How Much to Tip at a Restaurant
Restaurant tipping guide and calculator
How Much to Tip at a Restaurant
Calculate a restaurant tip, compare 15%, 18% and 20%, account for tax and included gratuity, and avoid an accidental double tip.
Restaurant tip calculator
Enter the food and beverage subtotal before sales tax.
Important disclaimer
Read this before relying on a suggested amount. This page provides general educational restaurant-tipping guidance, primarily for U.S.-style table service. It is not a rule, wage guarantee or legal requirement. Automatic gratuity, service charges, local law, union agreements, no-tip pricing, venue policy and country custom can change the practical answer. Check the receipt and ask the restaurant how compulsory charges are handled. CalcTypes does not provide legal, tax, employment or financial advice.
How Much to Tip at a Restaurant: practical guidance
For U.S. sit-down table service, 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is a common reference range. The amount is not universal: local practices, service model, included gratuity and venue policy matter. Use the calculator to make the base visible before comparing a payment terminal suggestion.
Calculate the exact tip and total when you need tax, included gratuity, service-charge handling, bill splitting or rounding.
What should change the amount?
1. Decision factor
Table service versus buffet or counter service
2. Decision factor
Automatic gratuity on large parties
3. Decision factor
Whether the terminal calculated suggestions after tax
4. Decision factor
Discounts, complimentary items or gift certificates
5. Decision factor
Exceptional effort, long waits caused by the kitchen, or unresolved service problems
Restaurant tipping situations that trip people up
For US sit-down restaurants, 18–20% is the current norm for good service and 15% for basic service. Servers in many states earn a low cash wage before tips, so the tip is part of their pay rather than a bonus.
Common edge cases
- Coupons and discounts: tip on the pre-discount total, since the service was the same.
- Automatic gratuity: parties of six or more often have 18–20% added; check before tipping again.
- Expensive wine: some diners tip a lower percentage, such as 10–15%, on a very expensive bottle; tip fully on the rest.
- Buffets: about 10% for staff who clear plates and refill drinks.
- Bad service: speak to a manager rather than leaving nothing; problems are often the kitchen’s.
Worked example
A $120 dinner paid as $100 after a $20 coupon: a 20% tip on the original $120 is $24, so you pay $124 in total.
Quick reference table
| Situation | Starting approach | Important check |
|---|---|---|
| Standard table service | 15%–20% | Pre-tax is widely accepted |
| Buffet with active table support | Around 10% is a common reference | Consider drink refills and clearing |
| Large party | Check the receipt first | Automatic gratuity may already be present |
| Discounted or complimentary meal | Many people use the original pre-discount value | The work did not necessarily shrink with the discount |
| Service charge present | Ask whether it replaces gratuity | Do not assume the label tells you how money is distributed |
More tipping guides
See how much to tip bartenders, takeout and food delivery, or start from the how much to tip overview. Travelling? Customs differ a lot by country — see Tipping by Country.
Related calculators and guides
Continue with the four most relevant next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is 15% still an acceptable restaurant tip?
In many U.S. situations, 15% remains a reasonable lower reference for standard table service, while 18% to 20% is a common modern default.
Should restaurant tips be calculated before tax?
Tipping on the pre-tax subtotal is widely accepted. Post-tax tipping is simpler and slightly more generous, but it is not required by the arithmetic.
Do I tip when an 18% gratuity is already included?
That charge may already satisfy most or all of your intended gratuity. Decide your target, then add only any positive difference after confirming what the charge represents.
Should I tip on a discounted meal?
Many diners calculate from the original pre-discount service value, especially when the discount did not reduce the work performed.
What if the service was poor?
Raise the issue calmly with a manager and seek a resolution. Tipping decisions remain personal, but silent punishment may not identify or fix the problem.
Do you tip on tax at a restaurant?
Etiquette guides use the pre-tax subtotal, but tipping on the total is common and not wrong.
Do I tip if a service charge is on the bill?
If it is a gratuity for staff, no extra is needed. Ask if unsure whether it goes to servers.
Methodology and sources
The calculator separates percentage methods from flat per-unit methods and presents a range rather than pretending one amount is universally correct. Editorial guidance was reviewed against the following sources and should be rechecked periodically.