The standard tip percentage has increased. Tipping used to begin at 15%. Now I’m seeing 18% or even 20% as the base tip. Has anyone else noticed this?

31 comments

  2. I feel like this has been true for at least a decade in my experience. I haven’t been to a restaurant in a long time though so I can’t say whether I’ve seen it get worse recently

  3. It’s always been 20% for as long as I’ve known (not very long as I’m only 19) because it’s easiest to calculate.

  4. I have, and it’s one of the reasons, among raising restaurant food prices yet wages stay the same, that I just don’t go out to eat.

    These places want you to tip more yet don’t pay their workers more out of their own pocket. I’m good, tired of supporting such a shitty system. Just cook at home.

  5. That has been decades in the making. Most restaurants have done the 18% gratuity added for parties of six or more since the early 2000s at least.

    When I waited tables and bartended a decade ago or more 20% was generally the standard I got.

  7. I’ve worked the restaurant industry for 30+ years, from what I’ve seen 20% as a starting point has been the common practice since the mid to late 2000s.

    Remember as the cost of living goes up and inflation increases many of the servers are still making $2.13 an hour as base pay. With the thought being that tips will supplement the pay and bring them to a living wage.

  9. Yeah, I rarely go out to eat now. It’s gotten too expensive for what is. That’s not even me being cheap. I can barely get out of a Friday’s for under $100 with the wife and kid including tip.

    That’s just too much for the convenience of not cooking dinner myself.

  10. Its been 15-20% ever since I’ve been alive.

    I think people just notice it more because many terminals and apps nowadays display a percentage for them rather than having a user do manual calculations

  12. > Tipping used to begin at 15%

    Tipping *used* to begin at 10%… in the late 90’s.

    As inflation kept going, and the minimum wage stayed mostly stuck, the % went to 15% in the ‘aughts, and kept rising as the minimum wage stayed stuck at un-livable levels.

  14. I’ve certainly noticed it. I’m old enough to remember when 15% was the norm and people who couldn’t cope with the math carried tip cards.

    But it’s been pushed to 20% for some time now.

  15. It’s been more like 20% for a long time. It was always 15% but 9/10 times you rounded up to something more like 18%.

  16. I have not seen that but I’ve seen tip jars spring up everywhere. Like regular shops that don’t do anything special. Sorry, I am not going to tip a cashier who did nothing but press a few buttons.

  17. Yeah, the percentage of tips have creeped up, COVID fees tacked on, inflation for costs go up, etc. Honestly restaurants are just special occasions in my house, otherwise I’m cooking every night.

  18. It’s been 18-20% for the entirety of my adult life. At least 2 decades.

    Is it possible that you’re only now realizing what a bad tipper you’ve been?

  19. Depends on where you live. I’ve been tipping 20% routinely for several years now, with more for exceptional service. I thought you were going to say it should be 25%!

    Yes I think tipping has inflated faster than the price of meals, but wages have been stagnant in service sectors.

  21. I’m 43 and have always tipped at least 20%. When I worked at Denny’s in 1998, they withheld a tip tax of 18% of our cash tickets – that’s just what they assumed we were getting and it was usually pretty accurate. Some of y’all have been bad tippers for years and are just now finding out, so you think the rules have changed, lol.

  22. It’s always been 20% in most places. The regional variations that are significantly lower (the Midwest is the biggest offender here by far) are making it seem like artificial inflation is going on when really its all just normalizing to the same rate.

  23. Automatic gratuity for large parties has always been at least 18% in my experience. I tip at least 20% when I can.

  24. Honestly, 20% was always my maximum (w/o heroism) but default tip. If I don’t notice anything, clearly the service was so seamless that it was perfect (and I’m a bit oblivious). That said, 15% is still mediocre/”average.”

  25. Yeah I used to think 15 was normal and then all the sudden that makes you a cheapskate.

  26. Assuming you’re mostly talking about non-sit down restaurants as that’s where I’ve seen it the most. Seen this a lot at pickup places where you order at the counter and pay and then it immediately asks how much you want to tip on the tablet they’re using. Just gotta hit Custom and then $0. Only reason I’d tip at one of this if it’s a small business and I KNOW the food is going to be good. No reason for me to tip if you’re not waiting on me and I haven’t even tasted the food yet.
    Tips are earned, stop letting restaurants scam you into thinking otherwise. As for sit down restaurants, 15% for lunch and 20% for dinner has always been the default around here and still seems to be. Normal to go over 20% if the server was great, but can also go pretty low if the server was bad.

  27. Also all sorts of non full service food vendors are putting high tips as well. Like you go up to a food stand and they want 20%

  28. Also a tip option when no tip used to be expected. i.e. Ordering at the cash register and picking up your food when your name/number is called.

  30. Yes. And according to most people on Reddit, anything less than 25% tip makes you a heartless bastard.

    I’m nearly 40 and it’s always been 15%-18% for standard service and 18%-20% at a nice restaurant.

    What really annoys me are these restaurants which start their tip guide at 20% on the **total** and **not the pre-tax total**.

    Or this “we’re adding a 3.75% charge.” Just raise your prices dammit.

  31. I’ve thought the standard has been at 20% for at least 20-25 years now. Which is as long as I’ve been tipping at restaurants.

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