A tip calculator takes the mental arithmetic out of dining, delivery and services. Enter the bill, pick a tip percentage, and see the tip amount, the grand total, and what each person owes when splitting. It works for restaurants, bars, salons, taxis and anywhere else a gratuity is expected.
In the United States tipping is not a bonus. Servers often earn a sub-minimum base wage and rely on tips for most of their income, which is why 15 to 20% is the standard at sit-down restaurants. The federal tipped minimum wage is still $2.13 an hour.
If you are here because you are not sure what the norm is for a particular service, the table below covers how much to tip for 25 of them, from movers to tattoo artists.
How to Calculate a Tip
The arithmetic is straightforward percentage work:
Tip = bill × (tip % ÷ 100) Total = bill + tip Per person = total ÷ number of people
So an 18% tip on a $68.50 bill is $68.50 × 0.18 = $12.33, for a total of $80.83.
The fastest mental method is to find 10% first by moving the decimal one place left, then adjust:
- 10% of $54.00 is $5.40
- 20% is double that, $10.80
- 15% is 10% plus half of 10%, so $5.40 + $2.70 = $8.10
- 18% is 20% minus a tenth of the 20% figure, so $10.80 − $1.08 = $9.72
Rounding the bill to the nearest dollar before you start makes all of these easier and changes the tip by pennies.
| Bill | 15% | 18% | 20% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $1.50 | $1.80 | $2.00 | $2.50 |
| $20 | $3.00 | $3.60 | $4.00 | $5.00 |
| $25 | $3.75 | $4.50 | $5.00 | $6.25 |
| $30 | $4.50 | $5.40 | $6.00 | $7.50 |
| $40 | $6.00 | $7.20 | $8.00 | $10.00 |
| $50 | $7.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 | $12.50 |
| $60 | $9.00 | $10.80 | $12.00 | $15.00 |
| $75 | $11.25 | $13.50 | $15.00 | $18.75 |
| $100 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 | $25.00 |
| $150 | $22.50 | $27.00 | $30.00 | $37.50 |
| $200 | $30.00 | $36.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
How Much to Tip: A Guide by Service
Two patterns run through the table. Where someone is paid a tipped minimum wage and waits on you directly, a percentage applies and 15 to 20% is the floor. Where someone performs a discrete task, such as carrying bags or parking a car, a flat amount applies instead.
The cases that cause the most uncertainty are the newer ones. For app-based delivery, tip in the app before delivery rather than after: on most platforms drivers see the tip when deciding whether to accept the order, so a post-delivery tip does not help you get your food faster. And the fees the app charges are not gratuity, whatever they are called.
Counter-service tipping, the tablet that spins around, is genuinely optional. Nobody should feel obliged to tip 20% on a handed-over pastry. The norms above apply where someone is actually serving you.
| Service | Customary tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant server | 15 to 20% | 20% for good service; check for auto-gratuity on parties of 6+ |
| Bartender | $1 to $2 per drink, or 15 to 20% | Per-drink is normal for simple orders, percentage for a tab |
| Food delivery | 15 to 20%, minimum $3 to $5 | Service fees in apps usually do not reach the driver |
| Pizza delivery | 15 to 20%, minimum $3 to $5 | A delivery charge is not a tip |
| DoorDash / Uber Eats | 15 to 20%, minimum $3 to $5 | Tip before delivery affects whether drivers accept the order |
| Instacart / grocery delivery | 10 to 20%, minimum $5 | More for large orders or many heavy items |
| Uber / Lyft driver | 10 to 20%, or $2 to $5 | Round up on short trips; more for luggage help |
| Taxi driver | 15 to 20% | Plus $1 to $2 per bag if they handle luggage |
| Movers | $20 to $40 per mover for a half day, $40 to $60 for a full day | Tip each mover directly, not the company. 5 to 10% of the total is an alternative |
| Hairdresser or hair stylist | 15 to 20% | On the pre-discount price if you used a coupon |
| Barber / haircut | 15 to 20% | $3 to $5 minimum on a cheap cut |
| Nail salon, manicure or pedicure | 15 to 20% | Tip each technician if more than one works on you |
| Massage therapist | 15 to 20% | At a spa, check whether a service charge is already added |
| Tattoo artist | 15 to 25% | Higher end for custom or long sessions |
| Dog groomer | 15 to 20% | More for a difficult or anxious dog |
| House cleaner | 15 to 20% per visit, or one visit’s cost annually | Tip the cleaners, not the agency |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2 to $5 per night | Leave it daily rather than at checkout, since staff rotate |
| Hotel bellhop | $1 to $2 per bag, $5 minimum | More for heavy or awkward items |
| Hotel concierge | $5 to $20 for a special request | Nothing for simple directions |
| Valet parking | $2 to $5 | On retrieval rather than drop-off |
| Coffee shop counter | Optional, $1 or change | Genuinely optional for handed-over items |
| Tour guide | 10 to 20% | Per person on group tours |
| Wedding photographer | $50 to $200 if an employee | Not expected if they own the business |
| Wedding vendors | Varies; caterers 15 to 20%, DJ $50 to $150 | Check the contract first, gratuity is often already included |
| Furniture or appliance delivery | $5 to $20 per person | More for stairs or assembly |
These are customary US ranges, not rules. Norms vary by region and by how much a worker depends on tips, and tipping expectations have shifted upward noticeably in the last decade. Outside the US, many countries expect much less or nothing at all, and a service charge may already be on the bill.
How Much to Tip Movers
Movers come up more than any other single service, and the percentage rule works badly here because moving quotes are large and vary with distance rather than effort.
The convention is a flat amount per mover, tipped to each person individually at the end:
- Half-day local move, up to about 4 hours: $20 to $40 per mover
- Full-day move: $40 to $60 per mover
- Long or difficult job with stairs, heavy items or a long carry: $60 to $100 per mover
- Long-distance moves with different loading and unloading crews: tip each crew separately
On a crew of three doing a full day, that is $120 to $180 total. As a percentage cross-check, 5 to 10% of the total bill lands in a similar place on a typical local move and much too high on a long-distance one.
Tip the movers directly rather than handing a lump sum to the foreman, and note that cold drinks and lunch are appreciated but are not a substitute for cash.
Pre-Tax or Post-Tax, and Splitting the Bill
Either base is acceptable. Etiquette writers say the pre-tax subtotal is technically correct, but most people tip on the post-tax total because it is the number printed largest. The gap is small: on a $100 bill with 8% tax, tipping 20% post-tax adds $1.60 more.
For splitting, work out the total including tip first and then divide, rather than having everyone calculate their own tip. Four friends on an $80 bill at 20%:
- Tip = $80.00 × 0.20 = $16.00
- Total = $96.00
- Each person pays $96.00 ÷ 4 = $24.00, of which $4.00 is tip
At 15% instead, the total is $92.00 and each share $23.00, a dollar less each. When a bill splits unevenly, rounding each share up to the nearest dollar is a painless way to turn a good tip into a better one.
One thing to check before calculating anything: parties of six or more often have an automatic gratuity of 18 to 20% already added. Tipping again on top is a common and expensive mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I tip at a restaurant?
Tip 15 to 20% of the bill at a sit-down restaurant in the US: 15% for adequate service, 18% for good, 20% or more for excellent. Check the bill first for large parties, since many restaurants add an automatic 18 to 20% gratuity for groups of six or more.
How much to tip movers?
$20 to $40 per mover for a half-day local move and $40 to $60 per mover for a full day, tipped to each person directly rather than to the company. Go higher, $60 to $100 each, for stairs, heavy items or a long carry. On long-distance moves tip the loading and unloading crews separately.
How much to tip a hairdresser?
15 to 20%, and on the pre-discount price if you used a coupon or promotion. Tip each person separately if one person washes and another cuts. For a cheap cut, a $3 to $5 minimum is more appropriate than a strict percentage.
How much to tip an Uber driver?
10 to 20% of the fare, or $2 to $5 on a short trip. Round up rather than calculating precisely. Add more if the driver helps with luggage, handles a car seat, or waits for you. The same range applies to Lyft.
How much to tip a massage therapist?
15 to 20% of the service price. At a spa or resort, check the bill first, because a service charge of 18 to 20% is often added automatically, in which case an extra tip is optional. If the therapist owns the practice, a tip is appreciated but not expected.
How much to tip a tattoo artist?
15 to 25% of the total, with the higher end for custom design work or a long session. Unlike most services, tattoo tipping skews higher because the artist typically pays the shop a cut of the price. Tip in cash if you can, and after the session rather than before.
How much to tip for valet parking?
$2 to $5, given when the car is returned rather than when you hand it over. Tip at the upper end at a hotel or in bad weather. If a parking fee is charged separately, that fee is not a gratuity and does not replace the tip.
How much to tip hotel housekeeping?
$2 to $5 per night, and leave it daily rather than as a lump sum at checkout, because different staff clean the room on different days. Leave it somewhere unambiguous with a note, since cash left loosely on a surface may not be treated as a tip.
How much to tip for DoorDash or food delivery?
15 to 20% of the order with a $3 to $5 minimum, and tip in the app before delivery rather than after. On most platforms drivers see the tip when deciding whether to accept an order. Tip more for bad weather, long distances, large orders or stairs, and remember the app’s service fees do not reach the driver.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Either is acceptable. Etiquette guidance favours the pre-tax subtotal, but most people use the post-tax total because it is simpler. The difference is small: on a $100 bill with 8% tax, tipping 20% post-tax adds only $1.60 more.
How do I quickly calculate a tip in my head?
Move the decimal one place left to get 10%. On a $54 bill that is $5.40. Double it for 20%, giving $10.80, or add half the 10% figure for 15%, giving $8.10. For 18%, take the 20% number and subtract a tenth of it.
Is it rude not to tip in the United States?
At full-service restaurants, yes. Servers are often paid a tipped minimum wage as low as $2.13 an hour federally, so the tip is most of their pay rather than a bonus. If service was genuinely poor, the accepted response is to leave around 10% and speak to a manager rather than leaving nothing.