USA Tipping Etiquette

Do I need to tip? How much? How often? Most travelers have asked these questions when traveling abroad, and the answer is different wherever you go. If you’re a foreign traveler visiting the USA, our tipping customs are likely different than what you are used to at home. A lot of people are confused by tipping etiquette in the USA, but a few general rules make it quick and easy. I’m going to break it down into when to tip and how much in my USA tipping Etiquette guide and you will be good to go!

Out To Eat

In the United States, it is expected that diners tip waiters at the end of the meal. Waiters basically make minimum wage and depend on tips for the rest of their income. The same goes for most customer-facing employees in restaurants. Here is what to tip them:

• Bartender: $1 per drink, per round. If you are at a bar that specializes in complicated mixed drinks, like a speakeasy, increase the tip.
• Waiter: 20% of the total bill. Occasionally gratuity is added to the bill, especially for large parties. Look at how much was added and leave more if needed to make it at least 20%. In a very high-end restaurant, such as one boasting Michelin stars, 25% is better.
• Restroom Attendant: $1
• Coat Check Attendant: $1 per coat. If there is a fee to use the coat check, it is not necessary to tip.
• Barista: You may encounter tip jars in coffee shops. While it’s not as customary to tip in these situations, leave some change or $1 if you order a particularly complicated drink. “Grande caramel latte, 4 pumps syrup, half skim, no foam, extra hot in a Venti cup” ordered, I’m talking to you.
• Fast Food Restaurant: If you are just ordering from the counter and there are no servers, tipping is not expected.

What if the service is bad, you ask? Bad service happens occasionally and in those situations, smaller tips are a sign to the server that something was wrong. If service was bad to the point you don’t want to tip at all, speak to the manager before leaving.

Airports & Hotels

• Bellhop/Porter: $1-$2 per bag. If it’s a 5-star hotel, $5 per bag is more appropriate.
• Concierge: If the concierge performs a service, $5-$10 depending on the level of the hotel.
• Doorman: $1-$2 if he performs a service (hails a taxi, gets your bags, etc).
• Hotel Maid: $1-$5 daily, depending on the hotel.  A maid will not take money left out unless it is specially marked for that purpose. Leave it in an envelope or with a quick thank you note to set out with the tip.
• Room Service Waiter: $1-$2 per delivery. Tip even if a delivery service charge was added to your bill.

Transportation

• Taxi: 15-20% of the fare.
• Tour Guide: 10% of the tour cost.
• Valet: $1-$2 each time they bring your car.
• Uber or other Care Service: $1-$2 per passenger for short trips. $3-5 for longer ones.

Other Services

Masseuse, hairdresser, dog walker, the list goes on. When in doubt, plan to tip anyone who has performed some kind of personal service for you. 15%-20% of the cost of service is a good tipping range.

How to Tip

I always feel awkward handing someone a tip. How do I do it? What do I say? While credit card tips are the norm for restaurant servers, most situations require handing someone cash. The easiest way to do this is to just hand them the bills and say thank you. Don’t make a show of it or announce that you are tipping.

It’s also important to be prepared. Asking for change is ok but a bit of an annoyance. Keep plenty of $1 bills in your wallet to pull out when necessary.

Happy Tipping!