Standard Restaurant Tipping Guide
🍽️ Dine-In
15-20% for good service
20-25% for excellent service
🥡 Takeout
0-10% is acceptable
10-15% for complex orders
🚗 Delivery
15-20% or $3-5 minimum
More for bad weather/distance
Why Tipping Is Important in Restaurants
In the United States and many other countries, restaurant servers rely heavily on tips as part of their income. Many servers earn a reduced base wage (as low as $2.13/hour in some states) with the expectation that tips will bring their earnings to at least minimum wage.
What Your Tip Covers
- ✓ Taking your order accurately and efficiently
- ✓ Serving food and drinks with proper timing
- ✓ Checking in to ensure your satisfaction
- ✓ Refilling drinks and bringing extra items
- ✓ Handling special requests and dietary needs
- ✓ Clearing plates and maintaining table cleanliness
- ✓ Processing payment and closing out your check
How Much to Tip Based on Service Quality
Exceptional Service (22-25%)
Server went above and beyond - remembered special requests, perfect timing, friendly attitude, handled problems gracefully, made dining experience memorable.
Good Service (18-20%)
This is the standard for satisfactory service. Server was attentive, food arrived timely, no major issues. This should be your baseline.
Acceptable Service (15-17%)
Service was adequate but had some issues - slow refills, forgot items, seemed rushed. Still met basic expectations.
Poor Service (10-14% or speak to manager)
Multiple problems - rude behavior, long waits, wrong orders, never checked in. Consider speaking with a manager rather than leaving a very low tip.
Restaurant Tipping: Special Situations
🎂 Large Parties (6+ People)
Many restaurants add an automatic gratuity (usually 18-20%) for large groups. Check your bill before adding an additional tip. If no auto-gratuity, tip 20%+ as serving large groups requires extra coordination.
Pro tip: Ask if gratuity is included when you're seated with a large party.
🎟️ Discounts and Coupons
Always tip on the original price before discounts. Your server provided the same level of service regardless of your coupon. Using a 50% off coupon doesn't mean you should tip on the discounted amount.
Example: $100 meal with 50% off coupon = $50 bill. Tip 20% of $100 = $20, not $10.
🍷 Expensive Wine or Bottles
The "tip on everything" rule has exceptions. For very expensive bottles of wine ($100+), you can tip $10-20 flat rather than 20%. Opening and pouring wine doesn't require 4x more work if the bottle costs 4x more.
Tip normally on the food, and add $10-20 for the bottle service.
🥡 Takeout Orders
Tipping on takeout is optional but appreciated. 0-10% is standard. Consider tipping more (10-15%) if the restaurant packaged complex items, included extra items, or you had special requests.
If you're a regular, tipping well on takeout builds good relationships.
🍹 Bar Dining
If you're eating at the bar, tip the bartender the same as you would a server (18-20%). For drinks only, $1-2 per drink or 18-20% of the tab is appropriate.
Bartenders often tip out support staff, so they appreciate generous tipping.
Real Restaurant Tipping Examples
Example 1: Casual Dinner for Two
Bill: $65.00
Tax (8%): $5.20
Total: $70.20
18% Tip on $65: $11.70
Grand Total: $81.90
Example 2: Family Dinner (4 People)
Bill: $120.00
Tax (8%): $9.60
Total: $129.60
20% Tip on $120: $24.00
Grand Total: $153.60 ($38.40 per person)
Restaurant Tipping FAQ
Do I have to tip if service was terrible?
While tipping is customary, you're not legally required to tip for genuinely poor service. However, consider speaking with a manager first. Sometimes poor service is due to restaurant issues (short-staffed, kitchen problems) rather than the server's fault. If you do decide to leave a low tip, 10-12% with a note explaining why is better than nothing.
Should I tip more for breakfast or lunch?
No, tip percentage stays the same regardless of meal time. The standard 18-20% applies whether you're having a $12 breakfast or a $60 dinner. Your server provides similar service for both meals. However, consider tipping at least $3-5 minimum even on very small bills.
What if the restaurant adds a service charge?
A "service charge" is different from a tip. Service charges go to the restaurant, not always the server. Check your bill carefully - if there's an 18-20% service charge, ask if it goes to your server. If not, you should still leave a tip. If yes, no additional tip is needed unless service was exceptional.
How do I tip when splitting a bill?
Use our calculator's "Split Bill" feature! Enter the total bill and number of people. The calculator shows the tip and total per person. Each person pays their share of both the bill and the tip. Make sure the tip percentage is calculated on the full bill before splitting.