We help you decode the right percentage to tip, how much to really give your bartender and other unspoken rules.
Angela Lang/CNET
Love it or hate it, tipping is a big part of American culture, and if you’re doing it wrong you could be embarrassing yourself — or worse — insulting the person you’re trying to acknowledge. The reality is that US employers are only required to pay employees $2.13 per hour as long as tips bring their average wage up to the federal minimum of $7.25, which means that gratuity makes up a major part of many employees’ income, especially in the service industry. But figuring out what’s a good tip versus a bad tip, or whether it’s appropriate to even tip at all, isn’t always obvious.
Like, how much should you really tip at the bar? Is it OK to leave a low tip for terrible service? What about valets — are you really expected to slip them a fiver every time they go get your car (and are you the scum of the Earth if you don’t)?
Not to mention that tipping practices vary depending on country or region, so it can get even more confusing if you’re traveling abroad. The best rule of thumb is to factor in tips to the full price of your meal, drink or hotel stay when you’re planning your budget. With that in mind, here’s a look at tipping standards in the United States, including how much, when and to whom you should offer gratuity — according to US News & World Report, WhoToTip.net and ArtOfManliness.com.