How to Tip in All Situations

Ever wonder how much you should tip the barista for that Cinnamon Toast Crunchuccino? What about the pizza guy? Or your barber or hair stylist? You’re not alone! Tipping can be pretty awkward (and laden with guilt). I can think of a few times I’ve frozen like a cat facing off with a Roomba when staring down the iPad of doom that’s “just going to ask you a few questions” about your order and your tip. Ugh. If you’ve been there, done that too, it doesn’t mean you’re not a generous person. It probably just means you aren’t sure of the rules.

But don’t worry—I’ve got your back. And now you’ll have a handy list of how to tip in every situation imaginable (or at least the most common ones).

Here’s what we’ll dive into:

Let’s start by talking about how much you should tip at all types of restaurants, because that can be tricky (especially with these new iPad tipping screens popping up everywhere).

How to Tip at Restaurants

Server or Waiter

When you go out to eat at a sit-down restaurant, you should tip 20%. And if you really want to be generous, go for the 25% mark. Remember: Many servers make around $2 per hour, so they’re counting on those tips to make ends meet.¹ And even though you can’t spend your way into a meaningful life, you can definitely find meaning in giving to others.

You should consider the tip part of the overall cost of dining out. After all, if you can’t afford to tip your server, then you shouldn’t be eating out to begin with.

But George, what if I get really bad service? Hey, sometimes waiters have a bad day too. But what you shouldn’t do is completely skip the tip. If you want to knock that 20% down to 15%, that’s okay.

Fast-Food Restaurants

When it comes to fast-food (or “fast casual”) restaurants, pay attention to the kind of service you receive. Do they bring the food to your table? Do they bus the table and tidy it up for you? If so, leave a few bucks in the tip jar or on the screen if you’re feeling extra generous. But don’t feel obligated. It’s okay to bypass the tip in those situations.

Buffet Restaurants

Servers at a buffet may not bring food to your table, but they still refill your drinks and clear your plates. So. Many. Plates. Think about it: You’ve got to grab a new plate for every visit back to the buffet, so you’re making a lot of work for that person. Tip them!

A good rule of thumb here is to tip at least 10%. Also, feel free to raise that if you get stellar service. Again, these servers make very little per hour. Think of it like this: If everyone tipped just one extra dollar, it would make a big difference for the server.  

Takeout

This one is iffy. You shouldn’t feel pressure to leave a tip when you pick up a takeout order, but it would be a nice gesture to leave the workers a little something-something. Assuming you’re just picking up one or two meals, rather than a massive order, a few bucks will show your appreciation.

Restaurant Delivery

This one’s easy: You should absolutely tip for restaurant delivery. After all, someone had to bring that piping-hot pizza to your front door. Without them, you’d probably be eating cold mac and cheese leftovers and that salami that’s about to grow legs. Plus, you didn’t have to leave the house (or change out of your pajamas).

Be generous and give them 10–20%.

Carhop

Whether you’re a regular at Sonic or another mom-and-pop drive-in, tipping your carhop is up to you. But I can tell you this for sure: If I brought out a meal and drink on roller skates and lived to tell the story, I’d be primed for a tip! Just like with other fast-food restaurants, a tip isn’t expected, but it’s always appreciated.

Coffee Barista

You’ve seen the little tip jar on the counter when you pick up your morning cup of joe (or if they’re trendy, the more stress-inducing iPad). It usually has a one-liner on it like “alms for the pour” or “thanks a latte for your tippaccino.” (A for effort. C+ for the puns.) So, what do you do?

When it comes to coffee, you’re not obligated to tip. But if your barista went out of their way for you, why not put a dollar in that punny tip jar as a sign of thanks?

Bartender

A good bartender or mixologist basically serves you tasty art in a glass. So, tip your bartender—especially if the drink requires mixing, shaking or stirring. Two dollars per drink is perfectly fair tipping etiquette here. Although I tend to just tip a standard 15–20% in these scenarios.

Restroom Attendant

I know, this is an especially awkward one, but someday you’ll thank me for including this tip on tipping. If you’re in a swanky establishment, a restroom attendant might be part of the gig. So, if you’ve got a couple of bucks on you, feel free to offer it. If you don’t, just smile and say thanks when they hand you a hand towel or a mint. 

Valet

When you use convenience services, remember that convenience often costs money. So, if you treat yourself to a valet service instead of parking your own car, you should absolutely tip a few dollars. And if the valet service itself is free, definitely don’t skip the tip. Have you seen how fast those valets run to make sure you get in your car fast? The Flash couldn’t do better. It’s worth $5–10.

How to Tip Grocery Services

Grocery Store Bagger or Order Pickup Runner

A lot of grocery stores ask you not to tip the people who bag or carry out your groceries. Some will even flat-out tell their employees to refuse tips. You don’t want to get them in trouble. But if the person is kind enough to carry your bags out to the car—show gratitude with some kind words. If you’re feeling extra friendly, go a step further: Look at their name tag and say their name as you thank them (without making it creepy). You’d be surprised how few people do this—and how much it could mean to the bagger. 

The same advice on tipping goes for people who prepare your drive-up or pickup orders. Technically, they aren’t allowed to accept tips either—so again, don’t get them into trouble. Just offer a heartfelt thank you. These people are basically doing what’s now become a regular part of working at a grocery store.

Grocery Delivery Services

When figuring out how to tip for grocery delivery, remember most of the gig workers at companies like Shipt and TaskRabbit rely on tips as part of their income. Once you factor in gasoline use, wear and tear on their car, and independent contractor taxes (not to mention time and energy spent doing the shopping for you), they really don’t have much base pay left.

So be nice. A 15–20% tip is a good rule of thumb for someone who braved the store, shopped for the best produce, waited in line, fought traffic, and brought groceries right to your front door so you didn’t have to do any of that. The same goes for stores like Walmart and Kroger that offer in-house delivery services.

How to Tip at Salons and Spas

Hair Stylist or Barber

Do you need to tip your hair person or your barber? You’re darn right you do! After all, you’re trusting these people with your hair. That’s one of the strongest levels of trust there is! Tipping around 15–20% is standard depending on their profession and the service you received. But feel free to go higher, especially if you get a scalp massage or the best hair extensions of your life.

Manicurist

When it comes to nail services, here’s what I’ve learned from my wife (not that I’m opposed to a good mani-pedi): Tip like you’d tip your hair stylist. With 15–20%, you can’t go wrong!

Tattoo Artist

It takes some pretty incredible skills (and trust) for someone to draw permanent art on your body—and do it well. A good tattoo artist deserves a gratuity of 15–20%.

How to Tip While Traveling

Hotel Housekeeping

A lot of people don’t even realize they need to tip at hotels, so let’s set the record straight. You should tip modestly (a couple of dollars) at a budget-friendly hotel and more generously at a swanky spot. In this new eco-friendly world, you might not want fresh sheets and towels every day, but on the days you request housekeeping, leave a tip for that day instead of one big tip at the end of the stay. You might not get the same housekeeper throughout your stay, and you want to share the love with everyone who kept your room tidy.

Concierge

If the concierge has secured impossible-to-find tickets to a Broadway show, then yes—slip them a $10 or $20 bill for going above and beyond with their connections. If they just gave you quick directions to the nearest coffee shop, you can skip the tip. But be sure to thank them.  

Cab Driver

We all know to tip the cab driver for taking us safely to our destination. But how much is too much? This depends on the length of your trip and how well your driver drives.

If you feared for your life during the ride, that tip is going to be a big fat zero. If it was an overall safe and friendly trip, go ahead and tip 10–15%. Add an extra dollar or two if they helped you with unloading any luggage.

Uber and Lyft Drivers

Thanks to technology, you can easily tip your Uber or Lyft driver by using the app on your mobile device. Most of them go out of their way to win you over with perks like snacks, drinks and phone chargers. So, the same tip amount for cab drivers also apply to Uber and Lyft drivers (10–15%).

Tipping Outside of the United States

If you’re traveling outside of the U.S., find out ahead of time if tips are expected for particular services. Other countries’ cultural norms are way different than ours, and you don’t want to offend anyone by leaving (or not leaving) a tip when you shouldn’t (or should).