Tipping in the United States: How Much, When & Who

First time in the US? Tipping is expected — not optional. Here's exactly how much to tip at restaurants, taxis, hotels and more.

Tipping in the United States is not a gesture of goodwill — it is a fundamental part of how service workers get paid. Many US service staff earn a federally permitted 'tipped minimum wage' as low as US$2.13 per hour, with tips legally expected to make up the difference. As a visitor, budgeting for tips is as essential as budgeting for tax — treat it as part of the price of the service.

Tipping in the US at a Glance

Restaurants & Cafés

The standard restaurant tip in the US has risen over the past decade. Where 15% was once the norm, 18–22% is now the current baseline for table service, and 25% is increasingly common for exceptional service. Most card payment terminals will present you with preset tip buttons — typically 18%, 20%, and 25% — which reflects the genuine expectation of staff. If you see a 'custom' option and enter 15%, your server will notice. At sit-down restaurants with full table service, a tip is always expected. At counter-service cafés or fast-casual spots, you may see a tip prompt on the screen — this is optional, though a dollar or two is appreciated. Always check your bill before tipping: a small number of tourist-heavy restaurants add a service charge or 'gratuity included' line automatically, especially for groups of six or more. If that charge is already on the bill, you are not expected to add more on top.

• •18–22% is the current standard for sit-down restaurant service
• •15% is widely regarded as a low or disappointing tip
• •Check the bill for 'service charge' or 'gratuity included' before adding extra
• •Automatic gratuity is common for groups of 6 or more — usually 18–20%
• •Counter-service cafés: tipping is optional but common (US$1–2 is fine)
• •Tip is calculated on the pre-tax subtotal, though many people tip on the total

Taxis & Rideshare

Whether you're in a yellow cab in New York, a rideshare in Los Angeles, or a local taxi service anywhere in between, tipping 15–20% of the fare is the standard expectation. For metered taxis, most payment terminals will prompt you with tip options automatically — select one or enter a custom amount. Rounding up to the nearest dollar is acceptable for short rides, but for fares over US$10, a percentage tip is more appropriate. For Uber and Lyft, the app prompts you to tip after the ride is complete — the default options typically start at 15%. Drivers see their ratings and tips together, and consistently skipping tips on rideshares is noticed. If a driver helps with luggage, navigates well, or makes the ride noticeably comfortable, tipping at the higher end of the range (18–20%) is appropriate. Cash tips are always welcome and can be handed directly to the driver.

Hotels, Tours & Other Services

• •Porters/Bellhops: US$2–5 per bag when they carry luggage to or from your room
• •Housekeeping: US$2–5 per night — leave cash in an envelope or with a note saying 'Thank You, Housekeeping' so it is clearly intended for them
• •Concierge: US$5–10 for a useful restaurant recommendation or booking; US$10–20 for securing a difficult reservation or arranging something special
• •Tour guides: 15–20% of the tour cost in cash at the end; for a shared group tour, US$5–10 per person per guide is a helpful rule of thumb
• •Private tour guides: tip on the higher end — US$20–50 for a full day is standard
• •Spa and salon: 15–20% of the service cost, handed to the therapist or stylist directly or added to the card payment
• •Valet parking: US$2–5 when your car is returned

How to Tip in the US

Tipping by card is completely normal and widely accepted in the US — in fact, most transactions now happen entirely on card, and payment terminals are designed to make tipping seamless. At restaurants, you will typically receive a printed receipt with a tip line to fill in, or a tablet/card reader with preset tip buttons. Write the tip amount and the total clearly if using paper. For hotel staff, porters, and housekeeping, cash is strongly preferred since it goes directly to the individual rather than through any pooling system. Keep a small supply of US$1 and US$5 bills handy for these situations — they are genuinely useful throughout any US trip. At bars, it is common to tip at the end of each round or run a tab and tip when you close it out. Handing cash directly to a bartender or server is always appreciated and is a perfectly normal thing to do.

Frequently Asked Questions