Tipping Study: Service, Sentiment, and Tipping Behavior in the U.S.
This national study of 2,022 U.S. respondents explores how Americans think about tipping today, how often they tip across different service settings, and how the COVID-19 period continues to shape present-day tipping behavior.
The findings show that tipping remains deeply embedded in U.S. consumer culture, but attitudes are increasingly mixed. While many still see tipping as a way to reward service and show appreciation, others increasingly feel the system has become confusing or excessive.
Key Findings
- 48% say tipping is a great way to promote better service and show appreciation
- 22% say tipping is not a fair system to reward employees
- 13% say tipping often feels uncomfortable or awkward
- 10% believe tipping culture has gotten out of hand
- 8% prefer automatic service charges instead of tipping
- 35% say their tipping has not changed since COVID-19
- 32% say their tipping increased and stayed higher
- 24% say tipping increased during COVID but later returned to previous levels
- 10% say their tipping has decreased since the pandemic
One of the clearest findings is that Americans strongly differentiate between service environments. Full-service restaurants maintain the strongest tipping expectations, while takeout and self-service environments show more variation and uncertainty.
What We Set Out to Learn
This study was designed to understand how consumers approach tipping across multiple service scenarios and whether social and economic shifts have influenced tipping behavior.
- Understand consumer sentiment toward tipping
- Measure tipping behavior across service types
- Evaluate how COVID-19 influenced tipping habits
- Identify where tipping expectations are strongest and weakest
Study Overview
Sample Size: n=2,022. Geography: United States. Audience: U.S. adults including targeted recent concertgoers. Dates in field: August 22, 2023. Mode: Online Survey.
For what services do you typically tip?
Consumer tipping habits remain tied to traditional service settings, with full-service dining establishing the absolute baseline for tipping expectations across the country.
Which of the following services have you recently tipped for?
Recent transaction history indicates that while sit-down dining leads active tipping, food delivery and personal care services maintain strong secondary positions in everyday consumer spending.
On a scale of 1-5 (5 tipping the most you can afford) please rate your overall tipping behavior within the last year?
Self-reported tipping intensity reveals a balanced distribution, with the majority of consumers rating their tipping habits as moderate to high relative to their household budget constraints.
Which services do you tip the most frequently?
Frequency data confirms that sit-down restaurants generate the most consistent tipping behavior, whereas counter-service and coffee shop gratuities occur far more sporadically.
Overall, what percentage do you usually tip?
Average percentage norms stay firmly centered around the 15% to 20% mark for traditional service, but drop sharply when transactions shift toward takeout or self-checkout terminals.
What is the least likely service that you would tip?
Automated kiosks, drive-thrus, and basic takeout orders register the highest levels of consumer pushback, highlighting the precise boundary lines of current tipping fatigue.
