Common Tipping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

For those who reside in the United States, tipping is a way of life. You are asked, or politely reminded, to leave a tip at almost every restaurant, cafe, coffee shop, and every other type of eatery as soon as you ask for the bill. Whether a jar at the counter or on your receipt, there is always a place asking or reminding you to tip your server or cashier.

The United States leads the world in tipping culture and its citizens are the group that generally tip almost everywhere they go, but not all areas have a tipping culture like the U.S., where it is a cultural norm to tip everyone from your waiter and the person who washes your hair at the salon to your furniture delivery person and the bellhop. It can be completely overwhelming to know that no matter where you go, the odds are you must account for a tip.

This aspect of the serving industry can be confusing. What is a standard practice where you live, might not be the case in another region or country, and even the amount you tip differs by region. In larger cities like New York, leaving your server an 18 to 20% tip is the typical amount but in some states in the South or the Midwest, it's more common to leave around 15%. What may be standard practice in one area, can be frowned upon in another. While there are numerous rules to tipping, not only for different occasions but in different regions, they're not always clear.

Knowing what the proper tipping protocol is, not only at home but when you travel, can give you at least an idea of how to tip in most scenarios. Whether you're dining out or visiting the nail salon, it's essential to know the correct customs for tipping because people in the service industry, especially in America, make most of their living from tips. The restaurant industry is a perfect example.

The direct wage servers receive from their job is often less than minimum wage because most of their income comes from tips. Working as a server or bartender can be profitable for certain employees if they're tipped well. Yet, as tipping culture becomes a hot topic, many people are infuriated when they are asked to offset salaries. Rather than expect tips, they should be paid a fair wage by their employers. While it's vital to know basic tipping rules, there isn't an exact science to tipping either and there still may be scenarios where you have to decide for yourself how much to tip or whether you should tip at all.

To create a list of common tipping mistakes and how to avoid them, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources including a guide from US News Money and news stations like CNBC. Any tipping percentages were based on the average expected amount. Overall, tipping in the most common scenarios is pretty straightforward. When in doubt, tip according to the service that you've received. Whether you consider the skill the employee has or the amount that you spent, you're better off tipping more than tipping less.

It's always best to check the tipping culture of where you are traveling to as well. Certain areas frown upon tipping, while others have gotten accustomed to Americans and their tipping habits. (Check out the states where people leave the best tips.)

There's no hard and fast rule for tipping, but in most scenarios, it is considered acceptable to leave 15-20%. If you know you need to tip for a service and you're not sure how much, tipping 20% is usually a safe amount. It's also a good rule of thumb to tip at least the minimum of what is expected with a certain service. If you did receive poor service, if possible, give the employee a chance to fix their error before revoking their tip.

The easiest way to calculate your tip at a sit-down restaurant is to calculate 15% to 20% of your bill. While 15% should generally be the bare minimum, tip more than 20% if your waiter or waitress provides you with top-notch service. If you do receive poor service, avoid skipping out on the tip altogether and see if you can remedy the problem instead.

Anyone who has worked at a fast food restaurant knows how challenging it can be. However, according to proper etiquette, tipping at a fast food restaurant isn't required, but if they bring the food to your table, take the time to find out if you need anything else, or provide you with friendly service, drop a dollar or two in the tip jar to show your appreciation.

If you frequent your local coffee shop, you'll know that they have tip jars or tablets that spin toward you to ask how much you'd like to tip. Like fast food restaurants, tipping is not required or even necessarily expected in a coffee shop. But if your barista provided you with excellent service or you're a regular and know the baristas by name, throwing a dollar or two in the tip jar goes a long way.

Those who have frequented bars know that you tip your bartender after every drink to show your appreciation. In many cases, it's appropriate to tip your bartender one to two dollars per drink, depending on the type of drink you ordered. At least $2 is expected for cocktails. It's best to tip in cash after every drink but if you end up tipping your bartender at the end of your night, you should still tip $1-2 per drink, depending on the order. Even if there's a special and you got a drink for free, tip per drink ordered.

Proper tipping etiquette at a salon or spa isn't always known and this is the kind of service you may not be aware that you need to tip for. For services like getting a manicure, haircut, or facial, always tip your provider. In most cases, the person cutting your hair or doing your nails isn't getting paid the full amount you paid for the service. Consider tipping 15% to 20% or more if they provide you with excellent service.

Your cab ride might seem rather pricey, but your driver still provided a service and it's appropriate to tip them. The acceptable range for tipping a driver, whether it's a cab driver or your Uber driver, is generally lower than other services, ranging from 10% to 15% as an acceptable amount, unless there was a problem with your ride or you felt unsafe during the trip.

Delivery drivers are one of the many service industry jobs where they live mostly off of tips. If you have someone delivering groceries or food to you, it's proper etiquette to tip them. Typically, tipping between 15% to 20% of your bill is acceptable, but consider the quality of the service and where they are coming from or how much they're delivering. If your driver is coming from far away versus down the block or had to carry a significant amount, you can add a bit more to the tip. If there was a problem with your order, ensure it wasn't the restaurant's fault before skipping the tip.

The holidays are one of the times of the year when tipping etiquette seems the most overwhelming, often seeming as though you have to tip everyone or even give an extra tip to those you're already tipping. While some extra tipping during the holidays may be acceptable, there's no reason to panic. Whether it's your dog walker, babysitter, or housekeeper, the people you hire will appreciate extra tips during the holidays.

If you’re staying at a budget hotel, you’re probably not thinking about tipping anyone, especially when you’re carrying your bags yourself. But if you’re staying at a nice hotel, avoid looking cheap by knowing who to tip and how much. Service providers like shuttle drivers, bellhops, parking attendants, or door staff should receive between $1-$5 per bag or ride. Tipping your bartender or server looks similar to tipping anywhere else. Additionally, tip the housekeeping staff between $1-5 per night during your stay. (Also See Etiquette Mistakes That Make You Look Rude.)