Everyday Math guide

How much should I tip?

In the U.S., the customary restaurant tip is 15–20% of the pre-tax bill: about 15% for adequate service, 18–20% for good, and 20% or more for excellent. Many people tip on the total shown for simplicity. Common norms elsewhere: $1–2 per drink at a bar, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare, and $1–2 per bag for hotel porters.

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What is the standard restaurant tip in the U.S.?

The customary range is 15–20% of the pre-tax bill. Roughly 15% signals adequate service, 18–20% signals good service, and 20% or more marks out excellent service. In practice, many diners tip on the total shown — tax included — because it is easier to calculate and the difference on most checks is small.

The pre-tax versus post-tax distinction matters more as the bill grows. On a $60 check the gap between the two bases is a few cents per percentage point; on a $600 catering bill it becomes real money. Neither approach is wrong — the pre-tax figure is the traditional reference point, and tipping on the total is a widely accepted shortcut.

A worked example

Say your pre-tax bill is $80. A 15% tip is $12, 18% is $14.40, and 20% is $16. So the same meal lands somewhere between $92 and $96 depending on how the service is rated.

Tipping on the total instead means adding the tax first — an $80 meal with 8% tax is $86.40, and 20% of that is $17.28 rather than $16. The Tip Calculator lets you toggle the base, set the percentage, and split the result across a table so each of these figures sits side by side before you sign.

Tipping beyond the restaurant table

Service tipping extends well past sit-down meals. At a bar, the norm is about $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of the full tab if one is running. Taxis and rideshare typically follow the same 15–20% restaurant range.

For hotel porters, $1–2 per bag is customary. These are per-service conventions rather than strict rules, and they shift with the size and difficulty of the request — a single carry-on and a cart stacked with luggage are not treated the same.

Why tipping customs are not universal

Tipping norms vary widely by country. In some places a service charge is already built into the bill, so an additional tip is optional or even unexpected; in others, tipping is minimal or reserved for exceptional service.

The U.S. percentages above reflect American restaurant custom, where tips make up a large share of many service workers' pay. Local practice differs from place to place, so the U.S. 15–20% norm does not transfer reliably; applying it everywhere can mean over-tipping where service is already included, or under-tipping where a tip is genuinely expected.

Frequently asked questions

Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

The traditional reference is the pre-tax bill, but many people tip on the total shown for simplicity. On smaller checks the difference is negligible; on large bills it grows, so the choice matters more the higher the total.

What percentage counts as a good tip?

About 18–20% signals good service and 20% or more marks excellent service. Around 15% is considered adequate. These are the customary U.S. restaurant ranges, applied to the pre-tax bill.

How much should I tip at a bar?

Roughly $1–2 per drink is customary, or 15–20% of the full tab if one is kept open. The per-drink approach is common for a few rounds; the percentage approach fits a longer running tab.

Do these tipping rules apply outside the U.S.?

Not reliably. Customs vary widely by country, and some include a service charge in the bill, making an extra tip optional. Local practice differs from place to place, so the U.S. 15–20% norm does not transfer everywhere.

Sources: The Emily Post Institute — General Tipping Guide.

Last reviewed July 4, 2026 · Editorial policy · This is general information, not financial advice.