When-to-tip guide

It’s a familiar scenario to most of us: You’re purchasing something at a counter or checking out after a service. Suddenly, you ask yourself, Do people tip for this? If so, how much? And should you tip in cash or with a credit or debit card? Did you even budget enough for an appropriate tip?

With a little research—starting with this when-to-tip guide—you can avoid any potential social awkwardness and master the art of showing your appreciation. Here’s everything you need to know to give tips gracefully.

The first—and perhaps most important—note in our when-to-tip guide is that the line between tippable and non-tippable services is becoming increasingly blurred. Etiquette expert Elaine Swann says, “We’re seeing more requests for tips in places we never did before.”

For example, increasingly there’s an option to add a tip at a retail counter. Swann says, “If you couldn’t find what you were looking for and someone helped you, if they went out of their way and were very gracious, then sure, show your appreciation. But other than that, you don’t have to tip in a retail store.”

However, tipping is still expected in many situations, and the guidelines can vary depending on the type of service. Let’s break it down by industry.

For generations, the standard restaurant tip was always “15% for good service, 20% for great,” Swann says. Now, she observes, the minimum is closer to 15% to 18%, and 20% to 25% for exemplary service.

But Swann cautions to inquire where exactly your gratuity is going. “Often, a restaurant will add an 18% gratuity for large groups. But is that tip going to the server? If you’re unsure, ask management what the fee is for—that way, you can make a more informed decision about how much to tip your server.”

Finally, the consensus is that you don’t need to tip at a fast-casual restaurant (where you order at a counter versus having table service). But if you feel you’ve received exemplary service, it’s appreciated. One notable exception is the coffee shop, where a $1 or $2 tip per drink is standard.

Tipping for food delivery should be treated like good service at a restaurant: You tip a minimum of 18% to 20%. If you’re ordering a lot, the weather is bad, or the driver is coming a far distance, consider adding a few extra percentage points. And make no mistake: The “delivery fee” on your bill goes to the company, not your delivery person, so don’t lower your tip based on that fee.

Moving can be more expensive than you think, so make sure you factor 20% of your total moving costs as a tip for your movers. However, if you need to move uniquely challenging items, like a grand piano or a bunch of bowling balls, consider adding a little more for their trouble.

Moving crews are typically managed by a leader who handles the paperwork and primarily communicates with you. It’s acceptable to give them the entire tip at the end of the move and explain that it should be shared with the full crew.

Swann says that since cab rides customarily conclude with a tip, ride-share trips should too. Include a tip in the app used to schedule the car service; if you’re wondering how much to tip your ride-share driver, the standard is about 15%.

When tipping the valet who parks and retrieves your car, the standard tip is between $3 and $5, depending on the level of service.

Hotels are full of potential tipping situations, from the person who brings your bags to your room to the housekeeper who keeps it clean. Typical practices break down like this:

If you have loads of luggage, stick with $1 or $2 per luggage item. But if you only have a couple of things, tip $5 to make the elevator ride worth their while.

What’s the best practice when ordering that steak and eggs or late-night hot fudge sundae to your room? Pretend you’re at a restaurant and tip the standard 15% to 20% if there’s not already a room service charge added to the bill.

Tip the hotel maid between $1 and $5 per day, but don’t wait until the end of your stay, as the staff might change daily. Include a small note with the tip each day to signal the tip is for that day’s service.

The minimum tip is 15%, but the standard is closer to 20%. Include everyone involved. Tip your hair washer $2 to $5 and give 20% to anyone providing additional services. For example, tip your hair colorist 20% of that service cost.

The same goes for tipping at the nail salon. Tip between 15% and 20% for each service (or more if the service is exceptional). For example, if you have a separate nail technician and esthetician, tip them separately based on the cost of the service provided.

If you have a regular relationship with your stylist or other personal services provider, a holiday gift is a good idea—generally a gift certificate or cash that’s equal to the cost of one session.

Tipping a babysitter or nanny each time isn’t necessary, but an end-of-the-year gift is a nice gesture. For nannies, the standard is roughly one or two weeks’ pay; for babysitters, it’s about the cost of one evening of babysitting.

Factor in the cost of tipping when planning your wedding finances. With so many different services involved in your special day, make sure you’ve budgeted for all of them:

Tip caterers and reception staff 15% to 20% of the total cost of your food bill, or $5 to $10 per guest, unless gratuity is already included in your contract.

The standard tip for a wedding planner is less defined, but it tends to fall between 10% and 20% of the wedding cost—or come as a generous gift, which many newlyweds opt for.

Most people offer between $50 and $150 per DJ or between $25 and $35 to each wedding band member.

The standard 15% to 25% is the norm for any makeup artists providing services to the bridal party.

Swann clarifies that professional service providers shouldn’t be offered tips. These providers include financial advisors, doctors, lawyers, teachers, veterinarians, therapists and life coaches.

Similarly, some workers cannot accept tips. Delivery drivers are discouraged from doing so (so they aren’t targeted for cash), and mail carriers are forbidden from receiving monetary gifts of more than $20, per the USPS. However, Swann says, “a small gift, rather than money, is always appreciated.”

Now that you’ve read our when-to-tip guide, you know that it’s a complicated topic, with different factors to consider in each situation. The good news is that there are ways to make these decisions easier. Here’s how to handle a few common tipping troubles:

Swann says, “When you sit down at the table, simply say out loud to the group, ‘Are we splitting the check evenly or are we all paying for ourselves?’” Addressing the issue directly helps make it clear how much each of you should tip.

If your server treated you poorly, Swann says it’s okay for your “tip to reflect that level of service.” However, “You should always tip a restaurant server, and never less than 10%,” Swann says. “But if you give less than the standard amount, make sure the bad service was truly the fault of the server and not, for example, the chef, busser or management.”

If you don’t have cash on hand and the vendor only accepts cash, you’ll want a bank with plenty of fee-free ATMs nationwide. Finding a place to withdraw money from a 360 Checking account is easy with a fee-free debit card from Capital One since you have access to over 70,000 fee-free ATMs.

Tipping expectations can vary widely depending on the service, setting and level of support you receive. Knowing when to tip and how much to give can help you feel more prepared and avoid awkward moments. Use these guidelines to make tipping decisions with confidence.

Our when-to-tip guide, in summary:

• Not every service requires a tip. Knowing when gratuity is expected, optional or unnecessary can help you feel more confident when spending.

• Planning for tips as part of your budget can help you feel prepared for everyday expenses, celebrations and special occasions.

• Restaurant, delivery and personal service tips often follow common ranges, but the right amount can vary based on the situation and your experience.