Tipping doesn’t have to be complex. Most people know the standard 15 to 20 percent for a restaurant server, but what about other scenarios like a delivery food driver or a housekeeper? This guide explains how much to tip in most scenarios, but keep in mind that you always can tip more for exceptional service.
FOOD
There’s a saying that if you can’t afford to tip, you shouldn’t go out to eat. Good food service always deserves a tip because most restaurant employees make under minimum wage and work hard to provide a good experience.
HOSTS
There’s typically no need to tip your host unless they can seat you at a particular table you requested during a busy time. In this case, you should consider tipping them $5–$10 for their service.
SIT-DOWN SERVICE
All waitstaff should be tipped 15–20 percent of your bill at a minimum. If you ordered something small like a drink and fries, you should still tip a few dollars for taking up a table in their section. As for bartenders, leave $1–2 per drink.
FOOD DELIVERY
Many restaurants are already understaffed, so it’s kind to leave a 10–15 percent tip for drivers leaving the restaurant to deliver your food. If you use an app like DoorDash or Grubhub, you should leave around 10 percent of your bill to help your driver with gas money.
HOME SERVICES
When it comes to taking care of your home, hiring the right people for the job is essential. Be sure to tip your home service workers appropriately to show your appreciation.
LAWN, POOL, AND HOUSEKEEPING
It can be tricky to decide whether to tip housekeeping, lawn care or pool care professionals. It depends on if you see the same person or a different person each time and if they work for a company or own it. If it’s the same person and someone who owns the company, tip them $5–10 each visit. If it’s a different person each time and they work for a company, they’re likely making an hourly wage and don’t see much of what you pay. In that case, tip 15–20 percent.
If it’s their first visit and they do difficult work to clear your yard or scrub particularly dirty areas, be sure to tip them 25–30 percent so they know you appreciate their extra effort and want them to return.
TRAVEL
Amid the hustle and bustle of traveling, don’t forget to tip those who help make your experience memorable and comfortable along the way.
HOTEL ROOM CLEANING
It’s customary to tip about $5 per day of your stay when you leave. So, if you stayed for four days, you would tip around $20.
VALET PARKING
If you’re lucky enough to encounter valet parking, be sure to tip them around $5 when they return your car at the end of your visit. There’s not a lot of guidelines available for valet tipping, so use discretion depending on the service quality and how busy they are.
I highly suggest never allowing yourself to get stressed about tipping. Whenever you’re unsure, just double the tax and leave that amount for a tip. That amount usually comes close to 15 percent.
