The world of tipping etiquette is confusing, and it’s changing all the time.
While some quick jobs deserve a few bucks of gratuity, others deserve more substantial percentage-based tips. According to sites like Bankrate, Business Insider, and Dave Ramsey, here is how to tip in every confusing situation.
Tattoos: 10%-15%
Tattoo artist
iStock / Getty Images
A tattoo artist is an artist like any other, and considering their beautiful art will live on your body forever, it’s best to tip fairly well.
Massage / Mani-pedi: 10-15%
Massage parlor
Drazen Zigic / Getty Images
When you’re nice and relaxed in that post-massage or post-mani-pedi glow, a 10-15% tip won’t feel too onerous.
Takeout / Delivery (Seamless, GrubHub, DoorDash, Uber Eats): 10-20%
Food delivery
Biserka Stojanovic / Getty Images
Even if you’re just picking up a meal at a restaurant, you should tip at least 10%, but if the food is coming right to your door, step it up to 20%.
Waitstaff / Bartenders: 20%
Bartenders and waitstaff
MaximFesenko / Getty Images
The days of 18% at restaurants are over. Bump up that tip to 20% or even 25% for exceptional service. Bartenders get the same.
Instacart / Groceries: 10-15%
Instacart and grocery delivery
ThitareeSarmkasat / Getty Images
Think about all the effort you put into a typical grocery trip. Now put a price on all that time and effort you just got back by ordering groceries for delivery. That’s your tip.
Uber / Rideshare / Cab: $1 to $2 per person for shorter rides; 10-20% for longer rides
Tipping in a taxi
Creatas / Getty Images
Business Insider suggests this scaled pricing model for rideshare tips that takes into account the distance of your trip as well as the number of passengers in the car.
Hairdresser / Barber: 15-25%
Hairdresser
okskukuruza / Getty Images
You’re going to be walking around for weeks with that hairdo, and you may well be a repeat customer at your barber or hairdresser. So tip well, or else walk out looking like the 5% you regularly tip.
Hotel Staff: $3-5 for small services, 10-20% for room service
Hotel concierge
Chinnapong / Getty Images
Bankrate has advice on tipping in all sorts of hotel situations, but the general rule is $3-5 for bellhops and housekeeping, $5-10 for more substantial help like doormen who hail cabs and concierges who arrange nights out, and 10-20% on room service depending on if service is included on the tab. All of that rises slightly for a fancier hotel too.
Valet / Car Wash Employees: $2-5
Car valet
AndreyPopov / Getty Images
Some people suggest tipping when you drop off your car, but you can probably trust the valet to do their job well with the mutual understanding that a small tip of appreciation is the least you can do for ferrying your car around a packed lot in pristine condition. Same goes for car wash employees.
Buffet: 10%
Buffet restaurant
DragonImages / Getty Images
Like picking up takeout from a restaurant, it’s still necessary to tip at a buffet even if a watier isn’t bringing food directly to your table. Leave 10% for the whole staff.
Coat Check: $1-3
Coat check
Vladimir Zapletin / Getty Images
A few bucks is the least you can offer for finding your dark puffer jacket among a million other dark puffer jackets.
Laundry / Dry Cleaning: $5
Dry cleaning
LightFieldStudios / Getty Images
Five buckaroos is a small price to pay for someone else dealing with your dirty undies.
Movers: $10-25 per person
Movers
AndreyPopov / Getty Images
That priceless antique from your grandmother and that ridiculously heavy fridge only make it to your new house if the movers put in the work. Tip ‘em $10-25 each.
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