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How Much
Should You Tip?

Tip suggestions calibrated to the cost of living in the area — not a national average that ignores where you are.

The Right Tip Matters

A fair tip says: the effort was noticed, the service was considered, and what’s right for this area was honored.

That’s exactly what this tip calculator does.

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$1 – $5 / bag

Hotel Bellhops · Bellmen · Hotel Porters · Bell Staff

City cost of living · Number of bags · Hotel tier · Service

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Haircut · Beard Trim · Straight Razor Shave · Color & Tint

City cost of living · Cut type · Beard service · First visit vs regular

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Wedding · Corporate · Food Truck · Taco Bar · Buffet

City cost of living · Service type · Guest count · Satisfaction · Contract gratuity

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10% – 20% or $50–$200

Party · Prom · Corporate · Sweet 16 · Club Night

City cost of living · Event type · Hours · Travel · Satisfaction

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PetSmart · Petco · Private Salons · Mobile Groomers

City cost of living · Dog size · Coat type · Service complexity · Mobile vs salon

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Furniture Delivery

$5 – $25 / person

Curbside · Room-of-Choice · White Glove · Assembly · Haul-Away

City cost of living · Service level · Assembly · Stairs · Crew size

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15% – 20% (min $3)

DoorDash · Uber Eats · Grubhub · Pizza Delivery · Any App

City cost of living · Order amount · Distance · Weather · On-time delivery

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Grocery Delivery

10% – 15% (min $5)

Instacart · Shipt · Walmart · Whole Foods · Kroger · Target · Amazon Fresh

City cost of living · Order size · Substitutions · Satisfaction

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Balayage · Highlights · Color Correction · Root Touch-Ups · Fashion Color

City cost of living · Service complexity · Time in chair · Satisfaction

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Cuts · Color · Balayage · Highlights · Blowouts · Treatments

City cost of living · Service length · Regular vs new client · Hair type & complexity

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Regular · Deep Clean · Move-In/Out · Airbnb Turnovers

City cost of living · Home size · Clean type · Frequency · Satisfaction

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$2 – $10 / night

Hotels · Motels · Resorts · Airbnbs · Cabins · All-Inclusive

City cost of living · Hotel tier · Nights stayed · Room size

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Massage Therapist

Spa · Independent · In-Home · Chiropractor · Sports & Deep Tissue

City cost of living · Session length · Massage type · Satisfaction · Therapist experience

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$20 – $50 / mover

Local · Short Distance · Long Distance · Cross-Country Moves

City cost of living · Crew size · Job complexity · Stairs · Distance

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Manicure · Pedicure · Gel · Acrylics · Dip Powder · Nail Art

City cost of living · Service type · Gel/acrylic complexity · Satisfaction

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Family · Engagement · Senior · Newborn · Event · Birth Story

City cost of living · Session type · Hours · Travel · Satisfaction

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Restaurant Server

Sit-Down Dining · Fine Dining · Casual Restaurants · Any Table Service

City cost of living · Party size · Service quality · Food quality · Bill amount

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Rideshare Driver

Uber · Lyft · Via · and all rideshare apps

City cost of living · Trip length · Ride type · Service quality

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Simple · Medium · Complex · Custom · Single & Multi-Session

City cost of living · Session length · Piece complexity · Custom vs flash · Satisfaction

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$3 – $10 flat

Restaurant · Hotel · Hospital · Event · Casino

City cost of living · Venue type · Wait time · Service quality

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Photographer · DJ · Band · Planner · Florist · Hair · Makeup · Officiant · Bartender · Limo · More

Every wedding vendor covered — individual tip suggestions for each one, calibrated to your city.

Local tip suggestions in seconds

See all wedding calculators →

US Tipping Quick Reference

Ranges reflect national norms. Your city’s calculator may suggest slightly different amounts based on local income data.

Service	Too Low	Standard	Generous	More Than Generous
Hair Stylist	Under 15%	15% – 20%	20% – 25%	Over 30%
Barber	Under 10%	15% – 20%	20% – 25%	Over 30%
Restaurant	Under 15%	18% – 20%	22% – 25%	Over 30%
Massage	Under 10%	15% – 20%	20% – 25%	Over 30%
Nail Salon	Under 10%	15% – 20%	20% – 25%	Over 30%
Tattoo Artist	Under 10%	15% – 20%	20% – 25%	Over 30%
Hotel Housekeeping	Under $1/night	$2 – $5/night	$5 – $10/night	Over $15/night
Movers	Under $10/mover	$20 – $30/mover	$30 – $50/mover	Over $75/mover
Rideshare	Under 10%	10% – 15%	15% – 20%	Over 25%
Valet	Under $2	$3 – $5	$5 – $10	Over $20
Food Delivery	Under $2	15% or $3 min	20% – 25%	Over 30%
House Cleaner	Under 10%	15% – 20%	20% – 25%	Over 30%

Tipping in America — What You Should Know

The US has a tipping culture unlike most countries. Here’s what shapes it.

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Why tipping is expected in the US

Many US service workers — particularly servers, stylists, and drivers — earn wages with the expectation that tips will supplement their income. In some states, tipped employees can legally be paid as little as $2.13/hour by employers. For many workers, tips are not optional generosity — they are a primary income source.

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Why tips vary so much by city

A 20% tip in New York City — where median household income exceeds $93,000 — is table stakes. The same percentage in a rural area with a $42,000 median income is genuinely above and beyond. Local income levels shape what feels fair on both sides. Our calculators account for this using US Census data.

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Cash vs. card — does it matter?

For personal services, cash tips are strongly preferred. Cash reaches the worker immediately and in full. Card tips may be subject to a 2–3% processing fee and at some businesses aren’t distributed until payday. When possible, carry small bills.

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Holiday and year-end tipping

For service providers you see regularly — your hair stylist, barber, house cleaner, or massage therapist — a year-end gift is customary and deeply appreciated. The most common standard is a separate cash gift equal to one service cost, given at your last appointment of the year. This is in addition to your regular visit tip.

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Restaurant tips are often shared

At many US restaurants, tips are pooled and distributed among servers, food runners, bussers, and kitchen staff. This means the quality of your food is relevant to your tip even when your server was excellent. When food was poorly prepared but service was great, tipping well and speaking to a manager about the food separately is the right approach.

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When it’s acceptable to tip less

If service was genuinely poor — not just imperfect, but meaningfully below standard — tipping at the lower end of the range is reasonable. Skipping a tip entirely without any feedback is considered rude in most US service settings, even when disappointed. A word to the service provider or manager is always more constructive.

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Pre-tax or post-tax?

The widely accepted US practice is to calculate a restaurant tip on the pre-tax total. For personal services like haircuts or massages, the tip is calculated on the service cost. Our calculators always use the service cost you enter — no tax confusion.

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The tablet tip prompt

Counter service businesses increasingly present a payment tablet with pre-selected tip options. There is no universal obligation to tip at counter service where you placed your own order and received no table service. For full table service or any skilled personal work, a tip remains appropriate regardless of how payment is collected.