{"id":557,"date":"2006-10-12T05:00:40","date_gmt":"2006-10-12T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/getrichslowly.org\/blog\/2006\/10\/12\/basic-tips-on-tipping-how-much-and-to-whom\/"},"modified":"2023-10-23T12:52:21","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T18:52:21","slug":"basic-tips-on-tipping-how-much-and-to-whom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getrichslowly.org\/basic-tips-on-tipping-how-much-and-to-whom\/","title":{"rendered":"How much should you tip? Tipping guidelines for the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Waffle<\/a>Every time I get my hair cut, I’m faced with a dilemma \u2014 should I tip the barber or not? I usually get my hair cut in a small-town shop. I tip $2 on a $12 haircut. If I get to hear stories about Vietnam or histrionic political rants, I tip $3, even if I don’t agree with the barber’s viewpoints. (I tip because I’ve been entertained.) Sometimes, if I don’t have enough cash, I don’t leave anything at all. Are these tips appropriate?<\/p>\n

What about when I pick up Chinese takeout? Should I have tipped the guys who delivered our new gas range last fall? What about a hotel bellhop? A parking valet? Out of curiosity, I did some research on tipping practices in the United States. There’s actually significant disagreement about how much to tip for even common services.<\/b><\/p>\n

For example, you know<\/i> you should tip your waitress. But how much should you leave? Some people claim that 10% is adequate. Others claim that 20%<\/i> is standard. But I suspect that most of us learned to tip 15%, and to give more for exceptional service. (The Wikipedia entry on tipping currently contains the bizarre claim<\/a> that “18% is generally accepted as a standard tip for good service”.) Which amount is correct?<\/p>\n

The concern around tipping stems from the need to get it right — offer too little, and you run the risk of offending someone; offer too much, and you needlessly impact your budget. Plus, there’s actually significant disagreement about how much to tip for even common services.<\/p>\n

After browsing dozens of pages, I drafted the following guide. The amounts listed are based on averages or on consensus, when possible.<\/p>\n

“Tip: (noun) — a small present of money given directly to someone for performing a service or menial task; gratuity” — Dictionary.com<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/span>Food Service<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n

It’s common knowledge that you should tip your waitress. But how much should you leave?<\/p>\n

Some people claim that 10 percent is adequate; others believe that 20 percent is standard. But a majority of us learned to tip 15 percent, and to give more for exceptional service. (The Wikipedia entry on tipping contains the rather bizarre statement that \u201c18% is generally accepted as a standard tip for good service.\u201d) So which is it?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Service<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Tip Suggestion<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Comment<\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Barista<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

None<\/td>\nMany people suggest putting coins in the tip jar.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Bartender<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

15% of total bill or $1\/drink<\/td>\nPre-tip for better service<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Delivery Person (including pizza)<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

10%<\/td>\n$2 minimum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Maitre d’<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

$5<\/td>\n(… up to $25 for special effort)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Takeout<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

None<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Waiter<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

15% for adequate service<\/td>\n20% for exceptional service. For poor service, leave 10% or less.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n

<\/span>General holiday tipping guidelines<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n