Question 1

How much should I tip at a restaurant?

Accepted Answer

In most US sit-down rooms, 18–20% of the pre-tax subtotal is the expected band for complete service. 15% still appears on older guides and at casual lunch. 25% is a thank-you, not a requirement. Counter service, fast casual, and buffets usually sit lower because less table work happened. If the check already includes a service charge, read it before you tap another percent.

Question 2

Do I tip on the pre-tax subtotal or the total after sales tax?

Accepted Answer

US restaurant habit is pre-tax. Sales tax is money for the state, not extra work for the server. If you only have a tax-inclusive total, use the post-tax toggle so the percent is honest, or subtract tax first. Tipping after tax quietly raises the rate by whatever your local sales tax is.

Question 3

What if the restaurant added auto-gratuity?

Accepted Answer

Large parties (often 6 or 8+) frequently get an 18% or 20% service charge printed on the check. That line is not a suggestion. Adding the terminal’s 20% button on top doubles it. Some rooms share auto-gratuity differently than voluntary tips. If service was extraordinary you can add more; if you are just splitting the printed number, do not stack.

Question 4

Should I tip on alcohol the same as food?

Accepted Answer

Yes in a standard full-service restaurant — the percent applies to the whole subtotal. At a bar, people often think in dollars per drink instead ($1–$2, more for cocktails). If a sommelier spent real time on a wine pairing, some tables tip a little more on that portion. There is no separate legal rate for drinks.

Question 5

Is the tip different for lunch vs dinner?

Accepted Answer

The math is the same. Lunch tickets are smaller, so a 20% tip can look tiny in dollars — that is why some people use a $4–$5 floor on a $16 sandwich plate. Dinner with more courses and more running usually sits at the 18–20% default. Bad service is a reason to go lower; a cheap menu is not, by itself.

Question 6

Do I tip if I used a coupon or the manager compsed an item?

Accepted Answer

Two common habits: tip on the pre-discount menu value when the house made a mistake you did not cause, or tip on what you actually paid when you brought the coupon. Pick one and apply it on purpose. This tool will multiply whichever number you type.

Question 7

What about takeout from the same restaurant?

Accepted Answer

Takeout is not the same job as table service. Many people leave nothing, a couple of dollars, or about 10% when someone packed a large or fussy order. Use the takeout page if that is the actual situation — restaurant 20% on a bag you carried yourself is a different question.

How Much to Tip at a Restaurant

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