Tipping in America: When to Tip, How Much, and When You Can Skip It
Tipping in America: When to Tip, How Much, and When You Can Skip It Quick Answer For sit-down restaurant service, 15% to 20% before tax remains a common U.S. tipping guideline. Counter-service and takeout tip prompts are generally optional. A checkout screen does not automatically create a tipping obligation. Hotel housekeepers, bell staff, valets, bartenders, salon workers, and similar service providers are commonly tipped under U.S. etiquette. Federal wage law still allows qualifying employers to pay certain tipped workers as little as $2.13 per hour in direct wages, although many states require higher amounts. Always check for an automatic gratuity or service charge before adding another tip. A coffee costs $8. You tap your card. Then the tablet turns around and suddenly asks whether you would like to add 20%, 25%, or 30%. Somewhere between ordering the latte and receiving it, you have apparently been handed a small ethics exam. Tha...