The short answer
At a sit-down restaurant in the US, 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is the standard range from the Emily Post Institute. Twenty percent is the easy number for good service, and it's simple to work out: take 10% and double it.
The math is easy to do at the table. For 15%, find 10% and add half of it: on a $60 bill that's $6 plus $3, so $9. For 18%, a close shortcut is 20% minus a little. For 25%, divide the bill by four.
What people do varies more than the advice. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey asked US adults what they'd tip for an average sit-down meal. 57% said 15% or less, 12% said 18%, and 25% said 20% or more.
How much to tip by service
These ranges come from the Emily Post Institute's general tipping guide. They're customs, not rules, and you can go higher for great service or a difficult job.
Before tax or after tax?
Etiquette guides give restaurant percentages on the pre-tax bill. On a $120 dinner with $9.60 of tax, a 20% tip is $24 before tax and $25.92 after it. The gap is under $2, so don't lose sleep over it.
If you like round numbers, tip on the after-tax total and round up. Your server won't complain about the extra dollar or two.
Where tipping is expected and where it isn't
Pew's survey shows how habits differ by service. 81% of US adults who eat at sit-down restaurants say they always tip there. About 78% of people who get haircuts and 76% of people who order food delivery say they always or often tip. For taxis and rideshares it's 61%, and at coffee shops only about a quarter always or often tip.
Tip screens at the counter are a newer habit. In the same Pew survey, 72% of US adults said tipping is expected in more places than it was five years earlier. A suggested tip on a screen is a suggestion. At a counter where nobody served you at a table, a small tip or none is normal.
When a service charge is already on the bill
Large-party bills often include an automatic gratuity of a set percentage. Read the receipt before adding a tip, because it's easy to tip twice. In the US, a compulsory charge is treated differently from a tip you choose, under IRS and Department of Labor guidance. It may be shared among staff or kept partly by the business.
If you want to be sure your server benefits, ask how the charge is handled, or leave a little extra in cash. Our tip calculator can count a service charge toward your chosen percentage or add your tip on top, and it splits the result between everyone paying.
Tipping outside the US
These numbers are American customs. Habits vary a lot from country to country, and in some places a service charge is usually on the bill already. Check the bill for a service line first, and look up local customs before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Is 15% still an acceptable tip?
Yes. It's at the low end of the 15% to 20% range the Emily Post Institute gives for sit-down restaurants. Pew also found 57% of US adults tip 15% or less for an average meal.
How much should I tip for takeout?
There's no obligation. Emily Post suggests 10% for extra service, like curbside delivery, or a large and complicated order.
How much do you tip a hairdresser?
15% to 20% is the usual guideline. If several people worked on your hair, ask the salon to split the tip among them.
How much should I tip hotel housekeeping?
Around $2 to $5 a day. Leave it daily rather than at the end, since different staff may clean your room on different days.
How much should I tip a taxi driver?
Emily Post suggests 15% to 20% of the fare, with a minimum of $1, plus $2 for the first bag the driver carries and $1 for each extra bag.
References
These sources support the method or guidance used for Tip Calculator. Verify time-sensitive rules at the source.
Try the calculator
Open Tip Calculator, enter your scenario, and compare its supporting rows with this guide's method and checks.