Current:Home > MarketsAre Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers. -FundSphere
Are Americans tipping enough? New poll shows that many are short-changing servers.
View
Date:2025-04-27 18:16:22
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! (7)
Related
- Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
- Milwaukee schools superintendent resigns amid potential loss of millions in funding
- Why Miley Cyrus Can't Stop Working Out In Heels
- This morning's parade of planets proved underwhelming. NASA gave a date for an even better and brighter one.
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Biden rolls out migration order that aims to shut down asylum requests, after months of anticipation
- Women’s College World Series Oklahoma vs. Florida: How to watch softball semifinal game
- Florida won't light bridges in rainbow colors. So Jacksonville's LGBTQ community did.
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Conservative University of Wisconsin regent resigns after initially refusing to step down
Ranking
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Hunter Biden’s federal firearms case is opening after the jury is chosen
- Biden rolls out migration order that aims to shut down asylum requests, after months of anticipation
- Prosecutors ask judge to deny George Santos’ bid to have some fraud charges dropped
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- USWNT's Korbin Albert booed upon entering match vs. South Korea
- RFK Jr. sues Nevada’s top election official over ballot access as he scrambles to join debate stage
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Starter Home
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
'Just incredible': Neck chain blocks bullet, saves man's life in Colorado, police say
Spotify hikes price of memberships as it seeks to drive profits
Should you buy Nvidia before the 10-for-1 stock split?
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Travis Kelce's Pal Weighs in on Potential Taylor Swift Wedding
Rebel Wilson Slams Nonsense Idea That Only Gay Actors Should Play Gay Roles
74-year-old Nebraska woman pronounced dead, found to be alive, breathing at funeral home