Restaurants · United States
Do you tip at restaurants in United States?
Short answer
18–20%
18–20% for table service. 15% signals a problem.
Expected
Twenty percent is the working default in cities and 18% is the floor for acceptable service. Anything under 15% reads as deliberate criticism. Counter service, takeaway and coffee shops are far looser — the tablet tip prompt is optional and 10% or a dollar is fine.
In practice
- A $80 dinner → tip $16
- A $145 dinner for four → tip $29
Tip calculator
- 18%
- —
- 20%
- —
Cash or card?
Card tipping is universal — receipts have a tip line and terminals prompt with preset percentages. Cash is still welcomed but never required.
Common questions
- Do you tip at restaurants in United States?
- 18–20% for table service. 15% signals a problem. Twenty percent is the working default in cities and 18% is the floor for acceptable service. Anything under 15% reads as deliberate criticism. Counter service, takeaway and coffee shops are far looser — the tablet tip prompt is optional and 10% or a dollar is fine.
- How much should you tip at restaurants in United States?
- 18–20%. 18–20% for table service. 15% signals a problem.
- Can you tip by card in United States?
- Card tipping is universal — receipts have a tip line and terminals prompt with preset percentages. Cash is still welcomed but never required.
More on tipping in United States
Tipping at restaurants elsewhere
← Full tipping guide for United States
Editorial review pending. These figures reflect widely reported norms for United States and have not yet been checked against cited sources.