Short answer: At a US sit-down restaurant, 15 to 20% of the bill before tax is standard, and 20% is now the common default. With no cash on you, the options are: write it on the slip or use the handheld, ask for the tip to be run separately, scan a code on the table or receipt, or ask the server.
How much to tip a server
| Situation | Usual tip |
|---|---|
| $50 bill | $8 to $10 |
| $120 bill | $18 to $24 |
| Buffet or counter service | 10%, or a few dollars |
| Party of six or more | Check the bill: 18 to 20% is often added automatically |
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 server?
In the US, effectively yes. Servers can legally be paid a much lower tipped wage in most states, on the assumption that tips make up the rest.
Can you tip a server by card?
Restaurants nearly always let you tip on the card. The exceptions are cash-only places, some buffets, split bills paid partly with a gift card, and meals paid by voucher or by someone else in advance.
4 ways to tip a server without cash
- Write it on the slip or use the handheld. The standard route.
- Ask for the tip to be run separately. If the meal was prepaid, a restaurant can usually charge a tip-only amount to your card.
- Scan a code on the table or receipt. Some restaurants print a QR code that pays the server or the team directly.
- Ask the server. If the terminal cannot do it, many servers have a personal tip link.
What a tip QR code does
If a server 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
Speak to the manager, not just the server: "I want to leave a tip and I cannot add it to this payment." They will find a way to charge it.
Outside the United States
In the UK a 10 to 12.5% service charge is often already on the bill, so check before adding more. In Australia and New Zealand tipping is optional. In much of Europe service is included and people round up.
Do you work as a server?
Card tips reach you through payroll, sometimes weeks later and sometimes after a deduction. When a table has prepaid, used a voucher or split the bill five ways, the tip is often dropped completely.
See how servers 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 server?
At a US sit-down restaurant, 15 to 20% of the bill before tax is standard, and 20% is now the common default.
Do I have to tip a server?
In the US, effectively yes. Servers can legally be paid a much lower tipped wage in most states, on the assumption that tips make up the rest.
Can I tip a server with a card or Apple Pay?
Restaurants nearly always let you tip on the card. The exceptions are cash-only places, some buffets, split bills paid partly with a gift card, and meals paid by voucher or by someone else in advance.
What if I have no cash to tip a server?
Speak to the manager, not just the server: "I want to leave a tip and I cannot add it to this payment." They will find a way to charge it.