Is it rude not to tip in America?

Legally it's voluntary but if you slink out of a restaurant without leaving a gratuity of between 15 and 25 per cent, you're likely to be chased by a waiter demanding to know why. To help you avoid tipping anxiety (and disgruntled waitstaff), we explain how to tip in the United States.



People Also Ask

While tipping is not mandatory in most of the United States, it is customary in many circumstances for service, especially at almost all sit-down restaurants which offer table service and many food servers depend on tips as an essential part of their wage.

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People may not have the money for a tip and are embarrassed at leaving a small tip. They think you'll think they “forgot” rather than they were cheap.

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Just as in Japan, it is not customary to tip in China. Tipping in China is generally uncommon and can even be considered rude or embarrassing in some circumstances so when taking a taxi, enjoying a refreshing drink or tucking into a delicious meal there's no requirement to leave any gratuities.

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Restaurants. Loathed as a master-serf custom of the caste-bound Old World that went back to the Middle Ages, tipping was blamed for encouraging servility and degrading America's democratic, puritanical, and anti-aristocratic ethic.

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Every culture handles tipping differently, but it might work to frame tipping not as cultural practice in the U.S., but as part of our economic system, like taxes. Because of our special American tipped minimum wage, it is an expected part of the cost of service.

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Our study showed most people always tip when dining out or ordering delivery, but the act becomes questionable to other service providers. The bigger tippers reside in New Hampshire, Ohio, North Carolina, Alabama, and Iowa, while residents of California, Oregon, Idaho, Maryland, and Wisconsin tip the least.

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Here's how all the states stacked up against each other, from the highest average tip to the lowest.
  • Delaware: 21.8%
  • Indiana: 20.8%
  • Wyoming: 20.8%
  • Kentucky: 20.7%
  • West Virginia: 20.6%
  • Ohio: 20.6%
  • New Hampshire: 20.6%
  • South Carolina: 20.4%


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Cleveland ranked No. 1 on the list with diners there adding a 20.6% gratuity to their checks, on average. San Francisco brings up the rear, with a 17% average tip.

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According to research by bankrate.com, a whopping 66 percent of Americans have a negative view of tipping. In addition, 41 percent say they're annoyed about pre-entered tip screens while 15 percent are willing to pay higher prices if we could just do away with tipping.

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