How Much to Tip - Taxi, Restaurant Tipping Guide (2024)

Traveling is supposed to be relaxing, but many feel their chest tighten when they encounter multiple tipping opportunities: cab drivers, bellhops, doormen.

Do you tip them all?

Do you tip them all the same amount?

How do you know?

To help Americans better understand appropriate gratuities, Angie's List, a consumer website for rating service professionals, surveyed members and service professionals to get their take on tipping protocols in the United States. The tippee's unsurprising consensus: When in doubt, tip big!

Hotel Tipping

  • Bellhop: $1 to $2 per bag
  • Car valets: $1 to $3. You can tip when you drop off the car if you like, but definitely tip at pickup.
  • Room service: 10 percent is acceptable, 15 percent to 20 percent for a large or difficult order.
  • Housekeeping: $2 to $3 per night; $5 if you have more than three people in a room/suite. Leave the money in an envelope with "Thank You" on it, so they know the money is for them.
  • Concierge: Nothing. But if you have something brought to your room, such as a sewing kit or extra toothbrush, a $2 to $3 tip is appropriate.
  • Cabana attendant: 15 percent to 20 percent of your total bill
  • Tanning attendant: $5 to $10 per lotion application
  • Doorman: $1 for help with each bag, $1 for hailing a cab
How Much to Tip - Taxi, Restaurant Tipping Guide (2024)

FAQs

How Much to Tip - Taxi, Restaurant Tipping Guide? ›

"When in doubt, tipping between 15 to 20 percent is the most common practice," says Courtney Alev, consumer financial advocate and head of tax for Intuit Credit Karma. She adds that you should plan to factor in a tip when budgeting for a particular service.

How much do you tip a tour guide in NYC? ›

Like most other service providers, tour guides depend on tips. Generally, a 15-20% guideline applies, though tipping in these situations should also reflect the size of the tour group, as well as the length of the tour.

Do taxi drivers prefer cash tips? ›

Surprisingly, very few people tip their drivers. Most drivers probably prefer cash so they can use it right away.

What is the new tipping etiquette? ›

It's up to you to decide whether or not to tip and how much. But Shubhranshu Singh, a marketing professor at Johns Hopkins University, likes to leave a 10% tip. If an establishment is asking for a tip, it's often an indication that the workers there are not getting paid a minimum wage.

How much to tip a yellow cab in New York? ›

How much should I tip? Tips are big business in New York, as they are in the rest of the US. But sadly you'll be expected to pay over the odds in the Big Apple. 20% of the fee is the recommended amount.

Is it rude not to tip a tour guide? ›

Basic tipping etiquette says, yes, you should tip your tour guide. There are exceptions if your specific tour experience includes gratuities or you simply didn't have a good time, but in general, tipping your guide at the end of the tour is customary in the U.S. and Europe, though it's much more common in the States.

Do you tip a tour guide in NYC? ›

Tips for other service personnel, such as tour guides, coat-check staff, baristas and so on, are always appreciated.

How much to tip New York taxi drivers? ›

20%. If you are referring to the cost of a taxi from JFK into the city or back, it should be $100 WITH tax/tix($70 flat rate.) $100 isn't the flat rate between JFK and Manhattan .

What is taxi tipping etiquette? ›

Concierge: $5 to $10 is the general range. Ride-share drivers: 10 to 20 percent is the general range for LYFT, Uber, taxis, and other ride-share services. Valet: $2 to $5 is the general range.

How do you pay for a cab in New York City? ›

The driver must accept credit/debit cards for any fare amount. If a driver claims the credit card system is broken and/or prevents a passenger from using their credit/debit card, report the medallion number to the TLC by going to 311 Online.

What is guilt tipping? ›

Too often, consumers feel obligated to tip, he said. “It's based on basic guilt.” Skijus advises shoppers, regardless of income, to consider tipping when you want to express gratitude, but not at every point of sale, even when prompted.

When to not tip? ›

You don't need to tip someone like a doctor, lawyer, accountant, or teacher who earns a salary. Many may not be allowed to accept the money, and it could wind up being awkward. Instead, if you want to show your thanks, consider giving the person who performed the service a small gift or sending them a thank-you card.

How much should I tip if my bill is $20? ›

People generally tip 15-20% of the bill. To calculate tip multiply the total check by 1 plus the decimal percentage tip you'd like to leave. If you wanted to leave a 20% tip, you would add 1 to 0.20 to get 1.20. Multiply the bill by 1.20 to get the total amount you'd leave including tip.

How much is a 30 minute cab ride in New York? ›

For a sample trip of 30 minutes and 7.5 miles, the new rates will require a minimum payment of $27.15, up more than $2.50 from current rates.

How much to tip a hotel doorman? ›

Door staff: No need to tip for someone opening the door. But if the door staff calls you a cab, offers you an umbrella or helps with your bags, consider a $2 to $5 tip. Front desk/Concierge: At the bare minimum, be polite and patient when checking in to a hotel, says Dasmann.

Why should I tip a taxi driver? ›

If you've been extra helpful, offered to load and unload luggage or shopping, made friendly small talk, and generally provided an overall pleasant taxi ride, then you might think a 10-15% tip is a nice gesture. It would certainly be enough to put a smile on your face.

What percentage do you tip tour guides? ›

At the end of your trip, plan on tipping out everybody in a service position. First, tip your guide 10 to 20 percent of the total cost. If you have multiple guides, you can tip the lead guide and they can split that up amongst the other guides.

How much do you tip on a 2 hour tour guide? ›

In general, it is recommended to tip around 10-20% of the total cost of the tour. However, if the guide goes above and beyond to make your experience memorable and enjoyable, it is always appreciated to give a higher tip.

What is a normal tip for a free walking tour? ›

Guidelines for Tipping on a Free Walking Tour

Did the guide go above and beyond to provide an exceptional experience? Take that into account when deciding on your tip. A general rule of thumb is to tip between 10-20% of what you would have paid for a paid tour of similar length and quality.

How much do you tip after free walking tour? ›

Your budget: Finally, consider your own budget and how much you can afford to tip. While there is no set amount for how much you should tip, most people leave somewhere between 5 and 15 euros. If you are on a tight budget, you may want to aim for the lower end of this range.

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