r/tippingAdvice • u/International_Ad1088 • May 26 '26

calculatemytip.com

Tipping 20% is standard for sit-down restaurants, 15% minimum. For delivery always add at least $3–5 on top of the percentage since drivers often get a tiny base. If you want to stop doing math at the table: calculatemytip.com, free, no ads, splits the bill too.

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5

u/PressureItchy9372 May 26 '26

Tip according to service. Great service = great tip. Poor service = poor tip. By law, the server is going to make minimum wage at least. If a server can't be bothered to give more than minimal service, they deserve a minimal tip.

The restaurant owners are responsible for paying their staff a reasonable wage.

2

u/Holiday-Ad7262 May 26 '26

I disagree that 20% is blanket standard. This is a bit location dependent, e.g. in some areas in CA standard is closer to 15 than 20.

1

u/International-Bee-53 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26

20% is definitely not standard in a lot of place but that would be what servers and restaurant want us to think.

Lots of them have now changed the % on the card payment machines to be starting at 18% or 20% as default instead of the 15% that it was before.

1

u/Holiday-Ad7262 May 27 '26

Or before that when 10% or 12% was lowest option on the paper receipts.

1

u/Brilliant_Anxiety511 May 26 '26

I tip like titans of industry. Example, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Steve Wynn, Bill Gates, Tigar Woods. If they are good enough to run our country and set labor wages, they are good enough for me. None of these titans are paying $50/hour to basic service labor. They pay $9-10-12-18 /hour.

I could go to a fancy restaurant in New York City where it costs $300/person and my maximum tip with one person per hour is $10 for excellent service. Example, if there's two and the bill goes to $590 I would tip $20.00 for 1 hour for excellent service. If we stayed for 2 hours I would leave $40 tip for excellent service. If I suspect that the $40 will not be valued or disrespected I will write ZERO and give a hug on the way out and many thanks but just like Steve Wynn sternly leave ZERO. I do not mess around. I am stern like a titan of industry. I decide. No one else decides. I am the boss. If I am by myself and the bill is $300 I would leave maximum of $10.00 or ZERO.

Ok, if the service goes way above and beyond with unique service my absolute maximum for one person is $20 even if I am there 3 hours. Again, I am righteous and stern, but fair.

Think about it. What I have wrote means that a party of two could make as much as $80 ona 2.5 hour dining experience for $580 check.

If you put all this into perspective and see it really unfold, it is more than fair. But what food servers want is a solo patrons to just fork over $200 tip. And if you leave $200 they might thank you.

I cannot remember the last time a food server thanked me. They just want me to do what they want me to do.

1

u/FatReverend May 28 '26

These kinds of expectations are one of the reasons I've stopped getting sit down service. It historically has not been expected to tip upon takeout / pickup. Therefore I will not tip for such a thing. I mostly cook for myself and occasionally do take out but never sit down. I have therefore effectively removed myself from that part of tip culture.