A tip (gratuity) supplements wages for service workers. In the US, tipping is customary and often expected as servers earn a lower base wage ($2.13/hr federal tipped minimum).
Standard Tip Ranges (US)
- 15%: Adequate service
- 18–20%: Good service (most common)
- 25%+: Excellent / above-and-beyond service
- 10% or less: Poor service (still typically expected)
Quick Math
For 20%: Move the decimal point one place left (= 10%), then double it. Bill = $47.50 → 10% = $4.75 → 20% = $9.50.