How Much Should You Tip? A Simple US Tipping Guide
In the United States, the standard restaurant tip is 15% for adequate service, 18% for good service, and 20% or more for excellent service. To calculate a tip, multiply the pre-tip bill by the percentage; to split it, add the tip to the bill and divide by the number of people. An $80 bill at 18% is a $14.40 tip and a $94.40 total.
Standard Tipping Percentages
US tipping norms vary by service, but restaurants are the common reference point: 15% is the floor for acceptable service, 18% is typical for good service, and 20% or more rewards excellent service. Many diners now treat 20% as the default.
Other services have their own conventions — around 15–20% for hairdressers and taxi or rideshare drivers, a few dollars per bag for hotel porters, and $1–2 per drink at a bar. Tipping culture differs sharply between countries, so these figures apply to the United States.
How to Calculate a Tip Quickly
The tip is simply the bill multiplied by the percentage. For 20%, a fast mental shortcut is to take 10% of the bill — move the decimal point one place to the left — and double it. On a $80 bill, 10% is $8, so 20% is $16.
For 15%, take that same 10% figure and add half of it again: $8 plus $4 is $12. These shortcuts get you close enough to round to a convenient amount.
Splitting a Bill With Tip
To split a bill evenly, add the tip to the bill first, then divide the total by the number of people. Splitting the grand total — rather than splitting the bill and the tip separately — guarantees the shares add back up to exactly what is owed.
An $80 bill at 18% becomes a $94.40 total; divided four ways, that is $23.60 each. Watch for an automatic gratuity on large-party checks so you do not tip twice, and consider whether you prefer to tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount — both are acceptable.