If you think tipping is weird now \u2014 and you feel like you\u2019re being asked to add a gratuity to every single purchase or service \u2014 then you\u2019re not alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tipping fatigue is real, with two in three Americans (66%) surveyed in a recent Bankrate report admitting that they\u2019re feeling less gracious about gratuities these days. And almost one-third (30%) of those surveyed say that tipping has \u201cgotten out of control\u201d \u2014 particularly with the rise of touchscreen-tipping and payment apps suggesting preset gratuity amounts of 30% or more. Another one in three survey respondents say they get \u201cannoyed\u201d when encountering these tip screens at coffee shops, retailers and self-checkout kiosks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even MarketWatch\u2019s financial etiquette expert, The Moneyist, has been inundated with readers complaining that tipping is \u201cnot a gratuity anymore, it\u2019s become another tax.\u201d One reader wrote about being asked to tip 15% when making a charitable donation, for example.<\/p>\n
The Moneyist:<\/strong> \u2018Tipping culture is out of control\u2019: I was asked to tip 15% when I made a donation to charity. When will this madness end?<\/p>\n \u201cThere is pressure with tipping,\u201d agrees modern manners and etiquette expert Diane Gottsman. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to look cheap. We want to be fair, but we don\u2019t want to be taken advantage of.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n To be sure, tipping has always been a source of anxiety (or annoyance) for people. Daniel Post Senning, the great-great grandson of etiquette icon Emily Post, tells MarketWatch that his family has been offering gratuity guidance for five generations now. But Senning notes that three things have shaken up tipping culture over the past few years, which has fueled much of the recent frustration, including:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think, with those three things coming together \u2026 there is genuine frustration around tipping, and understandable confusion, or even a feeling of pressure that people resist against,\u201d says Senning.\u00a0<\/p>\n But one thing hasn\u2019t changed: In many cases, tipping is still optional. (There are a few exceptions, which we\u2019ll get to below.) For example, Gottsman was recently buying a souvenir T-shirt at a restaurant, and was prompted to leave a tip. \u201cI thought to myself, \u2018Gosh, do I tip on a T-shirt?\u2019\u201d she said. And the answer was: \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n The good news is that while we have ever more options and opportunities to tip now, \u201cwe also have the option to say \u2018no\u2019 when necessary,\u201d Gottsman says. \u201cWe just need some knowledge.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \n \u201c<\/span>Tipping touch screens are really just modern-day tip jars. That means you don\u2019t have to feel pressured to give a 20% to 30% tip to the person who simply handed you your coffee.\u00a0\u201d<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n And that includes tipping touch screens, which are really just modern-day tip jars. \u201cThe tip jar was always discretionary,\u201d Gottsman says. \u201cSo think of the payment app or tip screen as the same thing as dropping change in the tip jar.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n That means you don\u2019t have to feel pressured to give a 20% to 30% tip to the person who simply handed you your coffee, unless you genuinely want to do so (or maybe you\u2019re a regular customer at this cafe.) \u201cThey are being paid at least minimum wage,\u201d Gottsman says. So if you want to leave a dollar, leave one. If you don\u2019t want to tip, just look up, smile, and say \u201cthank you\u201d on your way out.\u00a0<\/p>\n And in fact, there are several services which never get a tip, period:\u00a0<\/p>\n The general rule here is that you don\u2019t tip professional or health services, like teachers, lawyers, doctors or nurses. And government workers and U.S. Postal Service employees don\u2019t get tips either. In fact, it\u2019s against the law to give postal employees cash tips or equivalents like checks and gift cards. So, some jobs and services that you do not<\/em> tip on include:\u00a0<\/p>\n Why? Because there are ethical concerns for most of these. \u201cIt could come across as a bribe,\u201d Gottsman says.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, you\u2019re not required to tip a retail cashier \u2014 even though it might feel awkward when they turn that tipping screen toward you, and they\u2019re watching you decide whether to tip or not. \u201cIf it\u2019s a retail product and they didn\u2019t deliver it to you, someone just handed it over, feel free to hit \u2018no tip,\u2019\u201d Gottsman says, adding, \u201cThe counter rep is getting paid an hourly wage.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n And you certainly don\u2019t need to tip on a self-checkout kiosk.\u00a0<\/p>\n So MarketWatch spoke with etiquette experts to come up with a comprehensive 2023 tipping guide that updates the rules on traditional tipping \u2014 like restaurant waitstaff and bartenders, barbers and hairdressers, or hotel housekeepers \u2014 as well as modern-day digital dilemmas like online delivery a la DoorDash and Grubhub, ride-shares like Uber and Lyft, plus the touch screen tipping that has sprung up seemingly everywhere. And Gottsman helped us separate these services into categories, including: dining services, travel and transportation, plus salons and spas.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a cheat sheet: <\/p>\n And here\u2019s a more in-depth breakdown:<\/p>\n Sit-Down Restaurant Service:<\/strong> 15% to 20% pretax \u2014 and this is not optional, except in the extreme situation where the service was truly terrible. \u201cIf you\u2019re not going to tip, it means there was an issue that was big enough that you really want to be talking to a manager or an owner,\u201d Senning says. \u201cYou\u2019re essentially saying, \u2018I refuse to pay full price for this meal.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Restroom Attendant:<\/strong> $1 to $5 per service, such as if they sew a hem or give you an emergency personal item. If they do nothing at all, you may smile and be gracious without a tip.<\/p>\n Valet: <\/strong>$3 to $10 once the car is returned to you (a tip is not part of the valet fee.) \u201cIt\u2019s not about paying the valet not to mess with your car,\u201d Senning says. \u201cIn fact, you\u2019re supposed to tip after<\/em> you get the car back for just that reason.\u201d <\/p>\n Buffet Service:<\/strong> 10% pretax<\/p>\n Carry Out\/To-Go Order:<\/strong> Tipping is optional, or 10% to 20%, depending on the complexity of the order, or for curbside service.<\/p>\n Food<\/strong> Delivery:<\/strong> 10% to 15% of the bill, or $2 to $5 for pizza delivery, depending on the size of the order and the difficulty of delivery, such as inclement weather.\u00a0<\/p>\n Drive-Through:<\/strong> You don\u2019t have to tip, Gottsman says, but you can leave a little something if you want to.\u00a0<\/p>\n Coffee Shop:<\/strong> Tipping is optional for counter workers and cashiers, Gottsman says \u2014 but she recommends using the custom tip button to leave $1 or more, or you can opt for the tip jar.<\/p>\n Self-Serve Food\/Ice Cream\/Yogurt Bar:<\/strong> Tipping is optional \u2014 but 5% to 10% if you do decide to leave a little extra.\u00a0<\/p>\n Food Truck:<\/strong> 15% to 20% \u2014 Gottsman says that, \u201cThe workers are hot, working hard and making everything while you wait.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Bartender:<\/strong> Minimum of a dollar per drink ($1 for beer, $2 for each cocktail) if paying by the drink, or 15% to 20% of the total when running a tab.<\/p>\n Tipping Jars:<\/strong> Optional, but it\u2019s nice to drop in extra change or a dollar or so, depending on the quality of the service provided, or if you\u2019re a regular customer.<\/p>\n Grocery Store:<\/strong> You don\u2019t have to tip, and Gottsman notes many stores offering curbside pick-up don\u2019t allow tips.<\/p>\n Airport Curbside Concierge<\/strong> (checks you in and takes your bag at the airport curb): Each airline has its own suggestions, which will be displayed at the counter. If not, $3 for the first bag, and $2 for each additional bag.<\/p>\n Airport Wheelchair Service\/Special Assistance: $3 to $5<\/p>\n Doorman<\/strong>: A friendly greeting is always appropriate, or $2 to $4 for services like hailing a cab, helping with luggage, offering an umbrella or other polite services.<\/p>\n Bellhop: <\/strong>$2 to $5 for one bag, $1 to $2 for each additional bag. If requesting an extra robe, luggage rack, ice, etc., add an additional $2 to $3.<\/p>\n Hotel Housekeeper: <\/strong>$2 to $5 each day \u2014 and do not wait until the end of your stay to tip all at once, since different housekeepers could be tending the room on different days. And leave the tip with a note that says, \u201cFor Housekeeping. Thank you\u201d so it\u2019s clear this is a tip.<\/p>\n Concierge: <\/strong>There\u2019s no obligation to tip if they\u2019re just answering simple questions. But for securing reservations, theater tickets or something similar, give $10 and up for hard-to-get seats or tickets.<\/p>\n Courtesy Shuttle Driver:<\/strong> $2 to $5<\/p>\n Rental Car Shuttle Driver:<\/strong> $1 to $2 per bag<\/p>\n Taxi\/Uber\/Lyft Driver:<\/strong> 15% to 20% of the fare<\/p>\n Roadside Assistance\/Towing Services: <\/strong>$10 to $20<\/p>\n Barber\/Hair Salon:<\/strong> 15% to 20%, and ask for it to be split among those who served you \u2013 like the person who washed your hair, the person who cut your hair, etc.<\/p>\n Manicurist:<\/strong> 15% to 20%<\/p>\n Massage: <\/strong>15% to 20% of the full cost of the service. Gottsman says that if you use a coupon, you should tip on the full price, not the discounted fee.\u00a0<\/p>\n Facial, waxing, eyebrow service or lash extensions: <\/strong>15% to 20% of the full cost of the service \u2014 again, not the discounted fee if you have a coupon.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tattoo Artist: <\/strong>15% to 20%<\/p>\n Pet Groomer:<\/strong> 15% to 20%\u00a0<\/p>\n Movers:<\/strong> $20 to $30 per person for a relatively short, uncomplicated move (like from one small apartment to another), and it\u2019s also nice to offer up some water or a sports drink. For larger or more complicated moves, like a full-day move between big houses with tons of stairs, Gottsman suggests maybe $50 to $100 per person, although \u201c$100 per mover is generous.\u201d<\/p>\n A final word:<\/strong> <\/p>\n Tipping is supposed to make both the giver and the recipient feel good. \u201cThe root of the word \u2018gratuity\u2019 is the same as the root of the word \u2018gratitude.\u2019 Ultimately, this an expression of thanks, of generosity, of appreciation,\u201d says Senning. \u201cPart of what is meant to feel so good about a tip is that it\u2019s optional; you choose to give something extra, and when you choose to exercise that, it\u2019s a special thing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n And let\u2019s say that you have under (or over) tipped in the past \u2014 don\u2019t sweat it. Now you\u2019re armed with the information to better decide how much you want to tip moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no tipping police or authorities, no one who will come after you,\u2019 Senning adds. \u201cTipping is really meant to come from a spirit of generosity and a moment of appreciation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n More about tipping on MarketWatch:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
NO-TIP<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE WORKERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION<\/strong><\/h2>\n
BARBER SHOP\/SALON\/SPA WORKERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
AND DON\u2019T FORGET\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n