Not sure how much you should be tipping? We have answers to some common tipping questions.
Make sure to bring along our printable tipping guide with you the next time you are out.
How much should you tip?
18.9% is the average tip Americans gave in 2006, according to the Zagat Survey's 2007 America's Top Restaurants guide. The generally accepted value is 15% to 20%, though outside North America it may be different.
Are Tips Mandatory?
You are not obligated to tip. We like to say that TIP stands for To Improve Performance. If service was horrible, you have every right to tip nothing and notify management. If the service was poor, tip less than what you might if service was appropriate. If service was great, tip more. It's as simple as that. Some restaurants apply a service charge. Keep in mind if the service is slow it is not always the server's fault. Also, the tips are often pooled, so that the bartender, busboys and in some cases food runners/maitre d'/captain/sommerlier are all recipients of the tip.
What About Split Tips?
We have seen the practice of adding an additional service/tip line for the maitre d' or captain on our bill. We feel that only one tip is necessary - it's not the diners obligation to determine who gets what percent of the tip. So, don't feel the need to tip extra for the maitre d'/captain/sommelier unless of course he or she has provided additional services.
| Bill | 15% | 18.9% | 20% |
| $10.00 | $1.50 | $1.89 | $2.00 |
| $11.00 | $1.65 | $2.08 | $2.20 |
| $12.00 | $1.80 | $2.27 | $2.40 |
| $13.00 | $1.95 | $2.46 | $2.60 |
| $14.00 | $2.10 | $2.65 | $2.80 |
| $15.00 | $2.25 | $2.84 | $3.00 |
| $16.00 | $2.40 | $3.02 | $3.20 |
| $17.00 | $2.55 | $3.21 | $3.40 |
| $18.00 | $2.70 | $3.40 | $3.60 |
| $19.00 | $2.85 | $3.59 | $3.80 |
| $20.00 | $3.00 | $3.78 | $4.00 |
| $21.00 | $3.15 | $3.97 | $4.20 |
| $22.00 | $3.30 | $4.16 | $4.40 |
| $23.00 | $3.45 | $4.35 | $4.60 |
| $24.00 | $3.60 | $4.54 | $4.80 |
| $25.00 | $3.75 | $4.73 | $5.00 |
| $26.00 | $3.90 | $4.91 | $5.20 |
| $27.00 | $4.05 | $5.10 | $5.40 |
| $28.00 | $4.20 | $5.29 | $5.60 |
| $29.00 | $4.35 | $5.48 | $5.80 |
| $30.00 | $4.50 | $5.67 | $6.00 |
| $31.00 | $4.65 | $5.86 | $6.20 |
| $32.00 | $4.80 | $6.05 | $6.40 |
| $33.00 | $4.95 | $6.24 | $6.60 |
| $34.00 | $5.10 | $6.43 | $6.80 |
| $35.00 | $5.25 | $6.62 | $7.00 |
| $36.00 | $5.40 | $6.80 | $7.20 |
| $37.00 | $5.55 | $6.99 | $7.40 |
| $38.00 | $5.70 | $7.18 | $7.60 |
| $39.00 | $5.85 | $7.37 | $7.80 |
| $40.00 | $6.00 | $7.56 | $8.00 |
| Bill | 15% | 18.9% | 20% |
| $45.00 | $6.75 | $8.51 | $9.00 |
| $50.00 | $7.50 | $9.45 | $10.00 |
| $55.00 | $8.25 | $10.40 | $11.00 |
| $60.00 | $9.00 | $11.34 | $12.00 |
| $65.00 | $9.75 | $12.29 | $13.00 |
| $70.00 | $10.50 | $13.23 | $14.00 |
| $75.00 | $11.25 | $14.18 | $15.00 |
| $80.00 | $12.00 | $15.12 | $16.00 |
| $85.00 | $12.75 | $16.07 | $17.00 |
| $90.00 | $13.50 | $17.01 | $18.00 |
| $95.00 | $14.25 | $17.96 | $19.00 |
| $100.00 | $15.00 | $18.90 | $20.00 |
| $110.00 | $16.50 | $20.79 | $22.00 |
| $120.00 | $18.00 | $22.68 | $24.00 |
| $125.00 | $18.75 | $23.63 | $25.00 |
| $130.00 | $19.50 | $24.57 | $26.00 |
| $140.00 | $21.00 | $26.46 | $28.00 |
| $150.00 | $22.50 | $28.35 | $30.00 |
| $160.00 | $24.00 | $30.24 | $32.00 |
| $170.00 | $25.50 | $32.13 | $34.00 |
| $175.00 | $26.25 | $33.08 | $35.00 |
| $180.00 | $27.00 | $34.02 | $36.00 |
| $190.00 | $28.50 | $35.91 | $38.00 |
| $200.00 | $30.00 | $37.80 | $40.00 |
| $225.00 | $33.75 | $42.53 | $45.00 |
| $250.00 | $37.50 | $47.25 | $50.00 |
| $275.00 | $41.25 | $51.98 | $55.00 |
| $300.00 | $45.00 | $56.70 | $60.00 |
| $400.00 | $60.00 | $75.60 | $80.00 |
| $500.00 | $75.00 | $94.50 | $100.00 |
| $600.00 | $90.00 | $113.40 | $120.00 |