When dinning out is 10% proper tip or is it 15%?

Question

Now, I am also curious if full tip is required if the service was only so-so? I always try and tip 10% cause I am sure the waiters don't make much money anyways. Please don't answerer with "its not fair that waiters need tips cause they can't get paid minimum wage." I just want to know what is the proper tip.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Here's my rule of thumb:

Excellent service: 21-25% or more

Good service: 16-20%

So-so service: 8-15%

Bad service: 0-7%

Answer 2

15% is the minimum for tips. I usually give 20% is they're good. But waiters take it as an insult if they get less than 15.

Answer 3

It depends on what kind of service I get.  Usually I give 15.  20 if the service is exceptional.  10 and below if the waiter ignores me the entire dinner.  None, in very rare cases.

Answer 4

In the US, 10% was proper in the 80's.  The new proper minimum amount is 15%.

Answer 5

In my opinion, the tipping percentage should rise along with inflation and high gas prices.  15% is always the "proper" amount.  Personally, I usually tip 20% because the waiters' costs are rising so its kind of like a pay cut if I stay with 15%.  If I can not afford the 20%, I stay at home and serve myself.  

Answer 6

Cheap and insulting is 10%   We tip 20% and if service is exceptional 25%.

Answer 7

If it's only so-so then I'd say 10% but round up to the closest $5.

E.g. A $8 tip becomes a $10 one.

Answer 8

If the server didn't do anything wrong, tip at least 15%.  Do 20% or more if they did a good job.

Answer 9

I don't know if this came from Miss Manners or what, but supposedly "proper etiquette" is a baseline of 15% at a full-service restaurant and 10% at a serve-yourself buffet.  Of course, as many posters have said, it all depends on the service you receive.  If the service is OK, 15% is about right.  I usually tip 20% for good service and 25% for great service.  If I get bad service I tip 10%, and there have been times when the service was so bad that I didn't leave a tip at all (but that's very rare).  

P.S.:  If it takes a long time to get your food, that's not always the wait staff's fault.  Best way to tell is to check the food.  If it's warm or hot, it probably just came out, but if it's cool or cold it's probably been sitting a while, and that IS the wait staff's fault.

Answer 10

It really depends on local custom and the nature of the establishment. Here in London, it's typically ten per cent but some restaurants try to push it up to 12.5%, but when I have eaten out in cities in mainland Europe there has often been an expectation of 15%.

Really, the amount of social pressure to over tip is very unfair on diners; if the service has been excellent, then by all means tip more than the place's recommendation. If the service was poor then don't feel pressured into paying.

That said, it's worth watching the menu for specific instructions on tipping - some restaurants make the service charge compulsory for large groups.

Answer 11

Here in NJ, my husband and I give 10% if the service was so-so, 15% if it's good, and 20% if it's great.  Our average is between 15-20%.  We also make sure to give the tip directly to the waiter or waitress because sometimes the bus-boys snag it all.