
- Bartenders: $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% if you’re running a tab. Cash per round keeps things simple during busy hours.
- Taxis and rideshares: 15–20% of the fare. More if the driver helped with heavy luggage or navigated terrible traffic.
- Hair stylists and barbers: 15–20% of the service price — on the original price if you used a coupon, not the discounted amount. The work was the same.
- Hotel housekeeping: $2–5 per night, left in the room each morning (different staff may clean each day).
- Bellhops and valets: $1–5 per bag or per car, depending on the hotel.
When You Should Adjust
The percentages above are starting points, not laws. Adjust up for exceptional service, a complicated table, or a holiday shift. Adjust down only for genuinely poor service — and ask whether the problem was the server’s fault or the kitchen’s. Stiffing a server for a 45-minute kitchen delay punishes the wrong person.
One more nuance: tip screens at counters are set by the business, not by etiquette — you’re allowed to press “custom” and enter $1 for a muffin and a coffee. Follow the service, not the prompt.
The Fastest Tip Math You’ll Ever Learn
No calculator handy? Two tricks cover almost everything:
- The 10% anchor. Move the decimal point one place left: 10% of $42 is $4.20. From there: 15% = add half ($2.10) → $6.30. 20% = double → $8.40.
- The double-the-tax trick. In states with ~8–10% sales tax, doubling the tax line gets you roughly 18–20% of the pre-tax bill. (Check your state’s rate first — it varies.)
Both take under five seconds at the table. For everything else — splitting the bill, custom percentages, exact cents — the tip calculator handles it with one tap.
FAQs
Is 15% still an acceptable tip?
Yes — 15% remains the floor for adequate restaurant service in the U.S. But know that 18–20% has become the expected range for good service, so a flat 15% now reads as “fine, not great.”
Do you tip on tax and fees?
No. Tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Delivery and service fees on apps go to the platform, not the driver, so base the tip on the food subtotal.
Should you tip at fast food or counter service?
It’s optional. A dollar or two or ~10% is generous and appreciated; nobody expects a full restaurant percentage for counter service.
How much do you tip for a $200 dinner?
20% of $200 is $40 — the standard for good service. Excellent service or a complicated large-party dinner: $45–50 (22–25%). Splitting four ways, the tip calculator gives exact per-person shares.
What if the restaurant adds a service charge?
Then you’ve already tipped. A service charge (usually 18–20% for large parties) goes to the staff — don’t add a full tip on top unless you want to reward exceptional service with extra.
Final Thoughts
Tipping doesn’t have to be a source of stress. Default to 20% at restaurants, tip on the pre-tax subtotal, check for auto-added service charges, and use the quick 10%-anchor math when the phone stays in your pocket. For everything else — exact splits, custom percentages, delivery orders — keep the tip calculator bookmarked and settle the check in seconds.
Try Our Free Calculators
Put this guide into practice with our free tools: Tip Calculator, Percentage Calculator.