How Much to Tip: The Complete 2026 Guide

Short answer: in the US, tip 15 to 20 percent for most services, with 18 percent as a safe default. Some jobs use a flat dollar amount instead, and a few, like a coffee counter, are optional. This guide gives you the exact number for every common situation, plus a chart you can check in seconds.

Need to split a bill or work out an exact amount? The tip calculator does the math and divides it by your party size.

The quick tipping chart

Here’s what’s expected for the services people ask about most. Percentages are of the pre-tax bill unless a flat amount is noted.

Service	Standard tip
Restaurant (sit-down)	15 - 20%
Food delivery	15 - 20%, min $2 - $5
Bartender	15 - 20%, or $1 - $2 per drink
Barber / haircut	15 - 20%
Hairdresser / salon	15 - 20%
Taxi / rideshare	15 - 20%
Tattoo artist	15 - 20%
Movers	$20 - $40 per mover, or 5 - 20%
Hotel housekeeping	$2 - $5 per night
Hotel bellhop	$1 - $2 per bag
Coffee shop counter	Optional, round up or 10%
Buffet	10%
Nail salon / spa	15 - 20%

Keep reading for when to go higher or lower, and for the services that trip people up.

Restaurants: the 15 to 20 percent rule

Sit-down restaurants are the classic case. The unwritten US rule is 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax subtotal. Think of 15 percent as the floor for fine service, 18 percent as the everyday default, and 20 percent as your thanks for something great. If service was genuinely poor, it’s acceptable to go lower, but leaving nothing is reserved for real problems.

Tip on the subtotal before tax, not the total. Basing it on the after-tax amount is a little more generous and perfectly fine, but the standard is the pre-tax figure.

How much to tip a hairdresser or barber

Hairdressers and barbers expect 15 to 20 percent of the service price, and this is one of the most-asked tipping questions. Tip the same percentage whether it’s a simple cut or a full color, and if an assistant washes your hair separately, a few dollars for them is a nice touch. Around the holidays, many regulars add a little extra. We cover the details in how much to tip your hairdresser.

How much to tip movers

Movers are the exception to the percentage rule, because a mover’s fee can be huge and a straight percentage would be odd. The common approach is a flat amount per mover: roughly $20 to $40 each for a local, half-day move, and more for a long, heavy, or all-day job. If you’d rather use a percentage, 5 to 10 percent of the total for a local move and 10 to 20 percent for a long-distance one are reasonable. Hand it to each mover directly at the end.

How much to tip a tattoo artist

Tattoo artists work like other service pros: 15 to 20 percent of the total is standard, and 20 percent is common for work you love. For a large or multi-session piece, tipping per session rather than all at the end is normal. It’s a craft as much as a service, so people often tip generously here.

How much to tip for delivery

For food delivery through an app or a restaurant, tip 15 to 20 percent with a minimum of about $2 to $5, even on a small order. Push it higher when the weather is bad, the drive is long, or the order is large and heavy, because the driver is covering their own gas, car, and time. The in-app default is a starting point, not a ceiling.

Tipping around the world

US tipping is heavier than most places, so don’t assume the same rules abroad. In much of Europe a service charge is often included and you just round up. In Japan, tipping can even be seen as impolite. When you travel, check the local custom, because over-tipping or under-tipping both stand out.

Country	Typical restaurant tip
United States	15 - 20%
Canada	15 - 20%
United Kingdom	10 - 15%, check if included
Most of Europe	Round up to 10%, often included
Japan	No tipping expected
Australia	Optional, 10% for great service

When it’s okay to tip less, or skip it

Tipping isn’t all-or-nothing, and there are times you don’t owe the full 20 percent. Here’s when it’s reasonable to adjust.

• Counter service. If you’re just grabbing a coffee or a pastry and there’s no table service, you’re not obliged to tip, though rounding up is a kind touch.
• A service charge is already added. Check the bill for larger groups, since many restaurants add gratuity automatically. If it’s there, you don’t need to tip again on top.
• Genuinely poor service. If something really went wrong, it’s fair to tip a little less, but the better move is usually to mention it so it can be fixed. It’s rarely the server’s fault if the kitchen’s slow.
• Abroad. In countries where tipping isn’t the custom, don’t force it. You’ll sometimes stand out more by over-tipping than by following the local norm.

What you shouldn’t do is stiff a table server or a stylist over something minor, since they’re often relying on that income. When in doubt, the standard 15 to 20 percent is the safe call.

Make it exact

The percentages here are the guide, but the actual dollars depend on your bill. Rather than doing the math at the table, enter your bill, pick your percentage, and split it across your group with the tip calculator. If you want to do it in your head, here’s the fast way to calculate a tip.