Short answer: Expected. Tipping is expected in the United States and makes up a large part of many service workers' pay. At sit-down restaurants, 15% is widely treated as the minimum and 18 to 20% is the common recommendation. Prices are shown before sales tax, and tips are usually worked out on the pre-tax amount.
Is service included?
Most restaurants do not add a service charge, so the tip is left by you. Some add an automatic gratuity or service charge, most often for larger groups, so check the bill before tipping to avoid paying twice.
How much to tip in the United States
| Who | Usual tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants (sit-down) | 18 to 20% | 15% is widely seen as the minimum; work it out on the pre-tax total. Buffets around 10%. |
| Cafes and bars | $1 to 2 per drink | Bartenders $1 to 2 per drink or 15 to 20% of the tab. Counter and coffee tip jars are optional. |
| Taxis and rideshare | 15 to 20% | Advice varies from 10 to 20% of the fare; rideshare tips are added in the app. |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2 to 5 per night | Leave it daily, as the cleaner may change; more at luxury hotels. |
| Hotel porters | $2 per bag | Up to $5 per bag for bulky, heavy suitcases. |
| Tour guides | 15 to 20% | Of the tour price is the common guideline; tip drivers too on longer tours. |
| Hairdressers and spas | 15 to 20% | Of the service price, for haircuts, massages, nails and facials. |
| Food delivery | 15 to 20% | Or a few dollars minimum on small orders. |
Amounts are in the local currency (USD). They are common customs, not rules: tip more for great service and less where it was poor.
How to tip
Most tips are paid by card, either on the tip line of the bill or on a terminal or tablet that shows preset percentages. Cash is still handy for hotel housekeeping, porters and valets. Leave housekeeping cash daily with a note.
What to avoid
Do not leave nothing at a sit-down restaurant for ordinary service; 15% is widely treated as the minimum. Do check the bill first so you do not tip on top of an added gratuity.
Tipping by card
Card terminals and tablets very often show a tip screen with preset choices, commonly around 15, 18, 20 and 25%, plus a custom amount. Presets are sometimes calculated on the total including tax, and you can usually enter your own figure or choose no tip.
Tips and the law in the United States
Who keeps the tips
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees keep their tips. An employer, manager or supervisor may not keep tips. Tip pools are allowed: a pool for a business that takes a tip credit can include only workers who customarily receive tips, and a business that pays the full minimum wage in cash can include back-of-house staff, but never managers or owners. A compulsory service charge (for example 15% added to the bill) is not a tip, and the employer may keep it. An employer may deduct the card processing fee from card tips, but not more than that fee. Some states have stricter rules.
Are tips taxed?
Tips are taxable income. An employee who gets $20 or more in tips in a calendar month must report them to the employer by the 10th of the next month, and smaller amounts are still reported on the tax return. Employers withhold income tax, Social Security and Medicare on reported tips. Mandatory service charges are treated as wages. For tax years from 2025, the "no tax on tips" law adds a federal deduction of up to $25,000 a year for qualified tips in listed occupations, reduced for income above $150,000 (single) or $300,000 (joint). Payroll taxes still apply to tips. Self-employed workers report tips as business income.
Tips and the minimum wage
Yes, in many states: federal law lets employers pay a cash wage of $2.13 an hour and claim a tip credit of up to $5.12 to reach the $7.25 minimum, and the employer must top up any shortfall. Several states require the full minimum wage with no tip credit.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Work out a tip
The tip calculator is set to the United States and the local currency: enter the bill, pick a percentage and split it between the table.
Tipping with no cash
When you have no local cash, ask whether a tip can go on the card. More and more guides, drivers and performers show a QR code instead: point your phone camera at it and you can tip by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay without installing anything. Workers in the United States can read how QR code tipping works in the United States.
Street performers
Tipping a busker is always optional. If you enjoy the show, a coin or a note in the case is the custom, and more performers now show a QR code so you can tip by card. Rules for buskers by city:
- Busking in Albuquerque
- Busking in Ann Arbor
- Busking in Asheville
- Busking in Atlanta
- Busking in Austin
- Busking in Baltimore
- Busking in Berkeley
- Busking in Boise
Sources
- Pew Research Center: Services Americans do and don't tip for, and how much
- Emily Post Institute: General tipping guide
- AFAR: How much to tip at hotels in the U.S.
- Consumer Reports: How much of a tip should you leave?
- Fact Sheet #15: Tipped Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Topic no. 761, Tips: withholding and reporting
- One, Big, Beautiful Bill: How to take advantage of no tax on tips and overtime
Checked in October 2026 against the sources above. Customs change and vary between cities and venues.
Common questions
Is tipping expected in the United States?
Expected. Tipping is expected in the United States and makes up a large part of many service workers' pay. At sit-down restaurants, 15% is widely treated as the minimum and 18 to 20% is the common recommendation. Prices are shown before sales tax, and tips are usually worked out on the pre-tax amount.
How much should you tip at a restaurant in the United States?
18 to 20%. 15% is widely seen as the minimum; work it out on the pre-tax total. Buffets around 10%.
Is a service charge added to the bill in the United States?
Most restaurants do not add a service charge, so the tip is left by you. Some add an automatic gratuity or service charge, most often for larger groups, so check the bill before tipping to avoid paying twice.
Do you tip taxi drivers in the United States?
15 to 20%.
How much do you tip hotel housekeeping in the United States?
$2 to 5 per night.
Are tips taxed in the United States?
Tips are taxable income. An employee who gets $20 or more in tips in a calendar month must report them to the employer by the 10th of the next month, and smaller amounts are still reported on the tax return. Employers withhold income tax, Social Security and Medicare on reported tips. Mandatory service charges are treated as wages. For tax years from 2025, the "no tax on tips" law adds a federal deduction of up to $25,000 a year for qualified tips in listed occupations, reduced for income above $150,000 (single) or $300,000 (joint). Payroll taxes still apply to tips. Self-employed workers report tips as business income.
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