How Much to Tip in Every Situation

February 17, 2026 |

everyday tipping

The standard restaurant tip in the U.S. is 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill. But restaurants are just one situation where tipping is expected. Here is what to tip in every common scenario.

Standard tipping percentages by situation

Situation	Typical tip
Sit-down restaurant	15%–20% of pre-tax bill
Buffet	10%
Food delivery	15%–20%, minimum $3–5
Coffee shop (counter service)	$1–2 per drink
Hair salon / barber	15%–20%
Hotel housekeeping	$2–5 per night
Hotel bellhop	$1–2 per bag
Rideshare (Uber, Lyft)	15%–20%
Taxi	15%–20%
Valet parking	$2–5 when car is returned
Movers	$20–50 per mover, or 5%–10% of the total bill
Grocery delivery	10%–15%, minimum $5

For sit-down restaurants, 20% is now common in most U.S. cities. 15% signals adequate service. Below 15% signals a problem.

How to calculate a tip in your head

The mental math trick is to find 10% first, then adjust.

Finding 10%: Move the decimal one place to the left. 10% of $67.50 is $6.75.

Finding 20%: Double the 10% number. 20% of $67.50 is $6.75 x 2 = $13.50.

Finding 15%: Add half of 10% to the 10% amount. Half of $6.75 is $3.38, so 15% of $67.50 is $6.75 + $3.38 = $10.13.

Finding 18%: Start with 20% ($13.50) and subtract a small amount, or start with 15% ($10.13) and add a bit. Roughly $12.15.

Worked example: $67.50 restaurant bill

Your pre-tax bill is $67.50. Here is the tip at each common percentage:

15% tip: $67.50 x 0.15 = $10.13. Total: $77.63.
18% tip: $67.50 x 0.18 = $12.15. Total: $79.65.
20% tip: $67.50 x 0.20 = $13.50. Total: $81.00.

Most people round up to a clean number. A $13.50 tip becomes $14 for a total of $81.50, or you might round the total to $82.

Pre-tax vs. post-tax: which amount do you tip on?

The standard practice is to tip on the pre-tax subtotal. Sales tax is money that goes to the government, not the restaurant. Tipping on the post-tax total means you are tipping on the tax itself.

That said, the difference is small. On a $67.50 bill with 8% sales tax, the post-tax total is $72.90. A 20% tip on pre-tax is $13.50. A 20% tip on post-tax is $14.58. The difference is $1.08. Some people tip on the post-tax amount for simplicity, and that is fine.

When to tip more

Tip above 20% for large party service (some restaurants add an automatic 18% gratuity for groups of 6 or more). Also tip more for complex orders, special accommodations, or when the weather makes delivery difficult.

For delivery in rain or snow, consider $5 minimum regardless of order size. Delivery drivers use their own gas and vehicle in most cases.

When tipping is not expected

Tipping is generally not expected at fast-food counters, retail stores, or medical offices. Some newer point-of-sale systems prompt for tips at places where tipping was never traditional. You are not obligated to tip in those situations.

Key takeaways

Tip 15%–20% at sit-down restaurants, based on the pre-tax subtotal
For delivery and rideshare, 15%–20% with a reasonable minimum ($3–5)
Hotel housekeeping: $2–5 per night, left daily
Hair salons and barbers: 15%–20%
Mental math: find 10% by moving the decimal, then double it for 20% or add half for 15%
When in doubt, 20% is a safe default for any service situation

Try These Calculators

Tip Calculator

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