How Much to Tip Restaurant Servers (2026)
Sit-down restaurant servers in the U.S. typically earn most of their income from tips, so 18–22% of the pre-tax total is the standard range. If the receipt adds automatic gratuity or a service charge, that usually counts as the tip — check before adding more.
| Bill amount | 18% tip | 22% tip |
|---|---|---|
| $25.00 | $4.50 | $5.50 |
| $50.00 | $9.00 | $11.00 |
| $100.00 | $18.00 | $22.00 |
| $200.00 | $36.00 | $44.00 |
Tips for other services
Worth reading
Tipping trends worth knowing
Service type beats percentage
What you tip depends more on the service than the sticker: sit-down restaurants run ~18–22% of the pre-tax total, food delivery ~15–20%, rideshare ~15–20%, while counter or takeout stops can be $1–2 instead of a percentage.
Source: What Americans Actually Tip in 2026 — MoneyLionThe generational gap is real
Surveys consistently find a split between generations — younger diners tip on more transactions but at lower percentages, while older generations tip higher percentages on fewer occasions. Both groups are being pushed by 25–30% iPad prompts they rarely chose.
Source: 2026 Tipping Chart: the generational gap — SplittyTip prompts are getting bigger
Pre-set prompt buttons on point-of-sale screens have crept from 15/18/20 to 18/20/25 and sometimes 30%. Choosing the middle prompt is no longer the same choice it was — check the math before you tap.
Source: Tipping Point, U.S.A. — Next Gen Personal Finance