The voluntary act of tipping in the USA has long become a mandatory aspect of service. With this in mind, it's worth taking a closer look. Why are tips called tips, and why are they necessary? Where did this tradition come from? How much should you really leave as a tip, and why is the standard 18%?
American Butler answers and educates: we've delved into this topic and are ready to share everything about tipping. We've also included a comprehensive and handy chart detailing tipping norms in various parts of the world — it will come in handy!
Tips: What tea are you talking about?!
The word "tips" doesn't actually refer to money used to buy tea for the worker; rather, its connection to tea is more indirect. It originated from an old English tradition of tipping waitresses in tea houses — for a promised extra "under the table," the servant would serve the drink to the customer more quickly.
Many mistakenly think that the word "tips," the English term for gratuities, is an acronym for "to insure prompt service." In fact, it's a noun derived from the Old English verb "tip," meaning "to give."
Tips can also be referred to as "gratuities" — rewards or bonuses. The check may specify a fixed amount or a percentage commonly left as a reward for the staff. More often, this line on the check is blank — you write in the amount yourself and sign before handing back the check and money.
The culture of tipping isn't as developed in Eastern Europe and the former USSR. Adjusting to this can be challenging, but it's necessary.American Butler
Cash or Card?
Tips can be paid with cards, but there's a high likelihood that your money will go into the business owner's account rather than into the pocket of the staff. Hence, cash tips are much more appreciated.
The essence of tipping is that it constitutes a significant portion of earnings for servers, housekeepers, and other service workers. The wages for these professions are either very low or non-existent, relying primarily on tips for income. Notably, tips are even taxed since they are considered official income. It is also believed that tipping incentivizes staff to provide quality service. That’s why everyone prefers to receive tips in cash and keep them for themselves.
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About Tipping Amounts
The general norm is 15-18% or a few dollars if the establishment is not very upscale. There is even a customary tipping rate of 18%. This practice originated in New York, where the average tax rate is around 8.8%. Thus, customers round up the percentage, effectively doubling it to cover the worker's tax and leave a bonus.
Leaving less than 10% of the check amount is considered a faux pas in the U.S. While it won't necessarily cause a scandal, you will likely be asked what you were dissatisfied with to withhold your tips.
However, it's not all straightforward — different service sectors have developed their own customary tipping rates. Let's discuss in more detail where and how much you should leave from your hard-earned money, and where it might not be necessary to tip at all.
Where and how do we leave tips
Restaurants
The standard tip amount is 15-20%. In high-end dining establishments, it's customary to leave 20-25%. Sometimes a small service charge is already included in the bill, but additional tips are still expected by the waitstaff.
If you are dining at a restaurant with a large group (from 4-5 people), the tip is typically included in the bill automatically. This line will be labeled as "gratuity" or "service charge" and will amount to 18% of the order total.
Cafes, bars, fast food places
In cafes, the tipping policy is more flexible — you can simply round up the bill and not calculate a separate tip. However, the staff will be much more welcoming next time if you leave 10-15% of the bill as a tip.
In bars, it is customary to add $1-2 to the cost of each ordered drink.
The same $1-2 addition to the bill is given to fast food restaurant workers.
Taxi
For short rides, rounding up the fare is common. If the trip lasts longer than 5-10 minutes, taxi drivers expect a tip of 10-15% of the fare. This applies even to pre-booked and paid transfers or complimentary shuttle services.
Hotels, hotels
In hotels, nearly every service entails a tip. For example, housekeepers are typically given about $2 per day — this "transaction" occurs daily, just leave the money in a visible place. A porter costs $1 per bag, while a doorman is usually thanked with $2 for hailing a taxi. Valet services cost about $3 when retrieving your car from the parking. Concierge tips can vary depending on the services provided, but the average is between $3-5.
Coat checks
Even if the coat check is complimentary, you should tip the coat check attendant $1 for each coat or jacket you check.
Food Delivery Services
For example, it's customary to tip a pizza delivery person an additional $1-2 on top of the order total, unless the delivery is late, in which case you might choose not to tip at all.
Generally, tips are appreciated everywhere. However, they should not be offered in hospitals, government institutions, police stations, or at establishments selling takeout food.
Where how much they give — tips in the world
The culture of leaving extra money to staff exists in many countries, but it is a little different everywhere. We have collected basic information about the size of the tip in a special table. It will be useful to those who travel, and those who are just interested to compare.
USA:
- Cafe, restaurants — 15-25%;
- Taxi — not less than 15%;
- Housekeeping — from $2 per day;
- Bellman — $1-2 for each suitcase;
- Other services — not less than 10-15%.
Canada — 1 Canadian dollar = $0.94:
- Cafe, restaurants — 10-15%;
- Taxi — 10-15%;
- Housekeeping — $1-2 per day;
- Bellman — $0.75-2.5 depending on the level of the hotel;
- Other services — 15% in beauty salons.
Australia:
- Cafe, restaurants — 5-10% (optional);
- Taxi — you can leave the change to the driver;
- Housekeeping — not accepted;
- Bellman — not accepted;
- Other services — not accepted.
Great Britain — 1 pound sterling = $1.4:
- Cafe, restaurants — 10-15%. In the bars — they “treat” the bartender with a drink (their cost is paid);
- Taxi — 10-15% (optional);
- Housekeeping — £10-25 per week;
- Bellman — £0.5-1 for each suitcase;
- Other services — £2 in beauty salons.
Central and Southern Europe:
- Cafe, restaurants — 3-15% or rounding up the amount (in Scandinavia not accepted);
- Taxi — 5-10% (not accepted in Scandinavia);
- Housekeeping — €1-2 (optional);
- Bellman — about €1 (optional);
- Other services — not accepted.
South American countries
- Cafe, restaurants — about 10% in restaurants, cafes and bars can not leave;
- Taxi — the total is rounded up;
- Housekeeping — $1-2 per day;
- Bellman — $1-2;
- Guide — $2-3;
- Concierge — $8-10;
- Refueling staff — $0.5-1;
- Beauty salons — 10%.
Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and other Arab countries
- Cafe, restaurants — 10% (another 10-15% are already included in the bill);
- Taxi — the total is rounded up;
- Housekeeping — $1-2 per day;
- Bellman — $1-1.5 for each call;
- Guide — $1-2 per person for excursions;
- Other services — $2-5 in a special tip-box (part of the staff salary is formed from them).
China, Japan
- Nowhere and no: a tip is an insult, a reproach in low wages or a bribe.
African countries
- For anything and as much as you want — the more the better.
Now you can navigate who to tip, how much, and for what. For more useful information, check out our other publications about life in the USA on our website.
American Butler strives to make your stay in the States comfortable and enjoyable. We gather the most valuable information for you and are always ready to help with organizing tours, excursion programs, and relocation. You can always contact our specialists through the chat window to ask any questions you may have.
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