In short: The check arrives, six people stare at it, and someone eventually overpays out of social panic. This tool ends that scene: tip, total and per-person amounts in three seconds.
Updated August 13, 2026, after a fresh review, with updated visuals and links.
Underneath the calculator, the tipping norms by situation so you know what percentage to pick in the first place.
What to tip in 2026, honestly
Full-service restaurants in the US settled around 18 to 20% for solid service, 15% for passable, 25% for excellent. The pre-tax amount is the traditional base, post-tax is the generous version.
Quick-serve counter spots with a tip screen: 10% or a dollar or two is customary but genuinely optional. Delivery drivers deserve 15 to 20% or a $3 to $5 floor, since they're covering gas and vehicle wear.
Taxis and rideshares run 10 to 15%, hotel housekeeping a few dollars per night left daily (different staff each day), bartenders a dollar or two per round.
Worth remembering
- Splitting unevenly consumed meals: each person tips on their own share plus tax, not an even split of everything.
- Large parties: check the receipt for auto-gratuity before adding more, double-tipping a table of eight happens constantly.
Frequently asked
Do you tip before or after tax?
Tradition says pre-tax; in practice most people tip on the final total and servers notice the difference kindly. Either is defensible.
Is 15% still OK?
It reads as adequate-but-not-warm in full-service US restaurants: fine for unremarkable service, low for good service by current norms.
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