I usually tip 15% for lunches and 20% for dinners. But what’s the proper percentage? I heard on the radio the other day that the average diner is tipping less these days as opposed to a couple years ago, probably due to the recession. It’s kind of sad to hear that because if you can afford to go out and eat, you can definitely afford to pay a little extra for good service you received.

I open this discussion up to the readers because I had an argument with some friends when we were ordering pizza and wings one night.  Total bill came out to be around $58 and one friend suggested just giving $60 total. Another friend said that was too low and suggested giving 15% tip while still another friend said 10% is sufficient. In a case where the delivery person provides the same service whether one pizza is ordered or 10 pizzas, do you just give a flat tip for both situations or by percentage of the purchase price? I’m not sure.

What about when you’re dining at a restaurant but you sit at the bar? Will tipping be less because you’re not sitting comfortably at a table? What about for beers and other alcohol? Do you tip for a bottle of beer that the bartenders just grab from the fridge and hand to you? I’m not sure.

When you order water instead of a drink at a full service restaurant, do you not tip the service for water or tip for the cost of a regular drink?

I was curious about all these scenarios and decided to find out for myself.

Tipping Rule of Thumb

1. Bellman at Hotels: $1-2 per bag

2. Hotel Maid Service: $1 per night

3. Full Service Restaurants: 15-20%; If using a coupon or discount, tipping should be based on pre-discounted price.

4. Take-Out/Curbside Service: 10%

5. Self-Serve Buffets: 10%

6. Bars: 10%

7. Cabs: 15% of full fare

8. Valet Parking: $2-5

9. Food Delivery: 10%

10. Salon/Barber: 20%

Have I missed anything? How much do you tip and what’s your rule of thumb?

Tagged as: tipping