Gratuity Calculator

Calculate appropriate gratuity amounts for restaurants, bars, and service industry. Choose from standard tipping percentages or enter custom amounts.

Bill Information

Tipping Options

Party Information

Tip Summary

Pre-Tax Bill: $0.00
Tax Amount: $0.00
Total Bill: $0.00
Tip Amount: $0.00
Grand Total: $0.00

Per Person Breakdown

Bill per Person: $0.00
Tip per Person: $0.00
Total per Person: $0.00

Tipping Guidelines

Restaurant: 15-20%
Bar Service: $1-2/drink
Takeout: 10%

Understanding Gratuity and Tipping

Gratuity, commonly known as a tip, is a voluntary payment made to service workers in addition to the billed amount. Proper tipping shows appreciation for good service and is an important part of service industry compensation.

Standard Tipping Guidelines

Service Type Standard Tip Good Tip Excellent Tip
Restaurant (Sit-down) 15% 18% 20-25%
Restaurant (Takeout) 10% 10-15% 15%
Bar Service $1-2 per drink $2-3 per drink $3+ per drink
Bartender 15-20% 20% 25%
Food Delivery 10-15% 15-20% 20%
Taxi/Rideshare 10-15% 15-20% 20%
Hotel Housekeeping $2-5 per night $5-10 per night $10+ per night
Hotel Concierge $5-10 $10-20 $20+
Hair Salon/Barber 15-20% 20% 25%
Spa Services 15-20% 20% 25%

When to Tip More or Less

Tip More (20%+)

  • Outstanding service and attention
  • Difficult or complex requests
  • Service during busy periods
  • Personalized or extra service
  • Going above and beyond

Tip Less (10-15%)

  • Poor or slow service
  • Wrong orders or mistakes
  • Rude or inattentive staff
  • Long wait times
  • Substandard experience

Automatic Gratuity

Some restaurants and services add automatic gratuity (auto-grat) to the bill for large parties or special services. This is typically 15-20% and is clearly marked on the bill.

When Automatic Gratuity Applies

Large Parties

6+ people: 15-18%

8+ people: 18-20%

Special Services

Banquets: 15-20%

Catering: 15-18%

Additional tipping may not be expected when auto-grat is applied

Tipping by Country

Country Restaurant Tip Notes
United States 15-20% Expected for table service
Canada 15-20% Similar to US, varies by region
United Kingdom 10-15% Optional, round up bill
Australia 10% Optional for good service
Japan 0% Tipping considered rude
France 0-5% Service charge included

Service Industry Wages

Tips are a crucial part of compensation for service workers. Many servers and bartenders earn minimum wage plus tips, making proper tipping essential for their livelihood.

Federal Minimum Wage vs. Tipped Minimum

Regular Minimum Wage

$7.25/hour (federal)

$10.33-$16.90 (state)

Tipped Employee Minimum

$2.13/hour (federal)

Tips make up difference

Many states require employers to make up difference if tips are insufficient

Key Takeaways

  • Standard restaurant tip is 15-20% of the pre-tax bill
  • Tip based on quality of service, not just the bill amount
  • Automatic gratuity may be added for large parties
  • Tipping customs vary significantly by country
  • Tips are essential income for many service workers
  • Consider rounding up for small bills
  • Tip less for poor service, more for exceptional service
  • Always tip on the pre-tax amount

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