A tip is additional money that you pay to a worker that provides a service. Depending on where you are in the world tipping can be seen as a sign of gratitude or offensive, so here are some things that you should know about tipping:
- Giving a tip is entirely voluntary
- In East Asia, specifically Japan, tipping can be seen as an offensive act as they are interpreted to be a bribe
- In the United States, most waiters and waitresses earn most of their money from tips.
- Servers will make a very small minimum wage plus their tips
- In most European countries tips are used to round the bill up
- In countries where tipping is expected some restaurants will add an automatic tip for large groups
Here is a chart on the typical tip that you might give for different services:
| Restaurants, Bars, Food Delivery | 15% – 20% |
| Hotel Room Service | Usually included in room price but if there is not, 15% – 20% |
| Hotel Housekeeping | Not expected but if you want to tip $1-2 |
| Automotive Services, Mechanic | Not expected |
| Mover, Furniture Delivery, Appliance Delivery, Plumber, Handyman, Electrician, Cleaner, or Home Services | Not expected but or $5-20 depending on the amount |
| Hairstylist, Barber, Nail Service, Message, etc | 10% – 20% |
| Uber, Lyft, Taxi or Limo Driver | 15% – 20% |
| Shuttle Driver, Parking Attendant | $1 – $5 |
| Tour Guides | $1 – $5 depending on length |
Questions about tipping?
Should I Tip?
If you are asking whether you should tip then you should probably err on the side of yes. You can also ask the server if their company allows them to accept tips. Here is an example “Thank you, I would like to tip you. Does your company allow for you to accept tips?”.
What if I can’t afford a Tip?
In the United States and other countries where tipping is standard practice, you should budget in 20% before putting yourself in a position where you need to tip. Situations happen and when it does it is okay to pay without tipping but try to put yourself in the shoes of the person working for tips.
What if I don’t like the service provided and don’t want to tip?
If the service was below expectations then you might want to bring it up with the server or their manager before you pay your bill. Most experts say that you can tip below 15% but remember that tip is how many service industry workers make money. Try to be gracious in the moment.