How Much Should You Tip in Restaurants?

Deciding how much to tip in restaurants is dependent on a variety of factors, such as the friendliness, accuracy and attentiveness of the waitstaff. Tipping practices also vary from culture to culture and must be considered carefully so as not to offend or shortchange the waitstaff.

How much should you tip in restaurants? This depends on a multitude of factors. Examine the cultural norms for the restaurant location. When new to a country, investigate the culture beforehand to become familiar with tipping habits. In some countries, tipping in a restaurant is not customary. In other cultures, it is considered offensive to the waitstaff to tip them, as it is perceived their job is lowly and they need the money. 

Tipping percentages change with the times. Where an 18 percent tip may be customary in the United States at present, that rule will change as the years progress. It is also the case that 18 percent is a standard rate for great service, but less in a cafe where you order at a counter, and the tip is for delivering the food to your table and later cleaning.

Determining the exact tip amount depends on how satisfied you are with the service. If the waiter was prompt, friendly and accurately took your order, then a good tip is in order. In the United States, it is 15 percent. For excellent service, which might include frequent check-ins to ensure that you have all you need, the tip would be 20 percent of your entire meal.

When unpleased with the service, separate the actions of the wait staff from that of the management or the cook. If your waiter was rude or inattentive, a small or no tip may be appropriate. However, if the food was bad, that is not the waitstaff's fault, so it's best to leave a good tip to compensate for low wages.