Tipping questions, answered
Straight answers, one question at a time — whether a tip is expected, what it usually is, and when people go higher. Every figure comes from a cited source, and every page has a calculator for your own situation.
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Pick the guide for your day — a hotel stay, a salon visit, a night out, help at home — and see every tip that comes with it.
Hotel & travel tipping guideRead guideSalon, spa & beauty tipping guideRead guideRestaurant, bar & event tipping guideRead guideHome & pet services tipping guideRead guide
Answers
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Cars & rides
Read the Hotels & travel guideLeisure & sightseeing
Read the Hotels & travel guideHair & nails
Read the Beauty & personal care guideFace, lashes & brows
Read the Beauty & personal care guideSpa, body & tattoo
Read the Beauty & personal care guideFood & events
Read the Food & events guide- $1–$2per drink, or 15%–20% of the tabDo you tip a bartender?
- 15%–20%of the billDo you tip a waiter?
- 15%–20%of the service feeDo you tip wedding and event staff?
- $1–$2per order, or up to 10% on a big orderDo you tip a food cart cook?
- $1–$2Nothing on a routine order; for extra care, or 5%–15% on a big orderDo you tip a drive-thru or fast-food worker?
- 10%–15%of the order, with a $2–$5 minimum on a small orderDo you tip a food delivery driver?
Home & family
Read the Home & services guide- 5%–10%of the move cost for smaller moves, or about $20–$40 per moverDo you tip movers?
- 10%–20%for a hand wash or detailingDo you tip a car wash attendant?
- 10%–20%of the session pay, or about an extra hour's payDo you tip a babysitter?
- $20–$60per counselor per session, where the camp allows tipsDo you tip a summer camp counselor?
- $5–$50per crew member, depending on the jobDo you tip a gardener?
- $10–$30per crew member, most commonly around the holidaysDo you tip a trash or recycling collector?
- $20–$50as a holiday or end-of-season thank-youDo you tip a pool cleaner?
- $20No tip for a standard job; from about for exceptional or unusually difficult workDo you tip a plumber, electrician or handyman?
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