How much to tip at a restaurant
At a sit-down restaurant in the US, start with 15 to 20% of the bill before tax. Check for an automatic gratuity before you add anything extra.
One tip on the check for the table, not a separate envelope per server unless you are splitting cash.
Your check
Add a few details to see what to tip.
20% of the food and drink
$16 $8 each
$16 tip (20% of $80). Leave it on the check or in cash. Split $8 each if you are 2.
What to tip
15 to 20% of the pre-tax bill. 18 to 20% is the usual band in 2026 for full service.
25% when they caught a problem, paced a long table, or the kitchen recovered a mistake.
$0 extra when auto-gratuity or a service charge is already on the bill, or when service was hostile. Counter-only fast casual is a different page.
When to adjust it
Auto-gratuity for large parties
If the check already added 18 to 20% for a party of six or more, that is the tip. The calculator should read $0 unless you want a small extra for exceptional work, not a second 20%.
Wine and bottle service
Some tables tip on food and set expensive bottles aside. That is optional, not a rule. If you set wine aside here, the reprint uses the rest of the check.
Bad service
A reduced tip is for ignored tables and hostility, not for a slow kitchen. If they were rude or disappeared, 10% or $0 is honest. Speak to a manager if the problem is the house, not the server.
Card vs cash
Adding the tip on the card is normal in a restaurant. Cash still reaches the server faster in some houses. Follow what they can actually keep.
Location matters
United States (default)
Tipping the server is customary at sit-down restaurants. The ranges on this page are US custom, compiled from industry and etiquette sources, not a wage survey.
High-cost cities
In New York, San Francisco, and similar cities, 20% is just normal, not generous. Smaller parties get auto-gratuity more often too, so read the check.
Outside the US
In much of Europe a service charge is on the bill and extra tipping is small or unused. In Japan, do not tip. If you are not in the US, treat this page as the American custom and follow local practice.
Common questions
How much do you tip at a restaurant?
Plan on 15 to 20% of the pre-tax bill in the US. 20% is a solid default for full service. If auto-gratuity is already on the check, you do not add another 20%.
Do you tip on tax or the pre-tax total?
Custom is to tip on the pre-tax food and drink. If you only have the grand total, 18 to 20% of that is close enough; do not stress the tax line at the table.
Do you tip 20% on an expensive bottle of wine?
Setting a costly bottle aside before you calculate is a common table custom, not a rule. On an ordinary bottle, tip the whole check. If a sommelier opened, decanted, and poured through the meal, that is service, tip on it. The calculator lets you set wine aside and tips on the rest of the check.
Do you tip if there is already a service charge?
Usually no. If the check includes a service charge or auto-gratuity, that is the tip. A little extra cash is only for exceptional service, and only if they can accept it.
How much do you tip a waitress or waiter?
The same as the table tip: 15 to 20% of the pre-tax check, left once for the server who had you. You do not calculate a second rate because the job title is waitress, waiter, or server.
Do you tip less for poor service?
Yes, when the server ignored you or was rude. A slow kitchen is not their fault. 10% or nothing is fair for genuinely bad service, and tell a manager if the problem was the restaurant.
Is 20% the new standard?
In many US cities, yes, 20% is just what people leave. 15% is still normal for ordinary service. You can pick 18, 20, or 25 here.
Holiday weeks get busier, not a different percent. If a service charge is printed for the season, that is the tip.
Sources and policies
These links show relevant company policies and tipping guidance. Our amounts are starting points, and practices can change. Check your booking, bill, or provider before paying.