How Much to Tip
a Server?

Sit-Down Dining · Fine Dining · Casual Restaurants

The standard restaurant tip in the United States is 18%–20% of the pre-tax bill. Tips are often shared with kitchen staff — so food quality matters alongside service. Use the calculator below for a suggestion calibrated to your city and your specific experience.

Your Location

We calibrate tips to the cost of living in the area.

If your city isn't listed, use the closest one to you.

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Your Bill
$

Enter the pre-tax total if possible — the standard practice is to tip on food and drink before tax.

Please enter a valid check amount.
Food Quality

In the US, servers typically tip out 15%–30% of their tips to kitchen staff, bussers, and food runners — so food quality genuinely affects the full tip. To leave a separate tip specifically for the chef, ask to speak with the manager and hand cash directly; most restaurants don't have a formal mechanism to route tips to the kitchen.

Service Quality
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Additional Details (optional)
Table Circumstances (optional) (optional)

For large parties: many restaurants automatically add an 18%–20% gratuity to the check. Always review your bill before adding an additional tip — ask for an itemized check if unsure.

Bonus? (optional)

How much do you tip at a restaurant?

The standard restaurant tip is 18–22% of the pre-tax bill, adjusted for your local cost of living. In higher cost-of-living cities, 20–25% is more common.

Do you tip on the pre-tax or post-tax total?

The standard is to tip on the pre-tax total, though many people simply tip on the full amount shown. The calculator uses the amount you enter — you can enter either.

Do you tip less for bad service?

Yes — the calculator adjusts for service quality. A poor experience may warrant a minimum tip of 10–12%. However, consider whether the issue was the server's fault or the kitchen's before reducing the tip.

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Restaurant Tipping in the United States

Tipping at restaurants is one of the most common daily interactions Americans navigate. Here's what's normal — and why it's more nuanced than just picking a percentage.

The Standard Range

At a US table-service restaurant, 18%–20% of the pre-tax total is the widely accepted standard. For exceptional service, 22%–25% is a strong show of appreciation. Going below 15% is generally considered low and signals a problem with the experience.

Tips Are Often Shared

At many restaurants, servers tip out a percentage of their sales to bussers, food runners, and sometimes kitchen staff. This means the quality of your food is relevant to your tip — even when the server was excellent. A great server with poor kitchen execution is a nuanced situation worth considering.

City Makes a Difference

In New York City or San Francisco, 20% is the baseline — anything less can feel low. In smaller markets, 18% is fully appropriate. Our calculator uses US Census income data for your specific county so the suggestion reflects where you actually are.

Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax

The standard US practice is to tip on the pre-tax total. Many people tip on the full amount including tax, which is also fine — the difference on most checks is $1–$3. Either approach is socially acceptable.

Frequently Asked Questions — Restaurant Tips

How much to tip a waitress?

The same as a waiter — 18%–20% of the pre-tax bill is standard in the US. For excellent service, 22%–25% is appreciated. Gender of your server doesn't change the norm.

How to tip at a restaurant?

At the end of your meal, calculate 18%–20% of your pre-tax total and add it to your card payment or leave cash. Our calculator above does this automatically while accounting for service quality and your city's local norms.

Are tips shared with kitchen staff?

Often yes — many US restaurants distribute a portion of server tips to food runners, bussers, and sometimes kitchen workers. This is called tip pooling. If your food quality was poor but your server was great, tipping well and speaking to a manager about the food is the right approach.

What's the minimum tip at a restaurant?

15% is the broadly accepted minimum for table service in the US. Below that signals serious dissatisfaction. If you had a genuinely poor experience, a brief conversation with the manager is more constructive than skipping the tip.

Do you tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

Pre-tax is the standard, but tipping on the full post-tax total is also perfectly acceptable. On a $60 check, the difference is only about $1–$2, so most people don't stress about it.