How Much to Tip at a Restaurant in 2025 (Complete USA Guide)

Tipping at restaurants is one of the most common sources of confusion for both Americans and international visitors. The short answer: tip 18–20% at a sit-down restaurant, more for great service. But the full picture is more nuanced.

Standard Restaurant Tip Percentages

At a full-service restaurant where a server takes your order and brings food to the table, these are the widely accepted US tip standards:

Excellent service: 20–25%
Good service: 18–20%
Average service: 15%
Poor service: 10–15% (tip less, but still tip — it may not be the server's fault)

Tipping by Service Type

Service	Tip
Sit-down restaurant	18–20%
Bar / Bartender	$1–2/drink or 15–20%
Buffet	10% or skip
Counter service / fast casual	Optional — $1–2
Food delivery (app)	15–20%, min $3–5
Pizza delivery	$3–5 flat
Hair salon / barber	15–20%
Taxi / Uber / Lyft	15–20%
Hotel housekeeping	$2–5/night
Hotel valet	$2–5 when car returned
Spa / massage	15–20%
Tour guide	$2–5/person/day

What About Bad Service?

If the service was genuinely poor, it is acceptable to leave a smaller tip — but leaving nothing is considered rude in US culture and affects servers who depend on tips as their primary income. Before reducing your tip, consider whether the issue was within the server's control (slow kitchen, wrong order from a cook) versus directly their fault.

Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax: Which to Tip On?

Etiquette says tip on the pre-tax amount, but in practice most Americans tip on the total. On a $50 bill with 8% tax, the difference is less than $1 at 20%, so don't stress over it.

Automatic Gratuity

Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity (usually 18–20%) for large parties (6 or more). Always check your bill before adding an additional tip — the line for "additional gratuity" is optional if auto-grat is already included.

The Easiest Way to Calculate Your Tip

Skip the mental math. Use TipQuickly — enter your bill, tap a tip percentage, and your tip amount and split per person appears instantly.