Restaurant percentages, service-by-service gratuities (valet, hotel, salon, delivery), and international tipping customs. The math behind every tip decision.
Tipping is a central part of the service economy in the United States. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers may pay tipped workers a federal tipped minimum wage of just $2.13 per hour, a figure that has not changed since 1991. Because tips make up the majority of a server's income, leaving little or nothing is not simply a personal preference — it directly reduces the wages a worker takes home. Many states require a much higher tipped wage, but in the states that follow the federal floor, the tip is effectively part of the worker's compensation.
For sit-down restaurant service, the long-standing standard was 15%, but practice has drifted upward. Recent consumer surveys put the most common range at 18–20%, with 15% now regarded as the floor for acceptable service and 20%+ reserved for especially attentive service. A simple rule of thumb: tip on the pre-tax subtotal, not on the after-tax total, because sales tax is not income to the server.
From a tax standpoint, tips are treated as wages. The IRS requires employees to report all tip income, and if reported tips fall below 8% of a restaurant's gross receipts, the employer must "allocate" the difference to tipped staff for tax purposes. This is why tipping is not optional in the cultural or legal sense for tipped workers in the US, even though no law directly forces a customer to leave a specific amount.
Tipping expectations vary widely by service, and the right amount depends on the labor involved and whether the worker relies on tips. The ranges below reflect common US practice; they are starting points, not hard rules, and can shift with local cost of living.
| Service | Typical tip |
|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15–20% of the pre-tax bill |
| Bartender | $1–2 per drink, or 15–20% of the tab |
| Food delivery | $3–5, or 15–20% for large orders |
| Hair stylist / barber | 15–20% of the service cost |
| Rideshare / taxi | 10–20%, $1–2 minimum |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–5 per night |
| Movers | $20 per mover for a half-day |
| Tour guide | 10–20% of the tour price |
Counter-service coffee shops and quick-serve restaurants increasingly present tip prompts on payment screens, but these are discretionary. For takeout where no table service is provided, a small tip ($1–2) is appreciated but not expected the way it is for full table service.
Tipping customs differ sharply around the world. In many countries, service workers are paid a full wage and a tip is a small rounding gesture rather than a meaningful share of income. Understanding local norms prevents both over-tipping and awkward refusals.
| Country | Tipping custom |
|---|---|
| United States / Canada | 15–20% expected at restaurants |
| United Kingdom | 10–15%; check for an added "service charge" |
| France | 15% usually included ("service compris") |
| Germany | 5–10%; round up the bill |
| Italy | Optional, ~10%; "coperto" cover charge is common |
| Japan | No tipping; it can be considered rude |
| Australia / New Zealand | Not expected; 10% for exceptional service |
| Mexico | 10–15% at restaurants |
In Japan, leaving money on the table can cause confusion or be returned, because excellent service is considered part of the price. Across much of Europe, a service charge is already built into menu prices, so an additional tip is a small bonus rather than a percentage calculation. When traveling, it is worth checking whether a service charge has already been added before tipping on top.
Every tip calculation reduces to a single multiplication. Once you know the percentage and the bill, the math is the same whether the check is $15 or $500.
Tip = Bill × Tip % Total = Bill + Tip
For example, on a $54 pre-tax restaurant bill with an 18% tip: the tip is $54 × 0.18 = $9.72, and the total comes to $63.72. A useful mental shortcut is to compute 10% by moving the decimal one place left ($5.40), then double it for 20% ($10.80), and adjust down for 18% by subtracting 10% of the 10% figure (roughly $1.08), giving about $9.72.
The Metriova tip calculator performs this calculation instantly and can split the total across a group, so you never have to estimate at the table. For shared checks, divide the tip by the number of people after computing it on the full bill, rather than tipping separately, which often under-tips the server.
Tip Calculator — Split Bill & Tip Amount
Put the numbers from this guide to work. The calculation runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.