Tipping guidelines for hair stylists, movers, servers, and more
Tipping is a normal — and often expected — part of today's service industries. But as a consumer, you may not always be sure who to tip or how much to tip, given the wide range of services for which a tip can be given. Tipping extends well beyond your local restaurant. Workers such as postal employees, electricians, babysitters, and dog groomers may all appreciate a tip.
This does not mean you are obligated to tip all of these workers. Then again, some people want to tip every individual they can. Too small a tip can be seen as rude, but overtipping has its drawbacks as well. The right tip gives the worker a sense of a job well done. A little tip etiquette will set you firmly on your feet with the service industry.
Here are some basic guidelines on tipping etiquette:
Tip for a job well done. There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to tipping. However, a basic rule of thumb is: if you are unsure whether tipping is appropriate for a service performed, go with your gut. Even if your neighbor does not tip the newspaper delivery person, if you think he does a great job, go ahead and include a tip with your payment.
Other service industry jobs that fall into a gray area include electricians, flooring installers, delivery persons, and movers. Many of these individuals go untipped simply because consumers do not know what to give them. Depending on the type of work and the quality of service, a gratuity of between $10 and $50 is appropriate.
Restaurant tipping. This is the most common situation in which to leave a tip. It is customary to leave a 15 to 20 percent tip for good restaurant service. Keep in mind that you should calculate the tip on the total bill before tax and before any coupons or discounts are applied. If you received poor service, it is appropriate to reflect your dissatisfaction by leaving a smaller tip.
Keep in mind, however, that your server may have been having a bad day or the kitchen may have been slow. It is not the server's fault if the chef overcooks your food, so consider all factors before leaving a reduced tip. If the service was truly unacceptable, it is best to speak quietly with a manager about the problem. Also, remember to check your bill — most high-end restaurants automatically add an 18 percent gratuity for larger parties, so the tip may already be included if you are dining with a large group.
Bars and coffee shops. Generally, if you receive good service, you should leave a tip of 10 to 15 percent of your total bill at a bar or coffee shop. If you are not running a tab, it is appropriate to leave your bartender a one-dollar tip per drink. The same guideline applies to coffee servers — tip 10 to 15 percent of the total bill, or one dollar per drink.
What about those ubiquitous tip jars on coffee shop counters? This is a matter of personal preference, but if you receive change, it is a nice gesture to toss it in the jar — provided, of course, that you received good service.
The holidays. November and December are the months when service industry workers receive the most tips. Hotel doormen, daycare workers, and even teachers often receive a monetary gift from satisfied customers.
Holiday tipping is a personal choice. If you do choose to give a little extra during the season, it is best to keep it simple. For those who provide consistently great service, a small gratuity of $20 is appropriate. Tipping more for services that are performed regularly or that are particularly labor-intensive is perfectly fine as well.
Beauty salons. This is another setting where tipping for services is customary. 
Salon and spa tipping should generally mirror restaurant tipping — a 15 to 20 percent gratuity for a hair stylist is appropriate. However, if you visit a high-end salon with a separate shampoo technician, it is customary to tip that person a few dollars as well. If several people assist you at the salon or spa, leave a separate tip for each one (the stylist, the masseuse, the manicurist, etc.).
Furniture delivery. This is a tricky area, as most people are unsure of the proper tipping etiquette for furniture deliveries. In general, a $10 tip per delivery person is appropriate for most furniture deliveries. Since you likely will not know ahead of time how many delivery people will come to your home, keep at least four $10 bills on hand. Tip a little more if the delivery crew goes the extra mile — for example, by setting up a bed or assembling a piece of furniture. If the delivery crew is unprofessional, you are not obligated to tip.
Flower delivery. What do you do if unexpected flowers arrive at your door and you have no cash on hand? Since flower delivery is usually a gift and therefore unexpected, tipping is not mandatory. However, if you have a few dollars available, it is appropriate to tip the delivery person a couple of dollars.
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Check out the tips in Travel Safety 101 and travel with confidence! |
Hotels. When staying at a hotel, it is customary to tip a number of employees for their services, especially at high-end properties. The doorman, the valet, and the bellman should each receive $1 to $3 for their assistance. For more involved services, such as those provided by the concierge, a tip of $10 to $20 is appropriate. Always remember to check your bill — the restaurant, salon, and other businesses within the hotel may already include an 18 percent gratuity. If that is the case, you do not need to leave an additional tip.
Taxis. Tipping is expected in this industry. Apply the 15 percent rule to taxi drivers as well, and leave a little more if the driver does something extra, such as helping with your bags.
Airports, trains, and buses. This is another area where customers often feel the need to tip for personal services. You are not expected to tip flight attendants, drivers, or pilots. However, other service workers should receive a tip. For example, a porter should receive $2 per piece of luggage, and anyone working in a bar or restaurant should receive a 15 to 20 percent tip.
A Couple of General Tips on Tips!
- How many in your party? More people means more work. Take the size of your party into consideration when calculating a tip. The larger the group, the more effort required from the server or worker, so be sure to tip accordingly.
- Quick tip calculating. Not great at math? Some people carry small calculators or tip charts to figure out how much to leave. You can also use this quick trick: if the bill is $42.00, calculate 10 percent ($4.20) and double it to get $8.40. That equals a 20 percent tip. For that bill, leaving $8 to $9 would be appropriate for really good service.
In general, the simplest tipping guide is to think about the service performed and how well it was done, then tip accordingly. With these tipping suggestions in hand, you can feel confident that you are leaving an appropriate gratuity no matter where you go.
How Much to Tip: Tipping Guide and Suggestions
Tipping guidelines for hair stylists, movers, servers, and more
Tipping is a normal — and often expected — part of today's service industries. But as a consumer, you may not always be sure who to tip or how much to tip, given the wide range of services for which a tip can be given. Tipping extends well beyond your local restaurant. Workers such as postal employees, electricians, babysitters, and dog groomers may all appreciate a tip.
This does not mean you are obligated to tip all of these workers. Then again, some people want to tip every individual they can. Too small a tip can be seen as rude, but overtipping has its drawbacks as well. The right tip gives the worker a sense of a job well done. A little tip etiquette will set you firmly on your feet with the service industry.
Here are some basic guidelines on tipping etiquette:
Tip for a job well done. There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to tipping. However, a basic rule of thumb is: if you are unsure whether tipping is appropriate for a service performed, go with your gut. Even if your neighbor does not tip the newspaper delivery person, if you think he does a great job, go ahead and include a tip with your payment.
Other service industry jobs that fall into a gray area include electricians, flooring installers, delivery persons, and movers. Many of these individuals go untipped simply because consumers do not know what to give them. Depending on the type of work and the quality of service, a gratuity of between $10 and $50 is appropriate.
Restaurant tipping. This is the most common situation in which to leave a tip. It is customary to leave a 15 to 20 percent tip for good restaurant service. Keep in mind that you should calculate the tip on the total bill before tax and before any coupons or discounts are applied. If you received poor service, it is appropriate to reflect your dissatisfaction by leaving a smaller tip.
Keep in mind, however, that your server may have been having a bad day or the kitchen may have been slow. It is not the server's fault if the chef overcooks your food, so consider all factors before leaving a reduced tip. If the service was truly unacceptable, it is best to speak quietly with a manager about the problem. Also, remember to check your bill — most high-end restaurants automatically add an 18 percent gratuity for larger parties, so the tip may already be included if you are dining with a large group.
Bars and coffee shops. Generally, if you receive good service, you should leave a tip of 10 to 15 percent of your total bill at a bar or coffee shop. If you are not running a tab, it is appropriate to leave your bartender a one-dollar tip per drink. The same guideline applies to coffee servers — tip 10 to 15 percent of the total bill, or one dollar per drink.
What about those ubiquitous tip jars on coffee shop counters? This is a matter of personal preference, but if you receive change, it is a nice gesture to toss it in the jar — provided, of course, that you received good service.
The holidays. November and December are the months when service industry workers receive the most tips. Hotel doormen, daycare workers, and even teachers often receive a monetary gift from satisfied customers.
Holiday tipping is a personal choice. If you do choose to give a little extra during the season, it is best to keep it simple. For those who provide consistently great service, a small gratuity of $20 is appropriate. Tipping more for services that are performed regularly or that are particularly labor-intensive is perfectly fine as well.
Beauty salons. This is another setting where tipping for services is customary. Salon and spa tipping should generally mirror restaurant tipping — a 15 to 20 percent gratuity for a hair stylist is appropriate. However, if you visit a high-end salon with a separate shampoo technician, it is customary to tip that person a few dollars as well. If several people assist you at the salon or spa, leave a separate tip for each one (the stylist, the masseuse, the manicurist, etc.).
Furniture delivery. This is a tricky area, as most people are unsure of the proper tipping etiquette for furniture deliveries. In general, a $10 tip per delivery person is appropriate for most furniture deliveries. Since you likely will not know ahead of time how many delivery people will come to your home, keep at least four $10 bills on hand. Tip a little more if the delivery crew goes the extra mile — for example, by setting up a bed or assembling a piece of furniture. If the delivery crew is unprofessional, you are not obligated to tip.
Flower delivery. What do you do if unexpected flowers arrive at your door and you have no cash on hand? Since flower delivery is usually a gift and therefore unexpected, tipping is not mandatory. However, if you have a few dollars available, it is appropriate to tip the delivery person a couple of dollars.
Sponsored Link
Check out the tips in Travel Safety 101 and travel with confidence! |
Hotels. When staying at a hotel, it is customary to tip a number of employees for their services, especially at high-end properties. The doorman, the valet, and the bellman should each receive $1 to $3 for their assistance. For more involved services, such as those provided by the concierge, a tip of $10 to $20 is appropriate. Always remember to check your bill — the restaurant, salon, and other businesses within the hotel may already include an 18 percent gratuity. If that is the case, you do not need to leave an additional tip.
Taxis. Tipping is expected in this industry. Apply the 15 percent rule to taxi drivers as well, and leave a little more if the driver does something extra, such as helping with your bags.
Airports, trains, and buses. This is another area where customers often feel the need to tip for personal services. You are not expected to tip flight attendants, drivers, or pilots. However, other service workers should receive a tip. For example, a porter should receive $2 per piece of luggage, and anyone working in a bar or restaurant should receive a 15 to 20 percent tip.
A Couple of General Tips on Tips!
- How many in your party? More people means more work. Take the size of your party into consideration when calculating a tip. The larger the group, the more effort required from the server or worker, so be sure to tip accordingly.
- Quick tip calculating. Not great at math? Some people carry small calculators or tip charts to figure out how much to leave. You can also use this quick trick: if the bill is $42.00, calculate 10 percent ($4.20) and double it to get $8.40. That equals a 20 percent tip. For that bill, leaving $8 to $9 would be appropriate for really good service.
In general, the simplest tipping guide is to think about the service performed and how well it was done, then tip accordingly. With these tipping suggestions in hand, you can feel confident that you are leaving an appropriate gratuity no matter where you go.
How Much to Tip: Tipping Guide and Suggestions
By Howtodotips
Tipping guidelines for hair stylists, movers, servers, and more