How Much to Tip in Every Situation: The Complete 2026 Tipping Guide with Real Data

Tipping in America has never been more confusing. Between expanding tip screens at places that never asked before, shifting social expectations, and a brand-new federal tax law that changes the economics for millions of service workers, figuring out the right amount to tip in any given situation requires more thought than it should. This guide cuts through the noise with real data from payment processors, industry surveys, and labor statistics to give you a definitive, situation-by-situation reference for tipping in 2026.

Whether you're sitting down at a restaurant, handing your keys to a valet, tipping your hairdresser, or trying to figure out what to give the movers, the data-backed recommendations below will help you tip fairly and confidently without overthinking it.

The Complete Tipping Reference Table

Before diving into the details, here is the comprehensive reference table covering every common tipping situation in the United States for 2026. These figures are based on payment processor data from Toast and Square, industry surveys from the National Restaurant Association and American Hotel & Lodging Association, and Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

Restaurant Tipping in 2026

Restaurant tipping remains the cornerstone of American tipping culture, and it is also where the data is most robust. According to Toast's Q1 2025 Restaurant Trends Report, the national average tip at full-service restaurants is 19.4% for card-based payments. This represents a gradual decline from 20.3% in 2022, but it remains within the range that the restaurant industry considers healthy for server compensation.

Full-Service Dining

At sit-down restaurants where a server takes your order, brings food to your table, and checks on you throughout the meal, the standard expectation is 18-20% of the pre-tax bill. This has been the norm for over a decade, and despite the broader "tipping fatigue" trend, it shows remarkable stability in the data. The pre-tax distinction matters: on a $120 dinner with $12 in sales tax, tipping 20% on the pre-tax amount ($24) versus the total ($26.40) saves you $2.40, and either approach is considered acceptable.

For exceptional service, 22-25% is a generous gesture that most servers will notice and appreciate. For genuinely poor service (not just a busy night), 15% sends a clear signal. Tipping below 15% at a full-service restaurant is generally considered a negative commentary on the server's performance, and in those situations it is worth considering whether the issue was actually within the server's control (kitchen delays, for example, are not the server's fault).

Fast-Casual and Counter Service

This is where the data gets more complicated and where consumer frustration is highest. At fast-casual restaurants (places like Chipotle, Panera, or local counter-service spots), there is no firm consensus on tipping expectations. The average tip at counter-service restaurants was 14.9% in Q2 2025 among customers who chose to tip, but a significant and growing percentage of customers choose not to tip at all.

The general guideline: if you ordered at a counter and picked up your own food, a tip of $1-3 or 10-15% is kind but not expected. If someone brought the food to your table, made a custom item, or provided notable service, tipping 15% is appropriate.

Bars and Bartenders

Bartender tipping follows a simple, time-tested system: $1-2 per drink for beer and wine, and 15-20% if you're running a tab with cocktails. For complex craft cocktails that require significant preparation, $2-3 per drink is appropriate. If you're at a busy bar and the bartender gives you priority attention, tipping on the higher end or adding $5-10 to your final bill is a good way to ensure continued good service.

Delivery and Takeout

Delivery tipping has evolved significantly in the app-delivery era. The economics of delivery work are different from restaurant service, and the data reflects a growing understanding among consumers that delivery drivers face costs (gas, vehicle wear, insurance) that restaurant servers do not.

Food Delivery Apps (DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub)

The average food delivery tip in 2025 was approximately $4.50, which translates to roughly 18-20% on an average order of $22-25. Industry guidelines and driver advocacy groups recommend a minimum tip of $5 for any delivery, regardless of order size, because the driver's time, gas, and vehicle costs are similar whether they're delivering a $12 lunch or a $50 dinner.

One critical nuance with delivery apps: tip before delivery, not after. Unlike restaurants where you tip based on the experience, delivery drivers on most platforms see your tip amount before accepting the order. Low-tip or no-tip orders are deprioritized by the algorithm and may sit longer, resulting in cold food. A pre-tip of $5-7 on a standard order signals to drivers that your delivery is worth prioritizing.

Grocery Delivery (Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Walmart+)

Grocery delivery involves more physical labor than food delivery: shoppers must select items, communicate about substitutions, carry heavy bags, and often navigate stairs or long walkways. The standard tip is 10-15% of the order total or $5 minimum, whichever is greater. For large orders (over $150), heavy items (cases of water, pet food), or deliveries requiring stairs, 15-20% or $10-15 is more appropriate.

Pizza Delivery

Traditional pizza delivery remains one of the most straightforward tipping situations: 15-20% or $3-5 minimum. Delivery drivers for pizza chains typically earn minimum wage plus tips (unlike restaurant servers who may earn a lower tipped minimum), but their vehicle expenses are significant. In bad weather or during late-night deliveries, add $2-3 to your standard tip.

Takeout and Counter Pickup

Takeout tipping is genuinely optional in most situations. If you walk into a restaurant, order at the counter, and pick up a bag, a tip of $1-3 is a kind gesture but not expected. The exception is complex or large orders (catering trays, orders over $100, or highly customized items) where staff put significant effort into preparation and packaging. In those cases, 10% is reasonable.

Personal Services

Personal service providers, from hairdressers to tattoo artists, develop ongoing relationships with their clients, and tipping is a well-established part of these industries.

Hair Stylists and Barbers

The standard tip for hairdressers and barbers is 15-20% of the service cost. For a $60 haircut, that means $9-12. If an assistant washes your hair, a separate tip of $5 minimum for the shampoo assistant is customary. This is one of the most consistent tipping norms in the U.S. and has remained stable even as tipping fatigue affects other categories.

For color treatments, highlights, and other complex services that can cost $150-300+, tipping 20% adds up quickly. In these cases, 15-18% is perfectly acceptable, and many salons have started including a gratuity suggestion with the bill to make it easier. If you're unhappy with the result, it's better to ask for a correction than to skip the tip entirely, since the stylist invested significant time and product cost.

Nail Technicians

Nail salon tipping follows the same 15-20% guideline as hair salons. For a $35 manicure, $5-7 is standard. For a full set of acrylics or gel extensions at $65-80, $10-16 is appropriate. Many nail salons are cash-based businesses, and technicians often prefer cash tips because card tips may be subject to processing fees or delayed distribution. Bringing a few small bills to the nail salon is always a considerate move.

Massage Therapists and Spa Services

For massages, facials, and other spa treatments, tip 15-20% of the session cost. A $100 one-hour massage warrants a $15-20 tip. One important caveat: some high-end spas and medical spas include gratuity in the bill or have a no-tipping policy. Always check before your appointment. If the therapist is also the business owner (common with independent massage practices), tipping is appreciated but less expected, as the owner sets their own prices.

Tattoo Artists

Tattoo tipping ranges from 15-25% of the tattoo cost, with the standard being around 20%. The range is wider than most service categories because tattoo work varies enormously in complexity, time, and artistic skill. For a small, simple tattoo ($100-200), 20% is standard. For large custom pieces involving multiple sessions ($500-2,000+), 15-20% per session is typical, and many clients round up or add extra for the final session as a thank-you for the completed piece.

Tattoo artists are skilled professionals who often spend hours on custom design work before the needle ever touches skin. That unpaid design time is one reason why tipping on the higher end (20-25%) is common among experienced tattoo clients.

Travel and Transportation

Travel generates a wide variety of tipping situations, from hotel staff to rideshare drivers. Here is what the data and industry associations recommend.

Hotel Housekeeping

The American Hotel & Lodging Association recommends tipping hotel housekeeping $2-5 per night. This is one of the most under-tipped services in America: surveys consistently show that fewer than 30% of hotel guests leave housekeeping tips. The recommendation is to leave the tip daily rather than at the end of your stay, because different housekeepers may clean your room on different days. Place the tip on the nightstand or desk with a note indicating it's for housekeeping.

For luxury hotels or suites, $5-10 per night is appropriate. If you make a special mess (spilled food, extra towels, glitter from a party), add $5-10 extra that day.

Hotel Bellhops and Porters

Tip $1-2 per bag for bellhops who carry your luggage, with a $5 minimum if you have multiple bags or heavy items. If the bellhop gives you a room tour, explains hotel amenities, or helps with a special request, $5-10 is appropriate.

Valet Parking

Tip your valet $2-5 when your car is returned, not when you drop it off. In major cities where valet parking is expensive ($30-50+ for the night), the tip still only needs to be $3-5. The valet fee goes to the parking company; the tip goes to the attendant. In luxury settings or if the valet hustles to get your car quickly, $5-10 is generous.

Rideshare Drivers (Uber, Lyft)

Tip 15-20% of the ride fare or $2-5 minimum for standard rides. For airport trips with luggage, late-night rides, or rides in bad weather, add $2-5 extra. Uber and Lyft drivers receive 100% of in-app tips, making the app tip feature the most convenient option. For detailed rideshare tipping guidance, see our complete rideshare tipping guide.

Taxi Drivers

Taxi tipping follows the same 15-20% guideline based on the metered fare. Round up to the nearest dollar for a smoother transaction. For cash payments, leaving the change is common. For credit card payments, most taxi card readers have preset tip options similar to restaurant POS systems.

Home Services

Home services occupy a gray area in tipping culture. Some providers expect tips; others don't. Here is how to navigate the most common scenarios.

Movers

Tipping movers is customary and appreciated, though not technically required. The standard recommendation is $20-40 per person for a full day of local moving (4-8 hours). For long-distance moves that span multiple days, $40-60 per person per day is appropriate. Factors that justify tipping on the higher end include: stairs, heavy furniture (pianos, safes), extreme heat or cold, and careful handling of fragile items.

Most moving company employees earn $12-18 per hour for physically demanding work. A $30-40 tip per person for a full day can represent a 25-40% bump in their daily earnings, and the difference in effort and care you receive between a tipped and untipped crew is often noticeable.

Furniture Delivery

For basic furniture delivery (dropping off items at your door), tipping $5-10 per person is a kind gesture. If delivery workers carry items upstairs, navigate tight hallways, or assemble furniture, $10-20 per person is appropriate. Some delivery services explicitly prohibit tipping; check the company's policy if you're unsure.

Plumbers, Electricians, and Contractors

Tipping licensed tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians) is not expected or customary. These professionals typically set their own rates or work for companies that bill at professional service rates ($75-150+ per hour). However, if a plumber comes out on Christmas Eve to fix a burst pipe or an electrician goes above and beyond to solve a complex problem, a $20-40 cash tip or offering food and drinks is a thoughtful gesture.

Lawn Care and Landscaping

For regular lawn care service, tipping is not expected with each visit. Instead, many homeowners give a holiday tip of one week's service cost ($50-150) in December. For one-time large projects (tree removal, landscape installation), tipping individual crew members $10-20 is a nice touch but not required.

State-by-State Data

Tipping behavior varies significantly across the United States. Payment processor data from Toast and Square, covering millions of transactions, reveals clear regional patterns.

The data reveals a strong inverse correlation between the tipped minimum wage and average tip percentages. States that allow a lower "tipped minimum wage" (as low as $2.13/hour under the federal tip credit) tend to have significantly higher tipping averages. This makes intuitive sense: in states like Delaware and Indiana, consumers understand that servers depend heavily on tips to earn a livable wage, and they tip accordingly.

In contrast, states like California and Washington, which require employers to pay the full state minimum wage ($16.50 and $16.66 per hour, respectively) regardless of tip income, see lower average tips. Consumers in these states may feel that servers are already adequately compensated by their employers, reducing the perceived obligation to tip as generously.

When to Tip More or Less

While the percentages and dollar amounts above provide a solid baseline, specific circumstances warrant adjusting your tip up or down.

Tip More When:

• The weather is terrible: Delivery drivers, rideshare drivers, and anyone working outdoors in rain, snow, or extreme heat deserves an extra $2-5.
• Your order or request is complicated: A coffee order with six modifications, a catering order for 30 people, or a haircut that involves a major style change all warrant tipping on the higher end.
• It's a holiday or late night: Workers sacrificing holiday time or working past midnight deserve recognition. Add $3-5 or bump up one percentage tier.
• The service was genuinely exceptional: A server who goes out of their way, remembers your preferences, or handles a problem gracefully deserves 22-25%.
• You used a coupon or gift card: Always tip based on the original pre-discount price, not the discounted total. If your $100 meal was discounted to $60 with a coupon, tip 20% on $100 ($20), not on $60.
• You have a large group: Even if auto-gratuity isn't applied, servers work significantly harder for large tables. 20% minimum for groups of 6 or more.

Tip Less (or Not at All) When:

• The service was genuinely poor: Not a busy night, not a kitchen mistake, but actual inattentiveness or rudeness from your server. Even then, 10-15% acknowledges the base level of work.
• You're at a self-service establishment: Tip screens at self-checkout, grab-and-go counters, and retail stores where no personal service was provided. Selecting "No Tip" is appropriate.
• Gratuity is already included: Many upscale restaurants and large-party checks include 18-20% gratuity. Check your bill before adding more (unless the service was outstanding).
• The provider is the business owner: Historically, tips were not expected for business owners who set their own prices. This norm has softened in recent years, but tipping the owner of a salon or spa 10-15% (rather than the usual 20%) is considered acceptable.

The New Tax Law's Impact

The "No Tax on Tips" provision, enacted July 4, 2025, as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has introduced a significant new dynamic into tipping economics. Eligible workers in traditionally tipped occupations can now deduct up to $25,000 in voluntary tip income from their federal taxable income, potentially saving thousands of dollars per year.

What This Means for Tippers

For consumers, the law changes nothing about your tipping obligations. The amounts you tip are the same whether or not the worker gets a tax deduction on them. However, understanding the law can help frame your tipping decisions: knowing that your tip now has even more value to the worker (because a larger share stays in their pocket after taxes) can make the act of tipping feel more impactful and rewarding.

What This Means for Workers

The financial impact for workers is substantial. A server earning $22,000 in tips who previously paid 12% federal income tax on that amount ($2,640) can now deduct the full amount, saving $2,640 per year. A bartender earning $30,000 in tips can deduct $25,000 (the cap), saving approximately $5,500 at the 22% bracket. These savings are significant for workers in industries with historically thin personal budgets.

However, the law does not change Social Security (6.2%) or Medicare (1.45%) tax obligations on tip income. Workers still owe payroll taxes on the full amount of their tips, and the deduction expires after tax year 2028 unless extended by Congress. For a detailed breakdown of the law including eligibility, income phase-outs, and claiming procedures, see our complete guide to the No Tax on Tips law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount at restaurants?

Either is acceptable. Traditionally, tipping etiquette says to tip on the pre-tax subtotal. In practice, many people tip on the total including tax, and servers won't complain. The difference is usually only $1-3. If you want to be precise, use the pre-tax amount. If you want simplicity, use the total on the receipt.

Is it ever okay to not tip at a restaurant?

In extremely rare cases involving genuinely hostile or negligent service (not just slow service on a busy night), tipping nothing is a last resort. Even then, 10% with a note to management is a more constructive approach. In the U.S., restaurant servers often earn as little as $2.13/hour before tips; stiffing a server means they effectively worked your table for free.

How much should I tip on a $200 haircut?

15-20%, or $30-40. For premium services at high-end salons, 15-18% is within the accepted range given the higher base price. If an assistant washed and dried your hair, tip them an additional $5-10 separately.

Should I tip the owner of a small business?

This is a personal choice. The traditional etiquette is that you don't tip business owners because they set their own prices and retain the full profit. However, this norm has relaxed, especially for solo practitioners (a single-chair barber, a freelance tattoo artist working from their own studio). If you want to tip the owner, 10-15% is appropriate rather than the full 20%.

How do I tip at a food truck?

Food trucks are treated like counter-service restaurants: $1-3 or 10-15% is appropriate. Most food trucks have a tip jar or digital tip screen. Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory, especially for simple orders. For complex custom orders or if the truck operator is working alone and hustling, tipping on the higher end is a nice gesture.

What if I can't afford to tip?

If your budget is tight, prioritize tipping in situations where workers depend on it most: full-service restaurants, delivery drivers, and personal care providers. It's okay to skip tipping at coffee shops and counter-service spots. If you genuinely can't afford to tip at a sit-down restaurant, consider takeout instead, where tipping is optional. This isn't meant to be judgmental; it's the economic reality of a system where tips are part of workers' expected compensation.

Do I tip on alcohol separately from food at a restaurant?

No. Tip on the entire pre-tax bill including alcohol. Some people mistakenly believe alcohol should be tipped separately or at a different rate, but the standard practice is to calculate your tip percentage on the full subtotal. The only exception is if you're at a restaurant bar where the bartender makes your drinks: in that case, tipping the bartender $1-2 per cocktail in addition to your server tip is a generous but not required gesture.