How Much Should You Tip?
Last updated: August 17, 2026
US dining customs are different from most other countries — servers are paid below minimum wage and rely on tips for the bulk of their income. As a rule of thumb:
- 15% — baseline for acceptable service.
- 18% — the common default for good service.
- 20%+ — excellent service, large parties, or when you're a regular.
- 18-20% automatic gratuity — many restaurants add this for parties of 6+, so check your receipt before adding extra.
This calculator handles the math for you: pick a percentage, and it shows the tip, the total, and the per-person share instantly.
Tip on Pre-Tax or Post-Tax?
Customary practice is to tip on the pre-tax amount. The sales tax isn't a service you're tipping for, so most diners calculate 15-20% on the food-and-drink subtotal before tax.
How much does it matter? On a $100 bill with 8% sales tax, tipping 18% on the pre-tax amount is $18. Tipping on the post-tax $108 total would be $19.44 — a $1.44 difference. Not huge, but the pre-tax convention keeps things consistent.
Enter the pre-tax subtotal in the calculator for the standard calculation. If you prefer to tip on the total, just enter the post-tax amount instead.
Tipping by Service Type
Not every service uses the restaurant 15-20% standard. Here's the 2026 quick reference:
| Service | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 15-20% of pre-tax |
| Food delivery | 15-20% (20-25% for bad weather or heavy orders) |
| Taxi / rideshare | 10-15%, or round up to the nearest dollar |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3-$5 per night, left daily |
| Movers | $4-$5 per mover per hour, or 10-15% of the move |
| Barber / hairstylist | 15-20% |
How to Split the Bill Fairly
Three common ways to split, depending on the group:
- Even split — simplest, works when everyone ordered similar amounts. Total (bill + tip) ÷ people.
- Separate checks — each person pays their own items; tip is usually split evenly or by each person's share.
- Proportional — one person had the steak, another the salad. Each pays their share, and the tip is added proportionally or split evenly.
One easy habit: round the per-person amount up to the nearest dollar and put the difference toward the tip — it makes cash splitting painless and the server gets a small bonus.
Common Tip Mistakes
- Tipping on the tax. You're not tipping for sales tax — calculate on the pre-tax subtotal.
- Double-tipping large parties. The automatic 18-20% gratuity is already on the bill; adding 20% on top overpays.
- Using the rounded total for the percentage. 18% of $74.50 is $13.41 — a quick mental 20% of $75 gives a different number. Let the calculator be exact.
- Skipping tips on delivery. Drivers earn much of their income from tips — skipping hurts the person, not the restaurant.
- Forgetting the tip when splitting. Split the total (bill + tip), not just the bill, or the server loses out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
In the US, 15% is the baseline for adequate service, 18% is the common default for good service, and 20% or more reflects excellent service. For large parties (6+), many restaurants add an automatic gratuity of 18-20% — check your receipt before adding extra.
Is the tip calculated on pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Customary practice is to tip on the pre-tax amount. On a $100 bill with 8% sales tax, tipping 18% on the pre-tax amount means $18, while tipping on the post-tax $108 total would be $19.44 — a small but real difference.
How do I split a bill evenly?
Divide the total (bill plus tip) by the number of people. For uneven splits, each person pays for their own items and the tip is split evenly or proportionally to each person's share. Many groups round the per-person amount up to the nearest dollar and put the difference toward the tip.
Do I tip on delivery orders?
Yes — 15-20% is standard for food delivery. Drivers rely on tips because their base pay is often low. For large or difficult orders (heavy items, long distance, bad weather), 20-25% is appreciated.
How much do I tip movers?
For movers, $4-$5 per person per hour is the common range, or 10-15% of the total move cost. For a 4-hour move with 2 movers, that's roughly $32-$40 total. Cash is preferred and appreciated.
What's a 20% tip on $50?
A 20% tip on $50 is $10, for a total of $60. If you're splitting between 2 people, that's $30 each.
Tip guidance follows common US dining and service customs. Amounts vary by region and personal judgment — this tool helps with the math, not the etiquette debate.