How and Who to Tip in the USA
How and Who to Tip in the USA
Tipping is a common practice in the United States, and it is expected in many situations. It is important to understand who and how much to tip in order to show appreciation for services rendered.
Who to Tip
In the United States, it is customary to tip service workers such as waiters, bartenders, hairdressers, taxi drivers, bellhops, valets, and other service personnel. It is also customary to tip hotel housekeeping staff for their services. In some cases, tips are included in the bill or added automatically; however, it is still polite to leave an additional tip if you were satisfied with the service.
It is also customary to tip delivery drivers for food orders and other items that are delivered. This includes pizza delivery drivers as well as those who deliver groceries or other items from stores.
In addition to service workers, it is also polite to tip people who provide personal services such as dog walkers and babysitters. It is not necessary to tip postal workers or government employees since they are not allowed to accept tips.
How Much To Tip
The amount of a tip depends on the quality of service received and can vary from person to person. Generally speaking, a 15-20% gratuity for restaurant servers and bartenders is considered standard in the United States. For taxi drivers and delivery drivers, a 10-15% gratuity is usually appropriate. For hotel housekeeping staff, $2-$5 per night of stay is usually sufficient. For personal services such as dog walking or babysitting, 10-15% of the total cost of the service should be sufficient.
It’s important to note that tipping etiquette can vary by region; for example, some areas may expect higher tips than others for certain services. Additionally, some restaurants may add an automatic gratuity for large parties (usually 6 or more people). In these cases it’s still polite to leave an additional gratuity if you were satisfied with the service provided.
Finally, it’s important to remember that tipping isn’t mandatory but rather a way of showing appreciation for good service; if you feel that someone has gone above and beyond in providing excellent service then you may want to consider leaving a larger tip than usual as a way of expressing your gratitude.