Key takeaways:
Across most U.S. service categories — including restaurants, food delivery, rideshares, salons and personal care — 15% to 20% remains the standard tipping benchmark, while movers are the notable exception at $20 to $50 per worker in cash.
Restaurant tips are calculated on the pre-tax bill — not the total — and if your bill already includes automatic gratuity or a service charge, no additional tip is required.
Hotel and hospitality tipping follows flat-rate norms, not percentages: standard ranges are $3 to $5 per night for housekeepers, $2 to $5 per bag for bellhops, and $2 to $10 for valets — and front desk staff, maintenance workers, and doormen are not customarily tipped.
Your stylist just did the most. Excited to hit the town with your fresh new cut, you tap to pay and suddenly you’re staring at a screen asking if you’d like to leave anywhere from a 15% - 25% tip.
Did you start sweating? If you’re unsure how much you should tip in moments like these (and others), we’ve got your back. From movers to waiters to stylists and more, our tipping guide breaks down how much to tip for all sorts of everyday services. Just keep in mind that recommendations may vary based on location, business policies and service quality.
Read more: How to keep your finances on track with Ally Bank spending buckets
Tipping 101: Common situations at a glance
Tipping used to feel relatively straightforward. These days, it’s become one of the more confusing aspects of being a consumer. How much gratuity are you expected to leave?
Service | Standard tip range | Typical tipping method | Exceptions (when tipping is optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
Restaurant server | $18% to 20% | Percentage of pre-tax bill | Automatic gratuity included |
Bartender | $1 to $2 per drink or 15% to 20% of tab | Per drink or percentage | Self-service ordering |
Food delivery driver | 10% to 20% | Percentage or flat amount | Significant service issues |
Rideshare driver | 10% to 20% | In-app tip | Very quick rides |
Hotel housekeeper | $1 to $5 per day | Cash | Limited-service hotels |
Valet | $2 to $10 | Cash when vehicle is returned | Self-parking available |
Hairstylist | 15% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Nail technician | 10% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
House cleaner | 10% to 20% | Cash or digital payment | Service fee already included |
Movers | $20 to $50 per mover per day | Cash per worker | Company prohibits tips |
Need to leave a cash tip? Good news - Ally Bank has over 75,000 fee-free ATMs. Find the closest ATM to you.
Food for thought: How much to tip for restaurants and delivery
Whether you’re signing a check at a restaurant or watching the pizza delivery driver pull up to your house, tipping has long been part of the food service industry. Even so, it’s good to refresh yourself on tipping expectations. Tips at restaurants are typically calculated based on your pre-tax total. For takeout and delivery, you can tip either a flat-rate or a percentage of your bill. Restaurants and caterers may automatically include gratuity or service charges based on your meal or party size, so carefully review your bill to make sure you don’t leave double.
Service | Standard tip range | Typical tipping method | Exceptions (when tipping is optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
Restaurant server | $18% to 20% | Percentage of pre-tax bill | Automatic gratuity included |
Bar service (bartender or cocktail server) | $1 to $2 per drink or 15% to 20% of tab | Per drink or percentage | Self-service ordering |
Takeout order | 0% to 20% | Flat amount or percentage | Standard counter pickup |
Food delivery | 15% to 20% | Percentage or flat amount | Significant service issues |
Tipping on the road: How much to tip at hotels and while traveling
A bellhop carrying your bags. A housekeeper refreshing your room. A concierge making a recommendation. Travel involves a lot of people behind the scenes who help make your stay comfortable.
In general, hospitality tipping is a flat-rate rather than a percentage. The quality and frequency of service can help you determine the amount. And while it’s customary to give cash to housekeepers, bellhops, valets and concierges, you aren’t expected to open your wallet for front desk staff, maintenance workers or doormen.
Service | Standard tip range | Typical tipping method | Exceptions (when tipping is optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
Housekeeper | $1 to $5 per night | Cash | Limited-service hotels |
Bellhop | $1 to $2 per bag | Cash | Carrying a single small item |
Concierge | $5 to $20+ | Cash | Basic directions or simple questions |
Valet | $2 to $10 | Cash when vehicle is returned | Self-parking available |
Shuttle driver (hotel or airport) | $1 to $2 per person | Cash | No luggage assistance or special help |
Tipping drivers: How much to tip for rideshare and transportation services
From navigating traffic to helping with luggage, drivers often do more than simply get you from point A to point B. While rideshares have made in-app tipping easy, you might still wonder what’s expected when using transportation services.
For rideshares, taxis, private drivers and charter transportation, gratuity is usually determined by the service quality, trip time and distance and luggage assistance provided.
Service | Standard tip range | Typical tipping method | Exceptions (when tipping is optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
Rideshare driver | 10% to 20% | In-app tip | Very short rides |
Taxi driver | 15% to 20% | Percentage of fare | Significant service issues |
Private driver or limo driver | 15% to 20% | Percentage of fare | Gratuity already included |
Charter or tour driver | $5 to $20 per passenger | Cash or pooled tip | Gratuity already included |
Tipping at the spa: How much to tip for beauty and personal care services
It takes skill, time and personal attention to give a quality haircut, massage, manicure or facial. For these services, tips are typically expected and calculated as part of the total cost. But keep in mind, since independent business owners and specialty service providers set their own prices, gratuity may not be necessary.
Service | Standard tip range | Typical tipping method | Exceptions (when tipping is optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
Hairstylist | 15% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Barber | 15% to 25% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Hair colorist | 15% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Nail technician | 10% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Esthetician or facial service | 18% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Medical or dermatology settings |
Waxing service | 15% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Massage therapist | 15% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Medical massage settings |
Makeup artist | 15% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Contracted service includes gratuity |
Tattoo artist or piercer | 15% to 25% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Tipping for four-legged friends: How much to tip for pet care services
Our pets are family, which means the people who care for them often become some of the most trusted people in our lives. Tipping practices for pet care services are less standardized than restaurants, for example, but gratuity can be a way to recognize exceptional service, especially when special care, holiday coverage or last-minute requests are needed. Tipping expectations can also change as ongoing relationships are established.
Service | Standard tip range | Typical tipping method | Exceptions (when tipping is optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
Pet groomer | 15% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Rarely |
Pet sitter | 10% to 20% | Percentage of service cost | Ongoing contracted care |
Tipping on the home front: How much to tip for home services
Home service professionals often step in when you need an extra pair of hands. A flat-rate tip is customary for movers, house cleaners, junk removal crews and installers. For handymen like plumbers and HVAC technicians, tipping is generally considered optional.
Service | Standard tip range | Typical tipping method | Exceptions (when tipping is optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
Moving crew (movers and packers) | $20 to $50 per worker per day | Cash per worker | Company prohibits tips |
House cleaner | 10% to 20% | Cash or digital payment | Service fee already included |
Handyman or installer | $10 to $20 | Cash | Owner-operated businesses |
Auto detailer | 15% to 20% | Cash or digital payment | Self-service detailing |
Key tipping standards to remember If you’re still unsure about gratuity, follow these general rules of thumb:
Percentage-based tipping is common for restaurants, bars, salons and delivery services
Flat-dollar tips are usually for hotels, movers, valets and many hospitality workers
You don’t have to leave an additional tip on bills with service charges and automatic gratuity
You may want to tip above the standard range for exceptional service
When in doubt, 15% to 20% remains the most common tipping benchmark for service-based transactions in the U.S.
A little appreciation goes a long way Tipping may be less standardized than ever, but the goal remains the same: recognizing the time, effort and services someone provides. And remember, if you’re an Ally customer and ever need cash for your tip, visit one of our 75,000+ fee-free ATMs so you can tip with confidence.
