Short answer: In the US the custom is $1 to $2 per drink, or 15 to 20% of the tab if you are running one. With no cash on you, the options are: open a tab, use the tip line or screen, look for a code on the bar, or ask for a handle.
How much to tip a bartender
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| Beer or a simple mixed drink | $1 to $2 |
| Craft cocktail | $2 to $3 |
| $60 tab | $9 to $12 |
| Open bar at a wedding or event | $1 to $2 per drink, or $10 to $20 early in the night |
These are customary amounts in the United States, in US dollars. They are a guide, not a rule: tip more for exceptional service.
Do you have to tip a bartender?
In the US, yes. Bartenders are commonly paid a lower tipped wage and tips are most of their income. At a hosted bar, check for a sign: some hosts have already paid the gratuity.
Can you tip a bartender by card?
If you pay by card or open a tab, there is a tip line or screen. The trouble starts at open bars, cash bars at events and festivals, where nothing is being charged and so nothing can be added.
4 ways to tip a bartender without cash
- Open a tab. One tip on the closing total is easier than a dollar per round.
- Use the tip line or screen. It goes on the same card.
- Look for a code on the bar. Event and wedding bartenders often stand a QR code beside the jar. Scan it and pay by Apple Pay, Google Pay or card.
- Ask for a handle. At a private event, bartenders will usually give you a Venmo or Cash App tag if you ask.
What a tip QR code does
If a bartender shows you a QR code, point your phone camera at it. A payment page opens in your browser, you choose an amount, and you pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. You do not install anything or create an account, and it works with cards from other countries.
If you cannot tip on the day
At an open bar with no code and no cash, tell the bartender you will find them before you leave, and do it. Good service on the next round usually follows.
Outside the United States
In the UK you do not tip per drink; "and one for yourself" is the traditional offer. In Australia and most of Europe tipping at the bar is optional, and rounding up is enough.
Do you work as a bartender?
The dollar-a-drink tip depended on customers holding change from a note. With tap-to-pay there is no change, and at open bars there is no bill either. The jar on the bar is still there and it is emptier every year.
See how bartenders take card tips with a QR code: where to put it, what to write on the sign and how to mention it.
Common questions
How much should I tip a bartender?
In the US the custom is $1 to $2 per drink, or 15 to 20% of the tab if you are running one.
Do I have to tip a bartender?
In the US, yes. Bartenders are commonly paid a lower tipped wage and tips are most of their income. At a hosted bar, check for a sign: some hosts have already paid the gratuity.
Can I tip a bartender with a card or Apple Pay?
If you pay by card or open a tab, there is a tip line or screen. The trouble starts at open bars, cash bars at events and festivals, where nothing is being charged and so nothing can be added.
What if I have no cash to tip a bartender?
At an open bar with no code and no cash, tell the bartender you will find them before you leave, and do it. Good service on the next round usually follows.