How much, when, to whom — and the moments where Brits get it most wrong. Tipping panic ends here.
The single rule: tip 20% on restaurant and bar bills. That's the default that solves 80% of NYC tipping situations. Anything below 18% reads as a complaint about the service. Anything above 25% is an enthusiastic "this was excellent."
The other rule: tipping is part of how American service workers are paid. Federal "tipped minimum wage" is just $2.13/hour — they live on tips. This isn't optional politeness; it's the system. Not tipping is genuinely rude here in a way that has no British equivalent.
| Service | Tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 20% | 15% acceptable but reads as complaint. 18% standard, 20% generous, 25% excellent |
| Bar — drink at counter | $1–$2 per drink | Or 20% on the round if higher |
| Bar — bottle service | 20% on bottle price | Often added automatically — check receipt |
| Coffee shop / takeaway | $1 or 10% | Optional; the iPad-screen tip prompts can be ignored for takeaway |
| Yellow cab | 15–20% | The card machine offers preset percentages — pick 18% or 20% |
| Uber/Lyft | 15% | Add via app after the ride |
| Hotel doorman | $1–$2 per cab hailed | $5 if they help with multiple bags or get you a tough booking |
| Hotel bellhop | $1–$2 per bag | Minimum $5 even for one bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2–$5 per night | Leave on pillow each morning, not all on departure |
| Hotel concierge | $5–$20 | For useful services — restaurant booking, theatre tickets |
| Tour guide | $10–$20 per person | End of tour |
| Hairdresser | 15–20% | Pay separately to the salon receipt |
| Massage / Spa | 15–20% | Pay direct to the therapist if possible |
Many UK travellers leave a £20 tip on the desk on departure day, thinking they've done the right thing. The problem: different cleaners rotate through your room over a multi-night stay. The Tuesday cleaner doesn't get the Sunday tip. Leave $2-$5 each morning on the pillow — that's the daily housekeeper getting their share.
Coffee shops, takeaways, and food trucks now ask for tips on the card terminal — usually offering 18%, 20%, 25% as buttons. For sit-down service, pick one. For takeaway counter service, you can hit "no tip" without guilt. The iPad asks because some businesses have decided to ask; it doesn't mean tipping is expected for every transaction.
NYC restaurants don't include sales tax (8.875%) in menu prices. A £30 menu item is £30 + £2.66 tax = £32.66 on the bill. Tip is calculated on the pre-tax total — most receipts now show "suggested tip" amounts in 18%/20%/25% with the calculation done for you.
Many NYC restaurants now add an automatic 18-20% service charge for groups of 6+ (or sometimes for all groups). When this appears, it's your tip — don't add another 20% on top. The line on the bill that says "tip" or "gratuity" should be left blank.
Sit at a bar, order tap water, sit for 20 minutes — no tip needed. But if you order food or alcohol while sitting at a bar, $1-$2 per drink. Free tap water is fine; ordering a Coke and not tipping isn't.
Tip in dollars. Pound sterling tips put the recipient through an FX exchange that costs them the tip's value. Carry a wad of US single dollar bills — they're called "singles" and you'll go through them faster than you expect.
Hotels have multiple tipping touchpoints. Here's the order of how they typically appear in a stay:
For a 4-night stay with two bags, expect to spend ~$30-$40 on hotel staff tips alone. Build it into your trip budget.
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