How much should you tip at a restaurant?

The standard tip at a sit-down restaurant in the United States is 15-20% of the pre-tax bill. For exceptional service, 20-25% is common. Buffet restaurants typically warrant a 10-15% tip.

Should you tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

Traditionally, tips are calculated on the pre-tax subtotal. However, many people tip on the post-tax total for simplicity. Either approach is acceptable — the difference is usually small.

How much do you tip for delivery?

For food delivery, 15-20% of the order total is standard, with a minimum of $3-5. For large or difficult deliveries (bad weather, far distance, heavy items), consider tipping more.

Restaurant Tip Calculator — Gratuity & Tip Split Calculator

Bill Amount

Tax rate For pre-tax tip calculation

Tip on pre-tax amount Exclude tax from tip calculation

Round up total Round to nearest dollar

Tip Percentage

Split the Bill

Not splitting

Tip Amount $10.00

Total $60.00

Per Person $60.00

How Much Should You Tip?

Standard gratuity guidelines for common service types in the United States.

restaurant

Sit-Down Restaurant

15 – 20% of the pre-tax bill. 20%+ for excellent service.

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Buffet

10 – 15%. Staff still clear plates, refill drinks, and maintain the buffet.

delivery_dining

Delivery

15 – 20% or $3 – $5 minimum. More for bad weather or long distance.

takeout_dining

Takeout / Pickup

0 – 10%. Not expected but always appreciated, especially for large orders.

local_bar

Bar / Drinks

$1 – $2 per drink or 15 – 20% of the tab for table service.

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Hair Salon

15 – 20% of the service total. Tip each person who works on your hair.

spa

Spa / Massage

15 – 20%. Some spas add an automatic service charge — check first.

local_taxi

Taxi / Rideshare

15 – 20% of the fare. More for help with luggage or long trips.

Managing Tips Shouldn't Be a Headache

Tracking tip pools, splitting gratuities fairly, and staying compliant with tax reporting takes real time. KwickOS handles it automatically so you can focus on running your restaurant.

check_circle Automatic tip tracking & allocation — Tips are split per employee, per shift, per service type. No spreadsheets, no math errors.

check_circle Fingerprint verification — Biometric clock-in ensures tips are allocated to the right person. Eliminates disputes and buddy-punching.

check_circle Automated tip reporting — Tax-ready tip reports generated automatically. Compliant with IRS tip reporting requirements.

check_circle Tip pooling & tip-out rules — Configure custom tip-out percentages for bussers, bartenders, and hosts. The system calculates everything at shift end.

See How KwickOS Manages Tips arrow_forward