This Is How Much You’re Actually Supposed to Tip for a Meal, According to an Etiquette Coach

Rising food costs, varying types of service, and the lack of clear standards make figuring out how much to tip for meals challenging. These days, the practice has become even trickier with the widespread usage of digital payment systems that prompt customers to select a gratuity rate, which can create an uncomfortable interaction for both the tipper and recipient. 

If you are unsure about how much to leave at a restaurant, fast-casual joint, bar, or coffeeshop, don’t worry! We chatted with two experts—an etiquette coach and a restaurant critic—to get advice on how to navigate the murky waters of gratuity. 

How Much Should You Tip at Restaurants?

If you enjoyed the meal and received good service, certified etiquette coach Jamila Musayeva says tipping 18 to 20 percent of the total bill is considered polite in many places. “If the meal or service went above what you expected, adding a little more, 20 to 25 percent, is always appreciated,” says Musayeva, an author who posts videos about self development on YouTube and hosts etiquette workshops and private coaching lessons.

While Allyson Reedy, a restaurant critic, writer, and cookbook author, agrees that leaving 20 percent is thoughtful, she might a few more dollars if the restaurant’s staff puts a lot of effort into the meal. “For full service restaurants, where they’re spending an hour with you—bringing you drinks, courses, and bussing your table—I’d say 20-plus percent,” says Reedy, who dines at more than 10 restaurants every month. 

What Are Restaurant Service Charges?

It depends on the dining establishment. Restaurant service charges (ranging from 2 percent to 25 percent of the total check) are mandatory fixed fees that are added to customers’ bills to cover operational costs, supplement staff wages or benefits, or other expenses—but they aren’t considered tips.

However, some eateries add automatic tips or gratuities to checks, which can sometimes be called ”service charges” (but usually aren’t the same thing).

“In the U.S., [service charges] are often added for larger parties, but it doesn’t always go directly to the server,” Musayeva says. “If you feel the service was particularly good, leaving a little extra on top, even just rounding up the bill, is a gracious way to show that.”

When in doubt, ask your server about the service or gratuity charge on your bill and what it’s for.

Fast-Casual Restaurants

Fast-casual restaurants—where customers place their orders at the counter and either pick up their food or have it delivered to their table—are often where people are confused about tipping, Musayeva says.

“If you’re ordering at a counter, [tipping] 10 percent is considered polite, especially if the staff bring food to your table or clear it for you,” she says. “If you’re fully serving yourself, tipping is less expected, but if someone goes out of their way to help you, even a small amount shows appreciation.”

Reedy agrees that how much gratuity you leave depends on how much work you have to put in the meal yourself. “If they bring you your food, but you clear your own table, I’d tip maybe 15 percent,” she says. 

Takeout or Delivery

“For takeout, 10 percent is thoughtful, especially if the order is large or requires special requests,” Musayeva says. “If you just grabbed a small item or the process was entirely self-serve, rounding up to the nearest dollar is still a nice gesture.”

Because delivery is so convenient, Reedy always tips extra.

“If someone is driving the food to my house so I don’t have to so much as put on pants with a zipper or go beyond my front door, that I will pay a premium for—probably more like 25 percent,” she says.

Keep in mind: Depending on whether you order directly from the restaurant or what platform the business uses (ex. DoorDash or UberEats), delivery fees are charges added to orders to cover various operational costs—not reward the delivery driver. So even if there’s a delivery charge on your tab, tip them an extra couple bucks for their service (if you can!), particularly if your food arrives promptly and in excellent shape.

Bars and Coffee Shops

Whether you’re grabbing a swanky martini or a pint of beer, it’s customary to leave a tip for your bartender or server. When Reedy is at a bar or just grabbing drinks with friends, she usually leaves $1 per basic drink such as beer or wine or $2 per drink that requires more time or skill to make such as a daiquiri or gin fizz. “But if the drink is really customized or fancy, I’ll tip more. For example, I might leave $3 for a $16 cocktail,” she says. 

At a coffee shop or cafe, Musayeva says $1 or $2 is considered a polite tip for a simple cup of joe that you pay for at the counter.

“For more complicated drinks or if the cafe is especially busy, leaving a bit more acknowledges the extra effort,” she says. “Also, sometimes places will have communal tipping jars to support the service staff as opposed to tipping a particular person. That is the best option when ordering from a counter or when multiple people assist you.”

The Bottom Line

Tipping is less about following exact rules and more about recognizing effort, Musayeva says.
“If someone made your day a little easier, even a small amount, given with a thank you, goes a long way.” she says. “No matter what, saying thank you directly and treating everyone with respect matters even more than the amount you leave.”

Musayeva also recommends researching local gratuity customs, so you know how much to leave at restaurants when traveling abroad. While tipping is mandatory or highly recommended in the U.S., it is not expected but highly appreciated in Europe and is not appreciated (and even considered offensive) in Japan.

“So when traveling, I always suggest reading up on local customs, as not every country handles tipping the same way, and being prepared helps you avoid either offending someone or overdoing it,” Musayeva says.