Do I Have to Swipe Card Again to Leave a Tip

13 Min Read | Aug 26, 2021

Nosotros all know tipping is an essential role of life—1 that can brand or break someone's day (or budget). So, if you're asking, "How much should I tip the movers or the pizza delivery guy?" you've come up to the right identify. Those movers could be working to pay their way through college. And your favorite barista might be working actress shifts to pay the light pecker this month.

That'south why knowing how to calculate a tip and how much you should tip in every situation is so important. Read on to acquire everything yous need to know about tipping.

How to Calculate Your Tip
Tipping at Restaurants
Tipping for Grocery Services
Tipping Other Common Services
Tipping at Salons and Spas
Tipping While Traveling
Vacation Tipping Guide

How to Summate Your Tip

I of the hardest things about knowing how much you lot should tip is knowing how to calculate the dang thing. But all you lot actually need is a niggling elementary school math and your fingers—or, let's be real, the calculator on your smartphone.

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An easy way to calculate a tip is: ane) figure out the percentage yous want to tip, 2) scooch the decimal in that percentage over two places, and 3) multiply that by the cost. Does that sound complicated? It's actually not!

Here's an example. Let's say your full at the local Milkshake Shack was $28. Your server did an outstanding job of making sure your fries were piping hot and your was milkshake ice cold, and then y'all decide to tip her xx%. (Good call.)

All you have to do is move the decimal two places to the left (.20) and so multiply that past the toll of the meal ($28). And voila, y'all have your tip: $5.lx! Yous can exercise the same for any other percentage, whether it's 15%, twenty% or 25%!

And then, there yous go! You'll be an skilful at tipping in no time.

Tipping at Restaurants

Server or Waitress

When you become out to swallow at a restaurant, leave a minimum of fifteen%—but preferably 20%—for good service. And if you actually want to be generous, go for the 25% marker. Does that sound a niggling steep? Here'southward a reality check: If you tin can't afford to get out a decent tip, and so you can't beget to go out to swallow.

Recall, most servers make effectually $2 per hr, and then they're counting on those tips to make ends see.ⁱ You should consider the tip function of the overall feel of dining out.

Buffet Restaurants

Things can get a picayune catchy here—but stick with us. Servers at a buffet may not bring nutrient to your table, but they even so refill your drinks and clear your plates. And since you've got to take hold of anewplate for every visit dorsum to the buffet, you're making a lot of work for that person. So, while yous don't take to tip them as much as a server at a more formal restaurant, you still need to tip.

A good rule of thumb is to tip at least 10%. Too feel gratis to heighten that if you get stellar service. Over again, these servers make very little per hour. Recall of it like this: If anybody tipped just one extra dollar, information technology would make a large divergence for the server.

Takeout

Whether someone brings the food out to you or you go in to get it, you should still tip around 10% when picking up or carrying out from a eatery. But think about how thankful you are that yous didn't have to cook dinner for yourself or your crew—and show your gratitude by adding to the tip jar.

Pizza Delivery

You should absolutely tip for pizza delivery! Someone had to bring that piping-hot, delicious pizza to your front door. Without them, y'all'd probably be eating cold mac and cheese leftovers and that salami that's been sitting in the refrigerator for a month. Plus, you don't accept to exit the house (or change out of your pajamas).

Be generous and give them a few dollars. Somewhere in the range of $2 to $4 is perfectly fine. And if they're bringing lots of pies to feed a crew at your kid's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles party, tip fifty-fifty more.

Fast-Food Restaurants

There's no hard dominion on tipping etiquette at these types of casual places (wouldn't it be easier if there was?). Mostly, folks who work at fast-food joints don't expect a tip. Merely you'd definitely make someone'southward day if yous did.

Carhop

Whether you lot're a regular at Sonic or another mom-and-popular drive-in, tipping your carhop is upwards to you lot. Did they only bring your meal (and drinks) on roller skates with ease? Yup—that deserves a tip in our book. But like with other fast-nutrient restaurants, a tip isn't expected, just information technology'south always appreciated.

Coffee Barista

Y'all've seen the piddling tip jar on the counter when you pick up your morn cup of coffee. It usually has a cute phrase on it like "alms for thecascade" or "thanks a latte for your tippaccino." So, what practise y'all do?

When it comes to java, y'all're not obligated to tip. But if y'all experience similar beingness generous, or if that kind barista went out of their way for you, why not leave a tip? Put a dollar in that punny tip jar as a sign of cheers for the work they put in to help you perk up.

Bartender

Y'all didn't think we'd desire to talk about this 1, did y'all? But it's something some of yous are wondering, and the answer is yes. Tip the bartender, especially if the beverage requires work to create. A dollar or 2 per drink is perfectly fine tipping etiquette hither.

Restroom Attendant

This tin can be an bad-mannered 1 to talk nigh (for more than one reason). First of all, you lot might non realize a place has a restroom bellboy when you walk in to use the bathroom. Secondly, you might non take cash on you in that moment. If you're in an overly elegant institution, a restroom attendant might be part of the ambience and tipping them shouldn't experience out of the ordinary. If y'all've got anywhere betwixt l cents and a couple of bucks, offering it. If you have nothing on you, so just smiling and say thank you.

Valet

When making employ of convenience services like valet, remember that convenience often costs coin. And that's okay—when information technology's in the budget! So, if yous care for yourself to using this service instead of parking your own machine, you lot should absolutely tip a few dollars. Accept y'all seen how fast valets run to serve you promptly? The Flash couldn't practice better. Say thanks with $two to $5.

Tipping for Grocery Services

Grocery Store Bagger or Order Pickup Runner

A lot of grocery stores enquire you not to tip the people who bag or carry out your groceries. Some volition even flat out tell their employees to decline tips. You don't want to get them in trouble, and then if the person is kind plenty to acquit your bags out to the auto, testify verbal gratitude. Look at their nametag (without making it creepy) and say their proper name every bit you say thank you. You'd be surprised how few people do this—and how much information technology could mean to the bagger.

And the same goes for people who prepare your drive-upwardly or pickup orders at stores like Walmart and Kroger.Technically,they aren't allowed to accept tips either—so again, don't get them into trouble. Simply offer a kind and heartfelt give thanks-you lot. These people are basically doing what's now become a regular function of working at a grocery store.

Grocery Delivery Services

Grocery delivery is a semi-new service, so tipping etiquette hasn't been totally divers all the same. That beingness said, most of the gig workers who make extra income with companies like Shipt and TaskRabbit rely on tips. Once you gene in gasoline apply, wear and tear on their auto, and contained contractor taxes (not to mention fourth dimension and energy spent doing the shoppingfor you)—they really don't take much base of operations pay left.

So be kind. Be generous. A 15% to 20% tip is a good rule of thumb for someone who braved the store, shopped for the best produce, waited in line, fought traffic, and brought groceries right to your front door (especiallyin the COVID era).

Tipping Other Common Services

Bloom Delivery

If you're sending flowers, tip $two to $5 per arrangement. On the flip side, if you receive a cute brandish of flowers (or a tasty fruit boutonniere), it'due south nearly likely a wonderful surprise. We don't recall you take to tip when receiving a souvenir, merely take the fourth dimension to say thank you. And if yous get splendid service, refer that company to others—a word-of-mouth referral could bring them more business!

Professional person Movers

No uncertainty virtually it—if your movers become the extra mile and help you bring in and set up your furniture, they deserve a tip. (Think about all that hard piece of work!) Or if they did an first-class job moving your exotic fish tank or your grandmother'southward former piano upwards iii flights of stairs, they definitely deserve a tip. We suggest $x to $l per mover, depending on the level of difficulty, attitude of the crew, and amount of stuff they were lugging around for you. Every state of affairs's dissimilar, then use your all-time judgement.

Cable Guy or Satellite Installer

Technically, your cablevision guy or satellite installer is doing their job when they come over to your house. It's not a service they're going out of their style to exercise for you.

That said, if it's a blazing hot 24-hour interval, go ahead and "tip" them a refreshing glass of lemonade or a canteen of water. And if it's the dead of wintertime, why not offering them a nice hot cup of coffee or tea?

Contractor

Since your contractor is there to do the job you hired them to do—whether it's marketing for your small business, helping you with your website, or filing your taxes—you don't have to tip them. Now, if they're making you dinner, picking up your dry out cleaning, and cutting your hair—that's a dissimilar story.

Hymeneals Officiant

Your priest, your pastor, a guy at the courthouse, an Elvis impersonator—regardless of who officiates your hymeneals, y'all should tip them. If it's not required as function of the wedding fees, consider handing the officiant $50 to $100 in a dainty thank-you card at the rehearsal. If they admittedly refuse to have it, offer to make a donation to their church or their favorite charity instead.

Babysitter

If your babysitter actually helped you out (similar like-minded to watch your picayune ones on brusque notice or cleaning up the backwash of your child'southward stomachache from the carpet), then yeah, maybe you should tip them. Only this isn't an accented must. Information technology's merely a nice gesture acknowledging the problem they went through. This tin look similar adding a little extra to their hourly rate or rounding up that one-half hour to a total hour when you're figuring out what yous owe.

Tipping at Salons and Spas

Pilus Stylist or Hairdresser

Do you need to tip your hair guru or your barber? Yup—subsequently all, you're trusting these people with your hair! After marriage, it's i of the strongest bonds there is: hair trust. Tipping effectually 15% to twenty% is standard, depending on their profession and the service y'all received.

Manicurist

When it comes to nail services, tip like y'all'd tip your hair stylist. With xv% to twenty%, you lot can't go incorrect!

Tattoo Creative person

It takes some pretty incredible skills for someone to depict permanent art on your body—and do information technology well. A good tattoo creative person admittedly deserves a gratuity of 15% to 20%.

Tipping While Traveling

Hotel Housekeeping

A lot of people don't even realize they need to tip at hotels. You lot should leave a couple dollars a night at a budget-friendly hotel and effectually $v a night at a swanky spot. And remember to tip daily since you might not get the aforementioned housekeeper throughout your stay.

Concierge

If the concierge has secured impossible-to-find tickets to a Broadway show, then yes—skid them a $10 or $20 bill for going above and across with their connections. If they just gave you quick directions to the nearest java shop, you can skip the tip and offer a thanks instead.

Cab Driver

We all know to tip the cab driver for taking the states safely to our destination. But how much is too much? This depends on the length of your trip and your driver's power to handle the route.

If you feared for your life during the ride, that tip is going to exist a large fat zip. If it was an overall safety trip, go alee and tip 10% to xv%. Add an extra dollar or two if they helped you with unloading any luggage.

Uber and Lyft Drivers

You can easily tip your Uber or Lyft driver past using the app on your mobile device. Yay, engineering! Since y'all can charge per unit your driver, most of them leave of their mode to win you over with perks similar snacks, drinks and telephone chargers. And while both companies say you're under no obligation to tip, we remember the same tip amounts for cab drivers apply to Uber and Lyft drivers.

Holiday Tipping Guide

Don't be a scrooge. Tipping with intentionality means something—all yr long. But when it'south the most wonderful time of the twelvemonth and Santa's watching your every move, you may be a little more in the giving spirit.

So, when it comes to tipping during the holidays, it's up to yous. You don't necessarily need to tip more than usual, unless your stylist or plumber was able to squeeze you lot in at the last infinitesimal during the holiday season. But adding a "Merry Christmas" or including a card with your regular tip can make someone's day. And really, an extra $5 or a coffee gift card on top of your regular tip is a great way to make the day more merry and bright for someone who serves you well all year long. And hey—people often give presents to the teachers, manicurists and hair stylists in their lives. Y'all tin besides.

When in Doubt, Be Generous

No matter what, it'south of import to recall that you can't become wrong with being generous. In fact, if y'all're in a good financial position, why not beoutrageously generous? Call up, your tip says more nigh yous than the person you're leaving information technology for. Tipping well doesn't just mean you're skilful at tipping—it shows that you're grateful for the service and have a generous spirit.

And don't forget the golden rule of tipping: If you tin can't beget to tip, then you can't afford the service. Don't go to a eatery with servers if y'all can't cover the actress 15% to 20% on elevation of your food cost. And don't set an appointment with your stylist if you can't add the tip into your final payment. These might seem similar extras at kickoff, just tipping is a big part of life—and you'll demand to upkeep for information technology.

EveryDollar can help make budgeting piece of cake for you. All you have to do is download the EveryDollar app—our zip-based budgeting tool—and start telling your dollars where to go. But the trick is to stick to it! Beginning your EveryDollar budget for free and see just how generous yous can exist. (No tip necessary.)

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