Tipping Standards

United States

Tipping Guidelines, Practices and Charts

Note: There are no hard and fast rules about tipping, nor are there laws requiring tipping in the United States. The list below are generally accepted guidelines.

Waiters/Waitresses:

15% – 20% for average – good service, More for exceptional service.

See “Why should you tip?”

Headwaiter/captain:

May get a cut of table server’s tip; so tip your server extra to reward captain, or tip captain separately.

Bartenders:

$1 – $2 a round -or- 15% to 20% of the tab, with a minimum of 50 cents per soft drink, $1 per alcoholic drink

Cocktail Waitresses:

$1 – $2 per drink

Sommelier or wine steward:

15% of cost of the bottle

Buffet Servers:

At least $1 per head if you get your own beverages. If you order beverages (or more) from the server, then you should tip 10-20% of the bill based on service quality.

Coatroom attendant:

$1 per coat

Room Service:

15% – 20%. You may want to see if gratuity has already been included in the tab.

Valet Attendant:

$2 – $5 average for each trip to the car, more may be appropriate given conditions. (Like weather or location)

Pool Attendant:

$1 – $2 for each service (providing towels or lounge chairs)

Showroom Maitre d’:

$1 – $2 for preassigned seats. For unassigned seating, you may tip according to where you want to sit (usually a tip over $50 will guarantee your seat)

Washroom attendant:

50 cents to $1

Taxi driver:

Varies depending on locality. Assume 15% will be enough; an extra $1 to $2 for help with bags.

Food delivery person:

The Greater of 10% of the bill or $2.00. Should tip 15%-20% for a difficult delivery.

Grocery loader:

Check with store policy if tips are accepted. If so, $1 for bringing bags to car; $1.50 to $3 if you have more than 3 bags.

Barber:

15% to 20%, minimum $1, for a haircut. For other services (shampoo, shave or manicure) tip $1 to $2 to service provider.

Hairdresser:

15% to 20%. (It is acceptable to tip owner, unless he or she says otherwise.)

Shampoo person:

Manicurist:

15%

Spa service:

15% to 20%. If service is provided by owner, no tip.

Coffee/food retailers w/ tip jars:

Tip is optional.

Handyman:

Tip is optional.

Gas attendant:

Tip is optional.

Skycap at airport:

$1 per bag if you check-in curbside; $2 per bag if skycap takes bags to check-in counter.

Hotel doorman:

$1 per bag for help with luggage; $1 per person for hailing a cab

Hotel bellhop:

$1 per bag for bringing luggage to your room (but a $2 minimum if you have just one bag)

Hotel housekeeper:

$2 to $5 per night

Hotel concierge:

$5 for getting you tickets or reservations ($10-plus if they’re hard to get). No tip required when you ask for directions.

Cruise:

Varies. Ask cruise line about customary gratuities.

Movers:

Tip is optional, but recommended. See here for how to calculate.

Tattoo/Body Piercing:

20%. More for custom or difficult work. Tattoo touch-ups min. $10, Jewelry insertions min. $5.00. Related Article

The general rule is that you do not need to tip on tax. It has been our experience however, that most people just look at the bottom line (tax included) and just tip on that.

International

Country	Restaurants	Porters	Taxis
Argentina	Tipping is officially illegal, but waiters expect a small tip	None	None
Australia	10%-12%	Not expected	Round up
Canada	15%	$1-$2 a bag	10%-15%
China	3% in major cities It has come to our attention that this may not be accurate. If you know better about tipping standards in China please let us know here.	$1-$2 total	None
Costa Rica	None	$1 a bag	$1 for special services
England	10% if no service charge	$1 a bag	10%-15%
France	Up to 10%	$1 a bag	Round up
Greece	See Greek Tipping Practices
Japan	Tips are viewed as insulting	None	None
Mexico	10%-15% if no service charge	$1-$2	50 cents-$1
New Zealand	None	None	None
South Africa	10% if no service charge	50 cents total	10%
Thailand	None	None	None

If you have information about tipping standards, customs or practices anywhere around the world please contact us. We are always looking to improve our data and expand our knowledge base.

Note: Read the Article “Why Should You Tip”