How Much to Tip at a Restaurant
15–20%
At a US sit-down restaurant, tip 15–20% of the pre-tax bill. 20% has become the everyday norm for good service; 15% signals service was fine but unremarkable. Many servers earn a tipped minimum wage, so the tip is a large part of their pay.
- Total with tip
- $0.00
Within the 15–20% range for restaurant server.
Tipping restaurant server: situation by situation
| Situation | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Good, standard service | 18–20% |
| Excellent or attentive service | 20–25% |
| Service was slow but not the server's fault | 15–18% |
| Large party (often auto-gratuity 18–20%) | Check the bill first |
| Buffet with drink refills | 10% |
| Coupon or comped meal | Tip on the full original price |
Worth knowing
- Tip on the subtotal before tax. Tipping on the total adds only a little, so either is fine.
- Check the receipt for "gratuity" or "service charge" lines before adding more.
- If something went wrong, tell a manager. Stiffing the server rarely reaches the actual cause.
Questions people ask
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Pre-tax is the traditional etiquette answer, since tax isn't part of the service. The difference is small: on a $60 bill with 8% tax, 20% of the total is only about $1 more.
Is 15% still acceptable?
Yes, for adequate service. But 18–20% is now what most servers expect for good service at a sit-down restaurant in the US.
Do I tip if there is already a service charge?
Usually no extra tip is needed if an automatic gratuity of 18% or more was added. A "service charge" is sometimes kept by the restaurant, so ask if you want the server to get it.