Current:Home > reviewsAre Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers. -FundTrack
Are Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers.
View
Date:2025-04-18 22:55:00
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! (694)
Related
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Ranking
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Recommendation
Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Could your smelly farts help science?
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'