What Americans Actually Tip in 2026 — From Coffee Shops to Cabs
Tipping fatigue is real — but Americans aren’t actually tipping less across the board. A 2026 survey from Omni Calculator found that 38% of Americans have a negative view of tipping and 40% even avoid businesses with tip prompts.
Still, most people continue to tip in key situations, especially at restaurants, for food delivery and for personal care services.
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Here’s how much Americans are tipping right now — and how it compares to expert guidance.
Restaurant Tipping Rates
Americans are most generous at sit-down restaurants. The largest share (45%) tips between 20% and 22%, while smaller groups tip 15% to 17% (15% of people) or 10% to 14% (13% of people).
According to Beth Shankle Anderson, etiquette expert and owner of Anderson Etiquette, 15% to 20% of the pretax total remains the standard.
Hair, Nails and Spa Tipping
When visiting a hair salon, barber, nail salon or spa, 29% of Americans tip between 20% and 22% and 14% tip between 10% and 14%.
For personal care services, Shankle Anderson recommended tipping 15% to 20% on the pretax amount.
"It depends on your relationship with the establishment," she said.
Food Delivery Tipping Trends
For food delivery services, 10% to 14% is the most common tip with 23% of people tipping this much, followed by 15% to 17% (20% of people) and 20% to 22% (19% of people).
According to Shankle Anderson, the ideal tip is 15% to 20% of the pretax, post-discount amount.
Uber, Lyft and Taxi Tips
For ride-hailing services and taxis, among those who tip, 10% to 14% is the most common tip — but 9% don’t tip at all.
Shankle Anderson recommended tipping 20% when you take a ride-share or taxi, but only 15% of Americans tip this much.
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Bartender Tipping
Less than half of Americans (46%) are tipping their bartenders. Among those who do leave a tip, the most common amount is 20% to 22%.
It's good etiquette to leave a tip. Shankle Anderson advised tipping $2 per drink or 15% to 20% of the total tab.
Hotel Staff and Housekeeping Tips
The majority of Americans do not tip hotel staff, including bellhops, porters and housekeeping — only 38% of Americans tip at hotels. Those who do typically leave a 10% to 14% tip.
Shankle Anderson said you should be tipping hotel staff, but the amount varies depending on their role:
Concierge: $8 to $10 (add more for more difficult requests)
Bellhop: $2 to $5 per bag (depending on size and weight)
Housekeeping: $1 to $2 per night
Valet: $1 to $3 each car retrieval
Coffee Shop Tipping
Baristas are even less likely to receive a tip than hotel workers — 64% of Americans do not tip at coffee shops.
Among Americans who leave a tip for their latte, 10% to 14% is the typical range. This is about in line with the expert-recommended tip: Shankle Anderson said to tip 10% to 15% of the pretax amount.
How To Decide How Much To Tip
While tipping expectations vary, service quality still matters most.
“Tipping etiquette depends on the experience,” Shankle Anderson said. “If you receive wonderful service, it is polite to leave a more generous tip.”
And for many workers, those tips remain a critical part of their incomes.
"Tipping assures that these professionals earn the appropriate amount for the service rendered to you," Shankle Anderson said.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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