A comprehensive guide to tipping service workers
American tipping culture covers a lot of ground, from the obvious (restaurants) to the genuinely confusing (do you tip the person who delivers your new couch?). This guide covers every situation you’re likely to encounter, organized by category, with honest answers about when a tip is expected, when it’s optional, and when you can skip it entirely.
These norms are specific to the United States. If you’re visiting from another country and want to compare, see our worldwide tipping chart or find your home country on our regions page.
Quick Reference Table For Tipping Service Workers
| Service | Tip Expected? | Typical Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant server | Yes | 18-20% |
| Buffet server | Optional | 10% |
| Takeout / counter service | Optional | 10-15% or skip |
| Bartender | Yes | $1-2 per drink or 15-20% on tab |
| Coffee shop / barista | Optional | $0.50-$1 per drink |
| Food delivery driver | Yes | 15-20% ($4-5 minimum) |
| Grocery delivery | Yes | $5-10 |
| Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | Yes | 15-20% |
| Taxi driver | Yes | 15-20% |
| Airport shuttle driver | Optional | $1-2 per person |
| Valet parking | Yes | $2-5 when car returned |
| Hotel bellhop / porter | Yes | $1-2 per bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | Yes | $2-5 per night (leave daily) |
| Hotel concierge | Optional | $5-15 for meaningful help |
| Hotel door attendant | Optional | $1-4 for carrying bags or hailing a cab |
| Hotel room service | Optional | $2-5 (if no service charge) |
| Hairstylist / barber | Yes | 15-20% |
| Nail technician | Yes | 20% |
| Spa / massage therapist | Yes | 15-20% |
| Tattoo artist | Yes | 15-20% |
| Esthetician / waxing | Yes | 15-20% |
| Movers | Yes | $20-50 per mover |
| Furniture / appliance delivery | Optional | $5-20 per person |
| House cleaner (one-time) | Yes | 15-20% |
| House cleaner (regular) | Optional | Larger tip at holidays |
| Dog groomer | Yes | 15-20% |
| Dog walker / pet sitter | Optional | One session’s fee at holidays |
| Tour guide | Yes | 15-20% or $10-20 per person |
| Casino dealer | Optional | Occasional chips or cash |
| Coat check attendant | Yes | $1-2 per item |
| Parking garage attendant | Optional | $1-2 |
| Restroom attendant | Optional | $0.50-$1 |
| Golf caddie | Yes | $50-100+ depending on round |
| Skycap (airport baggage) | Yes | $1-2 per bag |
| Food truck | Optional | $1-2 or round up |
| Plumber / electrician | No | Not expected |
| Contractor / handyman | No | Not expected |
| Mailman / postal worker | No (federal rules) | Gift under $20 at holidays OK |
| UPS / FedEx driver | Optional | Cash or gift at holidays |
| Garbage collectors | Optional | Cash gift at holidays |
| Teacher / professor | No | Gift OK; cash is awkward |
| Doctor / nurse | No | Not appropriate |
Food and Drink
Sit-Down Restaurants
18-20% is the standard in 2026. Your server earns as little as $2.13 per hour from their employer under federal tipped minimum wage law — tips close the gap to a livable income. For exceptional service, 25% or more is a genuine expression of appreciation. For genuinely poor service (not the kitchen’s fault), 15% is the floor. Always check your bill. Large groups often have an automatic gratuity already added.
Tip on the pre-tax subtotal by traditional etiquette, though tipping on the full total has become common and is perfectly acceptable.
Buffets
10% is appropriate when a server brings drinks and clears your plates. At fully self-serve buffets where no one attends to your table, no tip is expected.
Bars
$1-2 per drink is the standard for a bartender, or 15-20% on a running tab. On a busy Saturday night, starting your tab with a generous first-round tip will get you noticeably better service for the rest of the evening. This is an open secret that most experienced bar-goers already know.
Coffee Shops and Cafes
Optional. The tip jar at a coffee counter isn’t the same as a restaurant server expecting 20%. Baristas earn a higher base wage in most states and don’t depend on tips the same way. That said, $0.50-$1 per drink for a skilled espresso drink is a kind gesture, and many regulars tip their go-to baristas consistently. The tip screen at counter service is a software default, not a social obligation. Pressing “no tip” for a simple drip coffee is completely normal.
Takeout and Counter Service
Optional, and genuinely so. If someone spends time on a complex custom order, assembles multiple dishes, or provides a noticeably helpful interaction, 10-15% is a nice gesture. For a simple order picked up at a counter with minimal staff involvement, skipping the tip is normal.
Food Delivery
15-20% with a $4-5 minimum regardless of order size. Delivery drivers are independent contractors covering their own fuel and vehicle costs, and the “delivery fees” and “service fees” charged by apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats typically don’t go to the driver. The tip is genuinely separate income. Tip more for long distances, bad weather, stairs, or heavy orders.
Grocery Delivery
$5-10 for a standard order, more for large or heavy deliveries. Instacart, Shipt, and similar services suggest a percentage but a flat $5-10 is appropriate for most orders.
Transportation
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft)
15-20% in-app is standard. Drivers use their own vehicles and cover their own costs. Tip after the ride. Early tipping doesn’t affect driver behavior during the trip. For exceptional service (helping with luggage, great conversation, a particularly smooth ride), tipping higher than the suggested amounts costs you almost nothing and means a lot to the driver.
Taxis
15-20% is the norm. For a short city ride where the math is awkward, rounding up to a convenient number is perfectly acceptable. Always confirm the meter is running before the ride begins.
Valet Parking
$2-5 when your car is returned, not when you drop it off. Some people also tip $1-2 at drop-off to ensure attentive care of their vehicle, though this is optional.
Airport Skycaps
$1-2 per bag when a skycap checks your luggage curbside. This is one of the clearest and most expected tipping situations at an airport.
Airport Shuttle Drivers
$1-2 per person for a shared shuttle. Optional but appreciated, particularly if the driver helped load luggage.
Hotels and Travel
Bellhop and Porter
$1-2 per bag, with $2 for the first bag and $1 for each additional bag being a traditional guideline. Always have small bills ready since this is a cash-in-hand transaction.
Housekeeping
$2-5 per night, left daily on the nightstand or pillow with a note marked “housekeeping.” Tipping daily rather than at checkout ensures the right person receives it since the same housekeeper may not clean your room every day.
Concierge
Not expected for answering basic questions (where is the gym, what time does the pool open). For meaningful help such as securing a hard-to-get reservation, arranging special transportation, or handling a problem, $5-15 reflects the effort and value provided.
Tour Guides
15-20% of the tour cost, or $10-20 per person for group tours. For free walking tours that operate on a pay-what-you-like model, a tip is the guide’s primary compensation. $15-20 per person reflects a good two-hour experience.
Personal Care
Hairstylists and Barbers
15-20% of the service cost. For complex color services, balayage, or extensions that take several hours, 20% or more reflects the skill and time involved. The old rule about not tipping salon owners is largely outdated.
Nail Technicians
20% is the standard. Cash is preferred since it goes directly to the technician rather than being pooled or processed through a payment system.
Spa and Massage Therapists
15-20% for spa services at day spas or resort spas. At medical facilities — chiropractors, physical therapy clinics, medical massage practices — tipping is not appropriate since these are healthcare settings.
Tattoo Artists
15-20% is widely expected, and this is one situation where cash is particularly appreciated. A good tattoo artist often charges less than their skill warrants, and a generous tip on a large piece is both a financial acknowledgment and an expression of trust in their work.
Estheticians and Waxing
15-20% is standard for waxing, facials, and other esthetic services.
Home Services
Movers
$20-50 per mover for a standard local move, or $4-10 per mover per hour. Even if your company is covering the moving costs, tip the crew directly in cash. They don’t see any of that corporate payment. Providing drinks and snacks during the move is also appreciated but doesn’t replace a cash tip.
Furniture and Appliance Delivery
Optional but appreciated, particularly for heavy or difficult deliveries. $5-20 per delivery person reflects the physical effort involved, especially for multi-flight stair carries or complex appliance installations.
House Cleaners
15-20% for a one-time cleaning. For a regular cleaner who comes weekly or bi-weekly, a larger cash tip at Thanksgiving or the winter holidays equivalent to one session’s cost is the most common approach.
Landscapers and Lawn Care
Not typically expected for regular service from a company. A seasonal tip of $20-50 per regular worker at the end of summer or for holiday decorating is a kind gesture for those who work your property consistently.
Plumbers, Electricians, and Contractors
Not expected. These are skilled professionals who set their own rates. Tipping is not part of the service culture in these trades and would likely feel awkward to the recipient. Leaving a positive review or referring their business is more valuable.
Other Services
Dog Groomers
15-20% is the standard. For particularly difficult dogs, longer appointments, or especially detailed work, 20% or more is appropriate.
Dog Walkers and Pet Sitters
A tip equal to one session’s cost at major holidays is the most common approach for regular providers. For occasional or one-off services, 15-20% is a nice gesture.
Casino Dealers
Tipping dealers is common practice, typically done by placing a bet for the dealer or sliding chips across the table with a “this is for you.” There’s no fixed percentage. Tip occasionally during a session when you’re winning is the standard approach.
Coat Check Attendants
$1-2 per item when you retrieve your coat. Have the cash ready as this is always a cash transaction.
Golf Caddies
$50-100 per round for a standard caddie, depending on the course, the length of the round, and the quality of advice and service. At high-end courses where caddies are a meaningful part of the experience, $100+ is appropriate.
Postal Workers and Delivery Drivers
Federal regulations prohibit postal workers from accepting cash tips over $20. A gift (baked goods, a gift card under $20) at the holidays is appropriate and genuinely appreciated. UPS and FedEx drivers are less constrained — a cash or gift card at the holidays is a nice gesture for a driver who regularly handles your deliveries carefully.
Garbage Collectors
A holiday cash tip of $20-50 for your regular collection crew is common in many parts of the US, particularly in the Northeast. Leave it in an envelope on or near your bins with a note.
Who You Should Not Tip
A few situations where tipping is genuinely inappropriate or awkward:
- Doctors, nurses, and medical professionals — healthcare settings have professional ethics guidelines around gifts and payments outside of billing
- Teachers and professors — a thoughtful non-cash gift is fine; a cash tip crosses into uncomfortable territory
- Government employees — postal workers (above $20), DMV staff, public officials
- Business owners who set their own prices — less clear-cut than it used to be, but a contractor who bills you directly has already accounted for their compensation
A Few General Rules
- Cash is almost always preferred — it reaches the person immediately, with no processing fees or delays
- Tip on the pre-tax amount — though tipping on the total is increasingly common and fine
- The tip screen at counter service is optional — it is a software default, not a social obligation for every transaction
- Tip in cash when a service charge is on the bill — service charges often go to the restaurant or employer, not the individual who served you
- When in doubt, tip — over-tipping is never offensive; under-tipping in situations where it’s genuinely expected can be
Traveling outside the US? Tipping norms vary significantly around the world. See our full US tipping guide, browse our worldwide tipping chart, or find your destination on the regions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you tip at counter service restaurants in the USA?
Optional. The tip screen is a software default, not an expectation. For simple orders with minimal service, skipping the tip is completely normal. For complex orders or particularly helpful interactions, 10-15% is a nice gesture.
Do you tip the owner of a salon or barbershop?
Yes. The old rule about not tipping owners is largely outdated. If they provided the service, tip them at the same rate you would any other stylist.
How much do you tip movers?
$20-50 per mover for a standard local move, in cash, handed directly to each crew member. For a long-distance or particularly complex move, $50 per mover or more is appropriate.
Do you tip on the total bill or pre-tax amount?
Traditionally on the pre-tax subtotal, but tipping on the full total (including tax) is increasingly common and either approach is perfectly acceptable.
Should you tip if a service charge is already included?
Not necessarily — but check whether the service charge goes to the employee or the employer. If it goes to the business, a small additional cash tip for exceptional individual service is appreciated.