Tip Calculator

In the United States, the standard tip at a sit-down restaurant is 18% to 20% of the pre-tax bill for good service. For exceptional service, 22% to 25% is appropriate. If the service was poor, 10% to 15% is acceptable, though you should also consider speaking with a manager. In bars, $1 to $2 per drink or 15% to 20% of the tab is standard. For buffet service where staff only refills drinks and clears plates, 10% is typical.

In most countries, tipping is voluntary and based on service quality. However, in the US, tipped workers are legally paid a lower minimum wage with the expectation that tips will make up the difference. This means tipping is effectively expected in the US, and leaving nothing is considered very rude. In other countries like Australia or most of Europe, workers are paid a living wage and tipping is more of a polite gesture than an obligation.

The standard practice is to tip on the pre-tax bill amount. Tax goes to the government, not to the server. However, if you want to be extra generous, tipping on the post-tax total only adds a small difference. For example, on an $85 bill with 8% tax, the post-tax amount is $91.80. An 18% tip on the pre-tax amount is $15.30, while on the post-tax amount it's $16.52, a difference of just $1.22.

A useful trick is to move the decimal point one place left to get 10%, then halve that for 5% and add as needed. For a $64 bill, 10% is $6.40, 5% is $3.20, so 15% is $9.60 and 20% is $12.80. Another approach is to look at the tax amount on your bill, which is often around 8% to 10%, and double or triple it for a reasonable tip.

For takeout, 10% is a nice gesture since someone still prepared and packaged your food. For delivery, 15% to 20% is standard, with a minimum of $3 to $5 even for small orders. Delivery drivers deal with traffic, weather, and sometimes difficult parking situations, so they deserve fair compensation. If the delivery was exceptionally fast or the driver went out of their way, consider tipping on the higher end.