World Famous 10-Second How to Tip Guide

Tipping in the U.S. can feel like you need a minor in Math, a major in Social Anxiety, and an advanced certificate in “Why Is This iPad Watching Me?”
The good news: you can tip confidently in about 10 secondswithout overthinking, under-tipping, or accidentally tipping your own guilt.

This guide is built for real life: noisy restaurants, rushed rideshares, hotel lobbies, coffee counters, delivery drop-offs, and those payment screens that
pop up like a jump scare. You’ll get quick rules, fast mental math, and specific examplesso you can tip like a pro (even if you’re wearing sweatpants).

The 10-Second Tipping Rule (Works Almost Everywhere)

1. Identify the service type (full service, delivery, personal service, travel/hospitality, or “I’m doing everything myself”).
2. Pick the default (percentage or flat amount) from the cheat sheet below.
3. Check the receipt for service charges or automatic gratuity so you don’t double-tip by accident.
4. Do the fast math (you’ll learn it in the next section).
5. Round in a human direction (up for great service, down for issues, and always within your budget).

Tip Math You Can Do Before the Card Reader Blinks

You don’t need a calculator. You need two moves: the 10% move and the “half of that” move.

Fast percentages (the only ones most people use)

• 10%: Move the decimal one place left. $47.50 → $4.75
• 20%: Take 10% and double it. $47.50 → $4.75 × 2 = $9.50
• 15%: Take 10% + half of 10%. $47.50 → $4.75 + $2.38 ≈ $7.13
• 18%: Take 20% and subtract a little (about 2%). Or do 10% + 5% + 3% if you like pain.

“Just round it” examples

If your bill is $38.20 at a sit-down restaurant and you’re aiming for 20%, 10% is $3.82, so 20% is $7.64.
Rounding to $8 is normal, easy, and makes you look like you’ve been outside before.

The “If You Only Remember Five Numbers” Cheat Sheet

• 20% = the modern default for full-service dining (adjust up/down based on service and situation)
• 15% = a common “baseline” minimum for sit-down service
• $1–$2 = quick tip per drink, per bag, or small favor (depending on context)
• $5 = the classic “minimum that feels like a real tip” for many deliveries and rides
• 18% = common automatic gratuity for larger parties when it’s added to the check

How Much to Tip by Situation (Quick, Specific, Practical)

Sit-down restaurants

For full table service, a typical range is 15%–20% of the pre-tax total. If service is great, bump it up.
If something goes wrong, tip thoughtfullybut also consider what was under the server’s control (like kitchen delays).

• Great service: 20%+ (or round up generously)
• Standard/okay service: 18%–20%
• Not great: closer to 15%and consider politely explaining issues to a manager instead of “tipping silently”

Buffets

Buffets often involve less direct service, but staff still clear plates and refill drinks. A common guideline is around 10% (or a few dollars per person),
depending on how much service you received.

Bars

For bartenders, many people tip $1–$2 per drink or 15%–20% of the tab. If you’re ordering complicated cocktails,
camping out for the game, or getting lots of attention, tip like you noticed.

Counter service, coffee shops, and grab-and-go

This is where tipping gets fuzzy and “tip fatigue” gets loud. If someone is simply handing you a muffin, tipping may be optional.
If staff is making specialty drinks, packing a big order, or going above and beyond, a small tip can be kind.

• Quick coffee/pastry: $0–$1 (optional)
• Custom drinks or big orders: $1–$2, or roughly 10% if you want a simple rule

Takeout

Takeout doesn’t always require a tip, but if the staff handled a large, complicated order, curbside delivery, or extra requests,
consider around 10% or a few dollars.

Food delivery

Delivery is different: the driver’s time, gas, and logistics are the job. A practical rule many guides suggest is
$5 or 20%whichever is higher for a standard order, and more for bad weather, long distances, or heavy loads.

• Easy order, nearby: ~$5
• Big order, stairs, or weather: add a few extra dollars
• Groceries or bulky items: consider a percentage (often 10%–20%) or a higher flat tip

Rideshare and taxis

For rideshare and taxis, 15%–20% is a common benchmark, with a “minimum tip” mindset for short rides
(because 20% of $9 is… not emotionally satisfying). If the driver helps with bags, waits patiently, or navigates chaos calmly, tip accordingly.

Hotels (housekeeping, bellhops, valet, concierge)

Travel tipping is often flat amounts, not percentages. Many hotel-industry and travel guides recommend tipping housekeeping
about $1–$5 per night/day depending on the hotel type and the mess level you created (no judgment, but the pizza boxes know).

• Housekeeping: $1–$5 per night/day (leave daily if possible)
• Bellhop/porter: roughly $1–$2 per bag
• Valet: commonly a few dollars when your car is returned
• Concierge: optional; tip for special effort (hard reservations, custom help)

Pro move: leave housekeeping tips in cash with a short note, because the person cleaning your room may not be the person who finds your tip on checkout day.

Hair, nails, and personal services

For salons, around 20% is a common rule of thumb for cuts, color, and similar services.
If an assistant shampoos, blow-dries, or helps you, a separate small tip is often appreciated.

Movers and home services

For movers, many U.S. guides recommend a flat tip per mover based on time and difficulty (or a percentage for exceptional work).
If someone is carrying your couch up three flights of stairs in July, you can safely assume they earned it.

Service Charges vs. Tips (Read This So You Don’t Double-Pay)

A tip is voluntary. A service charge is a fee the business addssometimes for large parties, sometimes as a “staffing fee,”
sometimes as a “wellness fee,” and sometimes as a mystery novel you didn’t order.

Here’s the key: service charges aren’t always the same as gratuity, and they don’t always go directly to the server the way you assume.
If you see an automatic gratuity (often around 18%), you can add extra only if you truly want to.

When It’s Okay to Tip Less (or Not Tip)

• Self-checkout / self-service kiosks: If you did the work, you generally don’t need to tip for the privilege.
• No actual service provided: A tip is for service, not for existing in the same building as a cash register.
• Serious service problems: You can reduce a tip, but consider addressing issues directly so the business can fix them.

Pro Moves That Make Tipping Easier (and Kinder)

Carry small bills

A few $1s and $5s solve hotel tips, valet tips, and “thanks for the extra help” moments. Cash can also ensure the right person receives it.

Tip daily in hotels

Housekeeping shifts rotate. Daily tipping increases the chance the person doing the work receives the thanks.

Don’t tip-shame yourself into bad budgeting

If tipping is expected, plan for it. If it’s optional, make a choice that fits your budget. Confidence beats panic generosity.

Why Tipping Feels Everywhere Now

Digital payment screens made tipping prompts nearly effortless for businesses and nearly unavoidable for customersleading to what many people call
tipping fatigue. Surveys and reporting in recent years show Americans feel conflicted: they want to support workers, but they’re also tired of being asked
to tip in situations that don’t feel like tipped service.

The practical takeaway: focus on the jobs that traditionally rely on tips (full-service dining, delivery, hospitality, personal services),
and treat everything else as optional unless real service is being provided.

The 10-Second Tip Scripts (Use These Out Loud)

• At a restaurant: “Let’s do 20%thank you!”
• On a large party check: “Is gratuity already included?”
• At a hotel: “This is for housekeepingthank you so much.” (Leave with a note.)
• At a salon: “Can you split this tip between you and the assistant?”
• At a counter prompt: “No tip today, thanks!” (Say it like a normal human, not like you’re confessing to a crime.)

Experience Stories: Real-Life Tipping Moments (and How the 10-Second Rule Saves You)

Let’s run through the kinds of situations that actually happenwhen you’re hungry, rushed, overstimulated, or all three.
These “mini experiences” are where people overthink tipping the most, so you’ll see how the 10-second method keeps you calm and consistent.

1) The loud restaurant where you can’t hear your own thoughts

You’re at a packed brunch spot. Plates are flying, someone’s birthday is happening three tables away, and your server is doing the polite sprint-smile
that says, “I am one spilled mimosa away from quitting.” Your bill is $62.40. You want to tip well, but you also want to leave before the next
round of “Happy Birthday” starts.

Ten-second rule: sit-down service → default 20%. Math: 10% is $6.24, double is $12.48. Round to $13 and you’re done.
If the service was good but not magical, $12 is still reasonable. If they saved your day with extra napkins and unlimited coffee refills, $14 is a
“you are seen” tip.

2) The takeout pickup where the iPad asks for 25%

You ordered takeout. You walked there. You stood there. You watched the receipt printer do its little dance.
The screen flips around and offers 20%, 25%, 30% like you just received table service in a velvet booth.

Ten-second rule: takeout → often optional. If it’s a simple handoff, you can hit “no tip” without guilt.
If they packed a large family order with sauces labeled like a NASA mission, tip a few dollars or around 10%.
Example: $48 order, complex request, everything correct → $3–$5 is a solid “thanks for the effort” move.

3) The delivery that arrives in terrible weather

It’s raining sideways. Your food arrives hot anyway, and the driver looks like they fought a small ocean to get to your porch.
Your order total is $27.

Ten-second rule: delivery → $5 or 20% (whichever is higher). 20% of $27 is $5.40, so you’re already around $5.
In bad weather, add a little more. Call it $7 and you’ve turned “I’m sorry you had to do this” into actual appreciation.

4) The rideshare that’s short… but still deserves something

You take a $9 rideshare to meet friends. The driver is friendly, the car is clean, and they didn’t play a podcast at maximum volume.
If you tip 20%, that’s $1.80which is technically fine, but feels like leaving two coins and a vibe.

Ten-second rule: rideshare → 15%–20% with a minimum mindset for short trips. Tip $2–$3 and move on.
For a long airport ride where they helped with luggage, 15%–20% makes sense as a percentage again.

5) The hotel stay where you want to do the right thing

Hotels are peak “I don’t want to mess this up” territory. You’re not tipping a bill; you’re tipping humans doing invisible work.
You stayed two nights, used a suspicious number of towels, and left the room looking like you were auditioning for a “before” photo.

Ten-second rule: housekeeping → $1–$5 per night/day. If you’re at a mid-range hotel and you were moderately messy, $3 a day is fair.
If you’re traveling with kids, extra rooms, or your snack situation got out of hand, push toward the higher end.
Leave it daily with a note so it clearly goes to housekeeping.

6) The salon appointment where multiple people helped

You got a cut and color. One person did the color, another washed your hair, and someone else did a quick blowout finish.
You don’t want to tip wrong, but you also don’t want to hold up the line while you run a mental committee meeting.

Ten-second rule: salon → about 20%. If the total is $180, 10% is $18, so 20% is $36.
If an assistant helped significantly, ask the front desk to split it or add $5–$10 separately.
Short, polite, solved.

Wrap-Up: Tip Confidently, Not Perfectly

The goal isn’t to become the world’s greatest tip mathematician. The goal is to tip in a way that’s consistent, fair, and stress-freeespecially in the U.S.,
where tipping is woven into how many service workers are paid.

Keep it simple: default to 20% for sit-down dining, use smart flat tips for hospitality, tip delivery and rideshare like you respect someone’s time,
and treat random checkout prompts as optional unless real service is happening. Ten seconds. Done.