How much do you usually tip the server at a restaurant?

[AviatorTom]

You're having dinner at a restaurant. Your server is nice and does a good job taking your order, serving your food, and checking on you. The service is good, nothing really special.

When the bill comes at the end of the meal, how much do you tip the server?

Feel free to explain your choice in an opinion below.

Nothing

less than 10%

10%-15%

16%-20%

21%-25%

26%-30%

More than 30%

Updates

1 y

It's interesting that tipping guidelines vary greatly from country to country. In some countries, servers get paid well, and tipping is less, if at all. In others, like the US, where servers make $2.13 an hour in my area, a server needs tips to survive.

[MCheetah]

Nothing. 0%. I don't tip. F*CK. THAT! I don't need to give someone $20 for bringing food from point A to point B and not spitting in it. That's for people who like wasting money and need social validation that they're "not a bad person." I also don't need to pay someone for doing the very bare minimum of their job "To Insure Prompt Service." I never understood how people could engage in such an idiotic practice and obvious scam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_vivC7c_1k

And before I get any self-righteous BS; just know in the US, I avoided dining in at restaurants BECAUSE I hate the idiotic tipping culture that much; I didn't dine out regularly and then not tip. I'd literally rather just not eat then have to pay an Idiot Tax. And currently, I live in South Korea, where the idiotic American tipping culture isn't a thing at all. Also, no, I never tipped pizza delivery guys either, cause that's even more idiotic. If anyone deserved a tip, it'd be my doctor or lawyer, not a low-skilled wage slave who's manager is f*cking them over, but somehow that's my problem.

You want higher earnings for wage slaves? Then STOP TIPPING THEM.

[MCheetah]

@AviatorTom
Thanks for the MHO, despite it being unpopular with some people, I'm sure.

[Sparkie460]

I tip everyone regardless of service. If they provide great pservice I tip 25%. Average service gets 20 percent and poor service gets 10 percent. I know they count on the tips to make ends meet at home so I never not tip anyone

[Sparkie460]

Thanks for the mho

[sunflower00]

I live in Scotland and tipping isn’t required or seen as something you should do. If somewhere is extra good, or I’ve had a big meal or a few drinks I’ll leave a decent tip, otherwise I don’t really tip.


Also having worked as a waitress (and currently doing so in my second job), tips are a great bonus so we do really appreciate them when we get them, but yeah defo not required. Although if you’ve had a huge meal, have been loud and rowdy, lots of drinks, annoying customers, who clearly have a bit of money yeah we might sometimes make a comment to each other after you’ve left if you haven’t tipped (or leave like a 50p tip)

[420Rachel]

I'm a server myself so I always make sure to leave a good tip. I always leave at least $10 if the meal was over $20 and if it was less than $20 that I usually tip $7-$8. And if I have money to spare I tip even more than that.

I remember one night me and some of my friends from work were drinking at the bar and we decided to go to Waffle House and we all collectively tipped the little server girl like $50. 😂

[WindAtMyBack]

It depends. It's usually between 10-25%. I generally give a higher percent for lower priced meals. A more expensive meal is not usually more work for the server than a cheaper meal. So I tend to tip closer to a fixed amount rather than a percent.

When I was young a 10% tip was the norm. But servers gave themselves a raise and suddenly we were "supposed" to give 15%. Then eventually the servers wanted another raise and then it was 20%.

A lot of servers actually make very good money.

Something I think a lot of people are confused about in the US is that servers ARE required to be paid minimum wage. But tips count toward that.

[musicbrain5]

I usually tip around 20%. I also try to only go to restaurants where the server gets the whole tip, and it’s not split between everyone or taken by the management.

I hate the tipping culture here though, honestly, but it’s not going to change. I’m glad that servers in Ontario now have to be paid the full minimum wage of $15.00/hr but it’s still not enough since the COL is so high now with the massive inflation. At least it’s better than getting the sub minimum wage of $11 they used to get.

[Shamalien]

Raising min wage doesn’t fix the issue. Ultimately it’s high taxes and money printing, no matter how much they say “tax the rich” it always ends up hitting the middle class the hardest because the rich are too powerful to be bullied. In a world with no government we’d all be unbelievably wealthy given how far technology has progressed

[jillybeanns]

My standard is usually 25% if the experience was standard. If I get an experienced server that is enthusiastic, has menu knowledge or does something to make the visit unique then I will tip around 35-40%. I’ll tip over 40% when I visit places that I frequent where service is consistently good.

[ArrowheadSW]

@jillybeanns Wow you're generous. I've never heard of anyone tipping 35-40%!

[jillybeanns]

I work in the industry so my view on tipping comes from a place of empathy

[Prettygurl12]

I tip 15%

Or I did until my husband found out and acted like I was Mr. Scrooge or something lol

I must have missed the memo that 15% is no longer acceptable 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

My husband and I share a bank account. Our finances are 100% joint. We just used my card one day and I'm bad at math and asked him what 15% of the bill was and you'd have thought I kicked the man's puppy lol

[ArrowheadSW]

I usually tip 15-20%. I do not tip at places where you place your order at a counter, generally. If it is at a buffet sort of thing, I'll usually tip 2 dollars, and not a percent. They are just there to get you a drink and to pick up your dishes when you leave so I don't tip as much at those places.

Also, I don't put the tip on a credit card. I leave cash. Because they like the cash more I think... LOL

[Massageman]

When I was in Greece, a service fee was always added in the nicer places and even some less than nice places- no further tip was solicited.

First, I always pay in cash, never an addition to my charge for the meal. Cash is king for tips! I will vary in the 10-20% range, highly dependent on the complexity of service, and their professionalism.

[UnknownSwede]

I'm from Sweden, so here it's not custom to top. Sure you can round up to an even number as a nice gesture, but we generally don't tip.

I've worked in restaurants and of course everyone appreciate extra money, but it's definitely nothing that is expected.

[Anonymous]

I don't tip because it is seen as the right thing to do. Even though I tip, I'm actually against it. I believe the customer shouldn't have to worry about the little money the restaurant is paying the server. If everyone stop tipping maybe these cheap restaurants would pay their employees. I tip for the same reason I count my blessings. I don't pity anyone and act like im helping them when I know im not changing anything in their life.

[Staximus]

I don't go to fancy restaurants, so I can afford to tip better at casual restaurants where most of the customers are shitty tippers. I usually tip enough to where the server is pleasantly surprised if they do a good job and aren't fucking slackers. I still tip shitty servers, though.

[HighValue]

How do they make $2.13 per hour? Turn them in because that is lower than the federal minimum wage. It is illegal for them to pay that low. The server is likely lying.

Why should I tip someone just for doing the job they are already being paid to do? I don't get tips for doing my job.

If they check on my table more than once after getting the food I will leave $2. Otherwise it is nothing.

[musicbrain5]

There’s nobody to complain to when many servers are allowed to be paid a sub minimum wage. Seems to be universal across different US states, with the lowest wage of $2.13/hour being paid in Southern states. www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped

You would think restaurants would treat their staff better with proper compensation, if you look at the exorbitant prices some of them charge for food.

[AviatorTom]

As I understand it, it doesn't violate the federal minimum wage, for two reasons:
1. Servers are not explicitly covered by the minimum wage law, and
2. Restaurants are committed to give a certain percentage of tips to the servers to raise their effective minimum wage to a more reasonable number.
I once dated a server who explained this to me, at least that's how she understood it. Her annual income was about $20K per year, which is just under $10/hour effective wage.

[Lyndsielee666]

Depends. The bitch that gave my kid a moldy ass hamburger bun didn’t get a tip but I sure got a full refund 🥱 other than that I usually tip well.

[420Rachel]

Servers don't make the food... Unless it was visibly moldy, then yeah she shouldn't have let that go to the table.

[Lyndsielee666]

@420Rachel i know. I bartended for years and had to serve food at the same time. This burger was visibly moldy, the entire top had mold splotches.

[420Rachel]

Okay yeah then she definitely should've known better. 😭😭😭

[NathanDavis]

I usually go in groups, and we tend to be very generous when they do a good job, that's just typical around here

other than that, just the usual 20%

[Jaximus-Lion]

We don't do that here in Sweden. A waiter has a salary, no tips are allowed.

[musicbrain5]

That’s how it should be.

[TheBigWhistle]

@musicbrain5 Go take a look at the typical price of restaurant menu items in Sweden versus what you would typically pay for the same item in the U. S. and then let me know if you still think "that's how it should be."

[Jaximus-Lion]

@TheBigWhistle I have been to the States! We are almost the same when it comes to restaurants 5%-6% difference. NOT STREET FOOD. But if we compare living, like rent and groceries and all that Sweden is better (cheaper). So having a restaurant in the states with the system they have that the waiter gets tips and that what puts food on the table and a roof over their heads is total BS in my opinion. Then you have (add the taxes) like what in the 1600's is this ancient system still around. Anyways! It's just my opinion

[AmandaYVR]

20% if they're fine. More or less if they stray from typical.

[FreyaRed]

I'm rounding up sometimes the bill, but never more than 20% and only if I'm happy with service. In my country there is minimal wage and gastronomy employees don't need tips to survive.

[Agape93]

Nothing. I'm ok with paying for my meal and my service, which is what the menu price helps cover. It is not my job to pay even more, so someone else can make a wage.

[Agape93]

Now if you're cute or especially good with me, I will drop a 20 for you

[Th3ft]

I bounce between 15% and 25% depending on how good the service was. I am also a total sucker for a cute waitress so I tend to tip higher when she is fun, flirty or just totally in to me.

[bolverk]

Tipping is not usually done in the UK as the wait staff are usually on a living wage unless they were stupid enough to sign a 'Zero Hours' contract, but if you feel you have had superior service you may tip whatever amount you wish.

[melanieeeB]

Here we usually just round up (like when it was 17,25€ we say, 18€ please) and I personally always add 1-2€ to it.

[purplepoppy]

Usually when the bill comes everyone just rounds up their share, the extra amount becomes the tip. If it's too small we'll top it up.