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How much to tip
If you ask 10 people how much to tip in a given situation, you'll get several answers and a slew of hot-headed opinions about the "right" thing to do.
To help start your next debate, here's a quick guide to customary gratuities for various services. The guide is provided by the Emily Post Institute. Those with passionate views about how much to tip the pizza-delivery guy, please see the information in the footnote provided by two other sources.
(For a look at the real reasons we tip and whether tipping has anything to do with the quality of service we receive, click here.)
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| RESTAURANTS/BARS |
| Waiter/waitress: |
15% of bill (excl. tax) for adequate service; 20% for very good service; no less than 10% for poor service |
| Headwaiter/captain: |
often gets a cut of table server's tip; so tip your server extra to reward captain, or tip captain separately |
| Sommelier, or wine steward: |
15% of cost of the bottle |
| Bartender: |
15% to 20% of the tab, with a minimum of 50 cents per soft drink, $1 per alcoholic drink |
| Coatroom attendant: |
$1 per coat |
| Parking valet or garage attendant: |
$2 to bring your car to you |
| Washroom attendant: |
50 cents to $1 |
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| DAILY LIFE |
| Taxi driver: |
Varies depending on locality. Assume 15% will be enough; an extra $1 to $2 for help with bags. |
| Food delivery person:* |
10% of the bill (excl. tax), at least $1 for bills up to $10. Should tip 15%-20% for a difficult delivery. |
| Grocery loader: |
Check with store policy if tips are accepted. If so, $1 for bringing bags to car; $1.50 to $3 if you have more than 3 bags. |
| Barber: |
15% to 20%, minimum $1, for a haircut. For other services (shampoo, shave or manicure) tip $1 to $2 to service provider. |
| Hairdresser: |
15% to 20%. (It is now acceptable to tip owner, unless he or she says otherwise.) |
| Shampoo person: |
$2 |
| Manicurist: |
15% |
| Spa service (e.g., massage): |
15% to 20%. If service is provided by owner, no tip. |
| Staff at coffee/food retailers with tip jars: |
No tip required. It's completely optional. |
| Handyman: |
No tip |
| Gas attendant: |
No tip |
* Mike Lynn, associate professor of consumer behavior at the Cornell Hotel School suggests tipping pizza delivery folk a minimum of $2 per pizza. His reasoning: Food delivery can be dangerous if delivering to crime-ridden neighborhoods or driving in bad weather, etc. The Web site www.tipthepizzaguy.com suggests the following: 15% for normal service, with a $2 minimum; 20% for excellent service; 10% or less for poor service; at least 10% for orders of $50 or more. Don't assume a delivery charge, if there is one, goes to the pizza deliverer. Ask the person who takes your order.
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| TRAVEL |
| Skycap at airport: |
$1 per bag if you check-in curbside; $2 per bag if skycap takes bags to check-in counter. |
| Hotel doorman: |
$1 per bag for help with luggage; $1 per person for hailing a cab |
| Hotel bellhop: |
$1 per bag for bringing luggage to your room (but a $2 minimum if you have just one bag) |
| Hotel housekeeper: |
$2 to $5* per night |
| Hotel concierge: |
$5 for getting you tickets or reservations ($10-plus if they're hard to get). No tip required when you ask for directions. |
| Cruise: |
Varies. Ask cruise line about customary gratuities. |
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Source: Emily Post Institute
* Additional source: Tipping.org
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