Tipping Percentages: A Complete Guide for 2026

Tipping is one of those everyday decisions that should be simple but rarely feels that way. How much do you leave at a sit-down restaurant? What about for a delivery driver who climbed three flights of stairs in the rain? Is it rude to skip the tip at a coffee shop counter? The answers have shifted over the years, and 2026 brings its own set of expectations.

This guide breaks down the standard tipping percentages for every common service, explains when to tip more or less, covers international customs, and even teaches you a fast mental-math trick so you never have to pull out a calculator at the table (though we do have a free tip calculator if you prefer).

Standard Tipping Percentages by Service

The table below reflects widely accepted tipping norms in the United States as of 2026. These ranges represent what is considered polite and fair by both consumers and service workers.

Service	Recommended Tip
Sit-down restaurant	15 - 20% of pre-tax bill
Buffet	10% of the bill
Takeout (counter service)	$0 - 10% (optional)
Food delivery	15 - 20% or at least $3 - $5
Pizza delivery	15 - 20% or at least $3
Bartender	$1 - $2 per drink or 15 - 20% of tab
Hair salon / Barber	20%
Spa / Massage	15 - 20%
Taxi / Rideshare	15 - 20%
Valet parking	$3 - $5 when car is returned
Hotel housekeeping	$3 - $5 per night
Hotel bellhop	$1 - $2 per bag
Hotel concierge	$5 - $20 depending on request
Movers	$20 - $50 per mover for full day
Grocery delivery	15 - 20% or at least $5
Curbside pickup	$3 - $5 (appreciated, not expected)

Restaurants: The 15-20% Standard

Sit-down restaurants remain the most common tipping scenario. The long-standing norm is 15% for adequate service and 20% for good to excellent service. Many diners in 2026 have shifted toward 20% as the default, treating 15% as the lower end reserved for mediocre experiences. Tipping below 15% is generally considered a signal of poor service and should be reserved for genuinely bad experiences, not a slightly slow kitchen on a busy Saturday night.

One important detail: always calculate your tip on the pre-tax total. Taxes vary wildly by state and city, and tipping on the after-tax amount inflates the percentage without you realizing it.

Delivery Drivers: 15-20% or a Flat Minimum

Whether you are ordering through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or directly from a restaurant, delivery drivers rely heavily on tips. The standard is 15 to 20 percent of the order total, with a minimum of $3 to $5 for smaller orders. If the weather is severe, traffic is heavy, or the driver had to navigate a tricky apartment complex, lean toward the higher end. Drivers see your tip before accepting the order on most platforms, so a low tip can mean longer wait times as your order gets passed over.

Hair Salons and Barbers: 20% Is the Norm

The beauty industry has settled firmly on 20% as the expected tip. This applies to haircuts, coloring, styling, and other salon services. If the salon owner is also your stylist, tipping is still appropriate in 2026, a shift from the older custom of not tipping the owner. When multiple people work on your appointment (a colorist and a stylist, for example), tip each person individually.

Valet and Hotel Staff: Flat Dollar Amounts

Valet parking attendants typically receive $3 to $5 when they return your car. You do not need to tip when you hand the keys over, only upon pickup. For hotel housekeeping, leave $3 to $5 per night on the nightstand or pillow, ideally daily rather than in a lump sum at checkout, since different housekeepers may clean your room on different days. Bellhops receive $1 to $2 per bag they carry.

When to Tip More (or Less)

Standard percentages are guidelines, not rigid rules. There are situations where adjusting up or down is both reasonable and expected.

Tip more when:

• The service was exceptional and went beyond normal expectations
• The weather is bad and your delivery driver braved a storm
• Your server handled a large, complicated group order with grace
• You received personalized attention, such as dietary accommodations or special requests
• You sat at a table for an unusually long time (you occupied real estate the server could have turned over)
• You used a coupon or discount, since you should tip on the original pre-discount amount

Tip less when:

• Service was genuinely poor, not just slow due to a busy kitchen
• The server was rude or dismissive
• Your order was wrong and the issue was not corrected

Even when service is subpar, most etiquette experts recommend leaving at least 10% and addressing serious issues with a manager rather than zeroing out the tip entirely. Service workers often have no control over kitchen delays or staffing shortages.

International Tipping: A World of Differences

If you travel internationally, tipping norms can be dramatically different from the U.S. standard. Getting this wrong can range from mildly awkward to genuinely offensive.

Japan: Tipping is not customary and can actually be considered rude. Excellent service is the cultural standard and is included in the price. If you leave money on the table, your server may chase you down to return it.

South Korea: Similar to Japan, tipping is not expected in most settings. Some high-end restaurants that cater to international tourists may accept tips, but it is not the norm.

Europe (Western): Most countries in Western Europe include a service charge in the bill, typically 5 to 15 percent. Rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving an extra 5 to 10 percent for excellent service is appreciated but not obligatory. In the UK, 10 to 12.5 percent is common at restaurants if no service charge is included.

Australia and New Zealand: Tipping is not expected because service workers earn higher base wages. A small tip of 10 percent is welcomed for excellent service at upscale restaurants but is entirely optional.

Mexico and Central America: Tipping 10 to 15 percent is standard at restaurants. In tourist areas, expectations may be closer to U.S. norms.

Middle East: Practices vary by country. In the UAE, a service charge is often included, but an additional 5 to 10 percent is common. In Egypt, small tips (called baksheesh) are customary for many services.

Digital Tipping and QR Codes

The rise of digital payment systems has transformed how we tip. In 2026, it is common to encounter tablet-based checkout screens that present pre-set tip options, often starting at 18% and going up to 25% or even 30%. These systems, sometimes called "tip screens" or "guilt screens," have become ubiquitous at coffee shops, bakeries, fast-casual restaurants, and even retail stores.

QR code tipping has also gained traction. Some restaurants now place QR codes on tables or receipts that link directly to a digital tip jar. Baristas, buskers, and service workers at places where physical tip jars once sat now display QR codes linking to Venmo, Cash App, or dedicated tipping platforms. This shift eliminates the "I do not have cash" excuse and makes tipping frictionless, though some consumers feel it has also increased tipping pressure in situations where tipping was not traditionally expected.

One thing to be mindful of with digital tipping: double-check whether a service charge or gratuity has already been added to your bill before tipping on a tablet. Some restaurants include an automatic gratuity, and the tip screen still appears, leading to unintentional double-tipping.

Tipping Etiquette for Newer Services

The gig economy has created entirely new service categories that did not exist a decade ago. Here is where expectations stand in 2026.

Grocery Delivery (Instacart, Amazon Fresh): Tip 15 to 20 percent or at least $5, whichever is greater. These shoppers spend significant time selecting your items, communicating about substitutions, and driving to your door. For large or heavy orders, tip on the higher end.

Curbside Pickup: Tipping $3 to $5 for curbside pickup is appreciated but still not universally expected. If the worker carries heavy items to your trunk in bad weather, a tip is a kind gesture.

Subscription Box Delivery (FedEx, UPS): Standard parcel carriers are generally not tipped for regular deliveries. However, during the holiday season, leaving a small gift or $20 for your regular delivery driver is a widely practiced gesture of appreciation.

Pet Groomers: Tip 15 to 20 percent, similar to a hair salon. If your pet is particularly difficult to handle, tip toward the higher end as a thank-you for the groomer's patience.

Mobile Car Wash / Detailing: Tip 15 to 20 percent of the service cost. For a full detail that takes hours, $20 to $30 is reasonable and appreciated.

The Tipping Debate: Is It Getting Out of Hand?

There is a growing conversation about whether tipping culture in the United States has gone too far. The proliferation of tip screens at virtually every counter-service establishment has led to what many call "tip fatigue." When you are asked to tip 20% for a cashier handing you a pre-made sandwich, the social contract of tipping starts to feel less like a reward for good service and more like a surcharge.

Critics argue that tipping shifts the burden of fair wages from employers to customers. In most U.S. states, tipped workers can be paid a sub-minimum wage (as low as $2.13 per hour federally), with the expectation that tips will make up the difference. This creates income instability for workers and puts customers in the uncomfortable position of determining someone's livelihood on a per-transaction basis.

Several restaurants have experimented with "no-tipping" models, raising menu prices by 15 to 20 percent and paying staff a higher fixed wage. Results have been mixed. Some report better staff retention and a more equitable distribution between front-of-house and back-of-house workers. Others have reverted to traditional tipping after losing customers who experienced sticker shock at higher menu prices.

For now, the tipping system is deeply embedded in American culture and is unlikely to disappear soon. The most practical approach is to tip fairly within the existing framework while supporting businesses and policies that work toward more equitable compensation.

How to Calculate a Tip Quickly in Your Head

You do not need an app or a calculator to figure out a tip at the table. Here are two fast methods that work every time.

The 10% Doubling Method

This is the simplest approach. To calculate 10% of any amount, just move the decimal point one place to the left. A $47.80 bill becomes $4.78 at 10%. To get 20%, double that: $9.56. For 15%, take the 10% figure and add half of it: $4.78 + $2.39 = $7.17. Round to the nearest dollar for convenience.

The Quick Round Method

Round the bill to the nearest easy number first, then calculate. A $63.20 bill rounds to $63 (or $65 if you want to be generous). Ten percent of $65 is $6.50, so 20% is $13. This method trades precision for speed, and since you are usually rounding up, it errs on the side of generosity.

Of course, if mental math is not your thing, our free tip calculator does the work for you instantly, including splitting the bill among any number of people.

Final Thoughts

Tipping does not have to be stressful. The reality is that most service workers simply appreciate being treated with respect and compensated fairly for their effort. When in doubt, 20% is a safe default for any sit-down service, and a few dollars goes a long way for quick interactions like valet, bellhops, and curbside pickup.

Bookmark this guide for quick reference, or use our tip calculator the next time you are splitting a check with friends. The goal is simple: tip with confidence, tip fairly, and move on with your day.