THE COUNTRY FIELD GUIDE

Tipping in the United States

USD · US dollars / Last reviewed September 17, 2026

DO I NEED TO TIP?

Yes. Plan to tip for service.

Tipping is customary in restaurants, taxis and many hotel services. For a sit-down meal, budget 15–20% before tax, unless gratuity is already included. Counter-service tips are optional.

15–20%Restaurant tip

USD $Keep small bills handy

THE ANSWER, AT A GLANCE

Your US tipping cheat sheet

Amounts are in US dollars. Open a service for payment details and exceptions.

RestaurantsCustomary · table service15–20%

When & how: Cash or card, when paying. Calculate on the pre-tax subtotal; 20% is a useful planning benchmark.

Keep in mind: Check for included gratuity before adding more. A $50 pre-tax meal means a $7.50–$10 tip.

BarsCustomary$1–2 / drink

When & how: Cash per round, or 15–20% when closing a card tab.

Keep in mind: Use the percentage for a larger tab. Don’t tip both ways on the same drinks.

Cafés & takeoutOptionalYour choice

When & how: Use the jar or card prompt if you wish.

Keep in mind: No obligation for ordinary pickup; consider 10% for a large, complicated order or curbside help.

TaxisCustomary15–20%

When & how: Add it on the payment terminal or hand over cash at the end of the ride.

Keep in mind: A $40 fare means $6–$8. Choose a custom amount if the screen’s presets don’t suit you.

RideshareApp-optional · appreciated15–20%

When & how: A useful service tip; add it in the app after the ride or give cash directly.

Keep in mind: Uber says tipping is optional and takes no fee from tips. You don’t need to tip twice.

Airport transfersCheck your bookingCheck inclusion

When & how: For a taxi, use the taxi rate. For a booked car or van, inspect the payment details first; tip via booking or cash at drop-off.

Keep in mind: SuperShuttle, for example, commonly adds an editable 18% default; some markets include gratuity automatically. Operator policies differ.

Hotel courtesy shuttleCustomary for service$1–2 / person

When & how: Cash at drop-off; AHLA suggests $4–5 for a party.

Keep in mind: This is for a hotel’s courtesy shuttle, not a paid private airport transfer.

Bellhop & luggage helpCustomary$2 + $1 / bag

When & how: Cash after help: $2 for the first bag, $1 for each additional bag.

Keep in mind: AHLA gives a wider $1–5 per bag range; consider more for heavy luggage or extra assistance.

HousekeepingCustomary$2–5 / day

When & how: Leave cash daily with a note identifying it as a housekeeping tip.

Keep in mind: Tip when the room is serviced, so the person cleaning that day receives it.

ConciergeFor help beyond the basics$5–10+

When & how: Cash after a booking or special arrangement; more for an unusually difficult request.

Keep in mind: No tip needed for directions or a simple question.

Room serviceCheck for included gratuity15–20%

When & how: If gratuity is absent, add a tip to the signed bill or give cash on delivery.

Keep in mind: Ask whether a service or delivery charge covers gratuity before adding another payment.

Valet & hotel door staffFor personal assistance$2–5 valet

When & how: Give the valet cash when your car returns; $1–2 for door staff hailing a taxi.

Keep in mind: A smile and thanks are enough for simply opening a door.

Tour guidesAppreciated · varies by tourTour-specific

When & how: Cash at the end is practical; check if the operator supports a digital tip. Emily Post suggests a broad $5–50 for a short tour, depending on the experience and your group.

Keep in mind: This is not a per-person national rate. Ask the operator before a private, full-day or multi-day tour. Budget for pay-what-you-wish walks too.

Tour driversCheck the operator’s guidanceTrip-specific

When & how: Check your trip documents. As an operator example, Cosmos suggests $5–7 per person per day for the driver, given in an envelope when their service ends.

Keep in mind: This is not a national rate. Cosmos suggests a separate $5–7 for its tour director. Other operators may include or prepay gratuities; ask before tipping by card.

Food deliveryCustomary · app-optional15% or $5+

When & how: Our practical starting point: 15%, with a $5 minimum. Add in the app or give cash on delivery; consider more for a difficult trip.

Keep in mind: Published advice varies: Emily Post suggests around 10% or $5+, while NerdWallet’s expert recommends at least 15%. This figure is our synthesis, not a mandatory fee.

Spas & salonsCustomary15–20%

When & how: At checkout, use cash or card if accepted; ask how to allocate it among staff.

Keep in mind: Check whether a resort treatment already includes gratuity.

These are customary ranges, not fixed fees. Included gratuity and an individual business’s policy take priority.

FROM ARRIVAL TO THE LAST BILL

A little context for your journey

01 / Arriving & getting around

Before your airport pickup, check the booking confirmation for a gratuity line. A prepaid fare can already contain a tip. SuperShuttle’s stated default is one example of why it pays to read the breakdown. For a hotel courtesy shuttle, a small cash tip is a different convention from a percentage on a private transfer.

On Uber, you can finish the journey and add a tip in the app, or hand it directly to the driver. The platform makes tipping optional. The percentage in our cheat sheet is etiquette guidance, not an app requirement.

02 / Checking in & settling into your hotel

Keep a few $1 and $5 bills accessible for small services. Hand a luggage tip to the person who helped you. Leave housekeeping’s tip clearly labeled rather than among your belongings. Staff can change, so leave it each service day instead of saving it all until checkout.

Pay for the help actually provided: routine directions are different from a concierge securing a difficult reservation. AHLA does not recommend tipping for repairs or for bringing an item that was missing from the room.

03 / Eating, drinking & paying the bill

For table service, 20% is an easy planning figure: double 10% of the pre-tax subtotal. On a $60 meal, that is $12. Read any automatic gratuity first. If the receipt still has a blank tip line, that alone doesn’t mean a second full tip is expected.

If you are paying by card, you may encounter an on-screen tip choice or a gratuity line on a receipt. Check the total before completing payment. With cash, be clear about the amount you want returned. If you have already tipped in cash, avoid adding the same amount again on the card.

04 / Tours, treatments & the end of your stay

A walking tour, a private excursion and a week-long coach trip should not share one tipping formula. Ask your operator for its recommendation before departure: is it per person, per day, and for the guide, driver or both? A prepaid gratuity package may cover some staff and leave others out.

At a spa, check the treatment bill for included gratuity. For a salon visit involving several staff, ask the front desk how to divide your tip. A quick, quiet thank-you is enough; there is no need to make a ceremony of it.

CHECK BEFORE YOU ADD

Service charge or tip?

A compulsory service charge and a voluntary tip are different. The US Department of Labor distinguishes the two under federal wage rules; the words on a bill do not tell you everything about how the business distributes the money.

The useful question to ask

“Does this charge cover gratuity, or is a tip separate?”

If a gratuity is already included for your service, adding more is your choice. If the charge is described as a delivery fee, administration fee or staff-benefits surcharge, ask what it covers. Do not automatically assume every percentage is a tip—or add a second 20% without checking.

Before or after tax? The conventional restaurant range in this guide uses the pre-tax subtotal. That is why a $50 meal has a $10 tip at 20%, whatever the local sales tax. Suggested amounts on payment screens may use a different base.

THE LITTLE THINGS YOU WONDER

Common questions

Do I have to tip every time a screen asks?

No. A prompt is an option, not proof of a tipping custom. For ordinary counter service or pickup, you can decline. Table service is a different social expectation. See the individual categories above.

Should I tip in cash or on my card?

Either can work when the business supports it. Cash in small US-dollar bills is practical for hotel staff. Card or app tips are convenient for restaurants and rides. If a tour or treatment is prepaid, ask how staff can receive a tip.

What if the service was poor?

Raise the specific problem politely with the manager or operator. Emily Post recommends speaking to the manager while still leaving a restaurant tip. A tip does not replace reporting a service concern.

Are these amounts the same everywhere in the US?

They are useful national starting points. The property, service, group size and local expectations can change the amount. We avoid claiming that one exact rate applies in every city. For an organized tour or resort stay, check its written guidance.

Is 20% always required?

No. It is a common restaurant planning benchmark, not a universal requirement. The usual pre-tax table-service range here is 15–20%; included gratuity, optional counter-service tips and operator policies change the answer.