Are you a cheapskate? A new study reveals where and how much you should be tipping (2024)

FAQs

When not to tip? ›

“Sometimes the act of tipping is not about you, but who or what you represent. This could be your employer, your own company brand, civic or religious organizations, community affiliations, boards that you serve on and other entities that would claim you as their own,” Horning says.

By maintaining a tipping system, restaurants can attract a pool of skilled and dedicated employees who are motivated to provide exceptional service to customers. This, in turn, can contribute to a positive experience for patrons and ultimately benefit the restaurant's reputation and bottom line.

Industry insider: common consensus says 15-20% is considered a normal tip, but honestly any amount less than 20% is considered a bad tip.

You don't always have to tip

The same goes for coffee shops or other quick-service places where you might be faced with the dreaded tablet screen. This is where common sense comes in handy, Gottsman says. But humanity is important too, she adds — if you're feeling generous, go ahead and leave a tip.

By then, tipping was enshrined, as etiquette guides gave consumers advice on how much to tip, starting at a quarter, then rising over the years to 10%, and finally to our current 15% to 20%.

Whilst in much of Asia tipping is not expected, tipping is actually considered rude in the following countries: Japan. China. South Korea.

But there's actually a legitimate reason why Americans continue to tip more than Europeans. In the 1960s, the U.S. Congress decided to a so-called “tipping credit,” which meant that the employer could pay the employee under the minimum wage if they earn tips.

Seven out of 10 Americans reporting tipping less than they used to and tipped below etiquette expectations at just 12.9 percent. Poor service and concerns about saving money were the top reasons for the decline in tipping.

The first backlashes against tipping

As soon as tipping began to spread in America, so did opposition to it. Journalists in the late 19th and early 20th century frequently described tipping as un-American, and the tip itself as something bestowed upon a social inferior, which flew in the face of democratic values.

California residents tip the most, averaging 22.69%. Illinois residents tip the least, averaging 14.22%. By age, Millennials tend to be the best tippers in the country, averaging 18.18% at tip time.

What is a good tip for a hairdresser? ›

How much should you tip your hairdresser? We asked three etiquette experts, two salon professionals and a certified financial planner. Most of these experts suggest leaving 15% to 20%, depending on the service and your satisfaction. Going with 20% is nice for the stylist and you because that math is pretty simple.

It seems many Americans disagree. Almost 1 in 5, 18%, of people tip less than 15% for an average meal at a sit-down restaurant — and an additional 2% tip nothing at all, according to a Pew Research Center survey, which polled 11,945 U.S. adults. More than a third, 37%, said 15% is their standard tip.

"While tipping at Starbucks isn't mandatory, it remains a powerful way to show appreciation for the hard work and personalized service baristas provide," Stavridis says. "As a former barista, I can say that every tip, big or small, was appreciated and made a difference in my day."

In America, tipping is optional in name only.

Legally it's voluntary but if you slink out of a restaurant without leaving a gratuity of between 20 and 25 per cent, you're likely to be chased by a waiter demanding to know why.

Even though it's a "courtesy" shuttle, "courtesy" can go both ways. But, how do you know much to tip the hotel shuttle driver? Offer your driver one or two dollars per bag or person.

As a blanket rule, you don't need to tip anyone who earns a salary or performs a trade. That means you don't have to tip doctors, lawyers, teachers, plumbers or cable technicians.

Printer friendly version. Labor Code Section 351 prohibits employers and their agents from sharing in or keeping any portion of a gratuity left for or given to one or more employees by a patron.

Even if the service is poor, it's recommended you leave at least 10 percent. * Check your tab carefully because some places add a gratuity to the bill. You may or may not want to supplement that. For the wait staff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be 15 percent to 20 percent of the pretax bill.

“It's up to the discretion of the customer," and it's not strictly necessary to tip in a fast food or quick service restaurant. That's very different from service at a sit-down restaurant, she notes, where the expectation is still that patrons should leave a tip of between 15% and 20% of their bill.