Here's who's most and least likely to get tips in 2025
Is tipping at a tipping point?
Traditionally, 15 percent was an average tip, with 20 percent for excellent service. Now, the suggested tips on many restaurant bills include 22 percent, 25 percent and even 30 percent. As FOX News correspondent Jonathan Serrie reports, it's a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If there’s one thing Americans can agree on, it’s confusion about tipping.
While tipping is expected sometimes, it’s unclear in other situations. Do you tip the DoorDasher who picked up your food order and dropped it at your door? Do you tip the plumber on top of the bill they hand you? If so, how much? Is 20% generous or the new normal?
A new study is hoping to provide some clarity on this topic, revealing which services are tipped the most among Americans.
Bankrate conducted a study, surveying 2,277 U.S. adults between April 23-25, 2025 to learn more about tipping culture and views on tipping.
Larger percentage of people say they ‘always’ tip
By the numbers:
Since launching the survey in 2021, Bankrate reported a mostly steady decline in the percentage of Americans who said they "always" tipped for certain services each year. This year, however, the number of consistent tippers is balancing out, according to the data.
For five of the nine categories of service providers Bankrate surveyed, a larger percentage of people said they "always" tipped that category of provider.
Man selecting 20% tip while using hand held credit card scanner at restaurant, Queens, New York. (Credit: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The only categories to see declines this year were hair stylists/barbers (54%, down from 55%), coffee shop baristas (18%, down from 20%) and home services/repair people (9%, down from 10%).
What they're saying:
"While more Americans are complaining about tipping, the frequency of tipping is stabilizing after declining steadily in recent years," said Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman. "The high cost of living is a headwind, and many people resent all of the tip creep that has occurred in recent years, with us being asked for tips in previously unconventional settings."
Servers tipped most often
By the numbers:
Among the respondents who used each service, 70% of adults said they tipped servers. This was followed by hair stylists (54%) and food delivery people (52%).
What they're saying:
"Tipping is part of the American way of life – it’s not going away anytime soon, as much as we may grumble about it," Rossman continued.
Has tipping culture gotten out of control?
Dig deeper:
Forty-one percent of U.S. adults also said tipping culture has gotten out of control, which is up compared to last year at 35%.
Gen Zers (18-28) and millennials (29-44) actually tipped less frequently compared to Gen X (45-60) and boomers (61-79), according to Bankrate.
Bankrate’s data showed that older generations were more willing to tip, but they were also more likely to have negative attitudes about tipping.
RELATED: Tipping culture is "out of control," more Americans say in annual poll
Sixty-eight percent of boomers and 66% of Gen Xers had at least one negative view towards tipping, compared to 50% of millennials and 57% of Gen Zers.
When presented with the pre-entered tip screens at checkout, 2 in 5 Americans said they were annoyed with seeing it and a quarter said they tip less or not at all.
"Moreover, 27% of Gen Zers, 35% of millennials, 45% of Gen Xers and 44% of baby boomers say they are annoyed with pre-entered tip screens," according to Bankrate.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by Bankrate’s Annual Tipping Survey. Previous FOX Local reporting also contributed. This story was reported from Los Angeles.