Tipping in United States: Guide & Calculator

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Free•Browser-based•Last reviewed August 2026

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International tipping guide

Tipping in the United States

For U.S. restaurant table service, 18–20% is a common working range when gratuity is not already included.

Use the lookup tool Quick reference Explore country guides

Important international tipping disclaimer

Use this page as a starting point, not a universal rule. This page provides general U.S. etiquette and calculation guidance, not legal, tax, wage, employment, or financial advice. State and local wage laws, employer policies, union rules, venue disclosures, tip-pooling arrangements, and mandatory service-charge treatment vary. A compulsory service charge is not automatically the same as a voluntary tip under federal law, and a venue may distribute it differently. Read the receipt, ask the business when a charge is unclear, and verify current state or local rules before relying on any percentage.

Interactive travel tool

United States Tipping Calculator

Destination

Service

Currency

Bill or service amount

For flat-amount services, this can remain as context while the quantity drives the result.

People, bags, nights or service units

Included gratuity or service charge

Enter the included percentage only when it clearly counts toward your intended gratuity.

Custom target percentage

The destination and service set a researched starting rate. You can override it transparently.

Quick tipping reference

These are starting ranges, not compulsory charges.

Service-specific tipping starting points
Service	Starting range	Receipt or context check
Restaurant table service	15–20%	Check for automatic gratuity first.
Taxi or rideshare	10–20%	Adjust for luggage, waiting or difficult pickup.
Hotel staff	USD 2–10 per bag, night or substantial request	The appropriate unit depends on the role.
Tour guide	USD 10–25 per traveler per day	Operator guidance can override this starting point.
Food delivery	15–25%	Use a practical minimum for small or difficult orders.

How tipping works in United States

Tipping is deeply established in many table-service and personal-service settings, but compulsory service charges are legally distinct from voluntary tips under U.S. federal wage law.

Receipt language to recognize

gratuity automatic gratuity service charge hospitality fee

Terminology alone does not prove that a charge reaches a particular worker. Ask the venue when distribution matters.

How to use the calculator responsibly

Select the exact destination and service.
Read the bill for tax, cover charges, service charges or included gratuity.
Enter only a charge that genuinely counts toward your intended gratuity.
Use the recommended figure as a transparent starting point, then apply local and venue-specific information.
When the local norm is “not expected,” do not assume that a payment-terminal prompt changes the custom.

Receipt-first rule: calculate only after identifying what the existing line items mean.

Explore the complete international tipping cluster

Country and regional pages are grouped below and initially collapsed.

Core pillars3 links

International pillarTipping by CountrySearch countries, services and receipt language.Open resource Pillar toolTip CalculatorCalculate tips, tax, charges and equal splits.Open resource Service pillarHow Much to TipFind service-specific tipping guidance.Open resource

North America3 links

Country guideTipping in United StatesFor U.S. restaurant table service, 18–20% is a common working range when gratuity is not already included.Open resource Country guideTipping in CanadaA practical Canadian restaurant starting range is 15–20% when no gratuity or service charge has already been added.Open resource Country guideTipping in MexicoIn Mexican restaurants and bars, 10–15% is a customary starting range when service is not already included.Open resource

Europe6 links

Regional guideTipping in EuropeCompare included service, rounding and optional tips.Open resource Country guideTipping in United KingdomIn UK restaurants, 10–15% is a familiar gesture when no optional service charge has already been added.Open resource Country guideTipping in FranceWhen a French restaurant bill is “service compris,” zero extra is acceptable; a small 2–3% or loose change can recognize notably good service.Open resource Country guideTipping in ItalyItaly does not require a fixed tip. Zero to 10% is a practical restaurant range depending on service and existing charges.Open resource Country guideTipping in GermanyIn Germany, 5–10% or a rounded total is a common restaurant approach.Open resource Country guideTipping in SpainIn Spain, tipping is not obligatory; 5–10% is a common upper working range for good restaurant service.Open resource

Asia, Oceania and Middle East4 links

Country guideTipping in JapanFor ordinary restaurants, taxis and hotels in Japan, the normal extra tip is zero.Open resource Country guideTipping in IndiaIn India, there is no single universal percentage. For restaurants, check for a service charge first; a voluntary 5–10% can be a practical starting range when appropriate.Open resource Country guideTipping in AustraliaIn Australia, zero extra is normally acceptable; around 10% may be chosen for good service in an upmarket restaurant.Open resource Country guideTipping in United Arab EmiratesIn the UAE, a 10% restaurant tip can be a practical starting point when no service charge is present, but there is no single fixed rule.Open resource

Related calculators and country guides

Continue with the most useful next step.

Pillar toolTip CalculatorCalculate a transparent tip, total and split.Open resource Country guideTipping in CanadaA practical Canadian restaurant starting range is 15–20% when no gratuity or service charge has already been added.Open resource Country guideTipping in MexicoIn Mexican restaurants and bars, 10–15% is a customary starting range when service is not already included.Open resource Country guideTipping in United KingdomIn UK restaurants, 10–15% is a familiar gesture when no optional service charge has already been added.Open resource

Frequently asked questions

How much should I tip in United States?

Use the calculator as a starting point, then check the receipt, service type, local custom and venue policy.

Should I tip when a service charge is included?

Not automatically. Identify whether the charge replaces gratuity, is compulsory, or is simply another fee before adding more.

Should I calculate the tip before or after tax?

Use the base that matches local practice and your intention. The calculator keeps the choice transparent.

Do card-terminal tip prompts reflect local custom?

Not necessarily. A payment interface can show preset percentages even where tipping is optional or not expected.

Can the same country have different tipping rules?

Yes. City, region, resort, venue category, service type and booking terms can all change the practical answer.

Methodology and authoritative references

CalcTypes separates arithmetic from etiquette. The tool applies a transparent percentage or flat amount, while the editorial guidance identifies whether tipping is expected, optional, included or generally unnecessary. Sources are reviewed for destination relevance and receipt terminology.