Current:Home > FinanceAre Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers. -ValueCore
Are Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers.
View
Date:2025-04-13 19:51:14
A new poll shows that when it comes to tipping, many Americans are shortchanging their servers.
The Pew Research Center poll of 12,000 people, which came out on Thursday, shows that 57 percent of American diners tip 15% or less for a typical sit-down meal, "including 2% who say they wouldn’t leave any tip," Pew researchers wrote.
Only about 22 percent of people said they would leave a tip of 20% or more," Pew found.
Are we at a 'tipping' point?You're not imagining it. How and why businesses get you to tip more
What factors into how Americans are tipping?
The amount that people tip varies depending on their age, income, and other factors, the poll found.
Younger adults are slightly more likely to be more generous with their tips than their older counterparts, who tend to be more conservative with their wallets, the poll found.
For some, the location makes a big difference. At fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Sweetgreen, or quick stops at coffee shops, only about 25% of Americans say they will usually or frequently tip, according to Pew.
Time is money:Customers who don't tip DoorDash drivers will wait longer for deliveries, company warns
Americans are upset growing expectations to leave tips
Among concerns of those surveyed was frustration over expectations to leave tips in increasingly more situations outside of restaurants.
According to Pew, 72% of people said that tipping is now expected in more places than five years ago. Only about a third of respondents said they find it easy to determine when and how much to tip for different types of services, like food deliveries and pet sitters.
In hopes of taking out some of the guesswork and ensuring their staff get adequate tips, many bars and nightclubs now include gratuity in the bill, typically ranging from 18 to 25%.
"I'll look at the bill and see a 20 percent gratuity charge," Lawrence Edgerton of New York City told USA TODAY about some of his experiences getting drinks with co-workers.
"Like, how they even know I like the service?" said Edgerton, a membership coordinator at a private club. "In cases like this I don't add an extra tip."
Kaia Grey, a 24-year-old flight attendant in Washington, D.C., says it seems like service fees are the norm at bars, restaurants and lounges in the country's capital.
"I literally can't go anywhere in D.C., and it will be a service fee," she said. "I have to be mindful when ordering because the more I order, the higher the surprise fee is."
Feds investigating:Elections officials in multiple states get fentanyl-laced letters
When to tip?
It's a common practice for most Americans to leave a gratuity when dining at a restaurant, but there seems to be some uncertainty around tipping in other situations. Many people are unclear about when and how much to tip in situations such as hotel stays, haircuts, or rideshares.
“Even as Americans say they’re being asked to tip more often, relatively few have a great deal of confidence about when and how to do so,” Pew researchers said.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- Colombian president retracts claim 4 missing Indigenous children found alive in Amazon after plane crash
- 3 predictions for the future of space exploration — including your own trips
- Taylor Swift Gives Fans Permission to Fail During Bejeweled Appearance at 2023 iHeartRadio Awards
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Honey Boo Boo's Mama June Shannon Recalls Enduring Hard Times With Husband Justin Stroud
- You'll Be Crazy in Love With Beyoncé's New Collab With Balmain
- Gizelle Bryant Uses This Beauty Hack on Every Real Housewives Trip
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Bear attack suspected after fisherman vanishes, human head found near lake in Japan
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Prince Harry Returns to London for Court Case Against Tabloid Publisher
- Ulta 24-Hour Flash Sale: Take 50% Off Peter Thomas Roth, PÜR, BareMinerals, KVD Beauty, and More
- One Direction's Liam Payne says he's over 100 days sober: I feel amazing
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Make Easter Easier With 15 Top-Rated Kitchen Finds You Never Knew You Needed
- Small tsunami after massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake in South Pacific west of Fiji
- Vanessa Hudgens' Wedding Day Beauty Plans Are a Breath of Fresh Air
Recommendation
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
1.5 million apply for U.S. migrant sponsorship program with 30,000 monthly cap
30 years ago, one decision altered the course of our connected world
Reese Witherspoon’s Daughter Ava Phillippe Celebrated “Legendary” Mom 2 Days Before Divorce Announcement
Bodycam footage shows high
Paul Whelan, wrongfully detained in Russia, says he thinks the wheels are turning toward release
Ariana Madix Shares Thoughts on Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss After VPR Reunion
Heaven has a bathrobe-clad receptionist named Denise. She's helping TikTok grieve