How much do you tip a waiter/waitress for good service--percentage wise?

Question

FYI...waiters make $2.13/hr, and I'm pretty pleased with the results that I have gotten...please come eat at my restaurant! (I'm a good waiter---one complaint in 7 yrs--no lie) :o)
Gosh, I need to graduate from college already!!!

FYI...waiters make $2.13/hr, and I'm pretty pleased with the results that I have gotten...please come eat at my restaurant! (I'm a good waiter---one complaint in 7 yrs--no lie) :o)
Gosh, I need to graduate from college already!!!

Answer 1

For the absolute and final record- and this is coming from a 20 year in the business professional who has consulted, managed, waited, and bartended- the proper tipping percentages are as follows:

20% for good service in any establishment, and for most fine dining servers universally- more if you feel it has been deserved by the server going above, beyond, or making your experience particularly memorable in some way.

18% if the service was simply good.

15% is considered a minimum. It is reserved for lackluster, ho-hum service.

10% is when you've had a lousy experience. AND you should have a little chat with the manager.

Stiffing someone isn't acceptable- ever. Maybe a parent died, their kid got suspended from school, who knows! But they did wait on you, and you won't have to do dishes tonight.

And yes, my friends, you do tip the full amount on wine! Servers have to declare tips based on a percentage of their total sales, not tips, so if can afford to order the good bottle, you tip on it as well.

Hope I have been of service to you. No tip required.

Answer 2

Okay where are all these 15% tippers? I'd be happy if people even gave 10%. My daughter works at a Nationally famous restaurant that does not serve alcohol. She makes 2.35 a hour (after 2 years of service) Some nights she doesn't even bring home minimum wage (and she is a excellent waitress, if not the company would have fired her)

Some tipping hints besides a 15% tip
If you are at a table more then a hour, even if your bill is only 20.00 think about leaving a tip that will equal minimum wage (A waitress is given a set amount of tables, her case she usually gets 6, her goal of course is FAST, GOOD SERVICE, she wants you in and out)
Cup of coffee and you take up her table for a hour..see above.
Parents with young children, she understands you want to get away from the house/kitchen and don't want to do clean up. The mess a 2 year old can do with salt, sugar and pepper are unbelievable. She spends alot of time washing tables and chairs, mopping and sweeping floors..whats that worth to you?

Answer 3

I'm a waitress and I wouldn't expect a tip if i didn't give good service but if I do give great service than it doesn't matter the percentage. I've given amazing service to a table that only spent $20 and got tipped a $20. I've had tables spend over $500 and not tip at all. (tight arses!) But if the service is good anything less than $10 is quite offensive regardless of what they spend.
Cheers xx

Answer 4

20% they have to apy taxes on 10% so if you tip 10% they arent makin anything. Be nice and treat them right. Lets say ya have a $20 meal thats an extra $2. If you cant afford an extra $4 for good meal and service go to McDonalds. I'm not in that business but it makes me sick how some of the girls at the places I go get treated

Answer 5

Good service will always get in excess of 15%. Good looking and good service will get very good tip, 20-25% is not unusual. BUT ... bad service, bad attitude will get you 10% or less and a note written on the receipt that you service was bad thus the low tip. I'm tough on waiter/waitress.

Answer 6

I usually tip 10% if service was adequate and 15% if I recieved good service. Excellent service would be 20% (like attentive when the place is busy, etc...) I always tip eventhough I'm a poor college student :( I don't think that waitstaff get tipped enough or paid enough.

Answer 7

Bad Service - 15%-17%
Average/Good service - 17%-20%
Great Service - 20%+

Answer 8

like most said 15-20% some places include the service charge read the bill carefully, but sometimes this doesnt go to the waiters, in the UK if they include the charge you dont have to pay it if you dont like the service

Answer 9

I believe in most countries it 15% of what you paid for meal. However you are free to tip more or less depending on the service.
If you feel generous you could tip them more to show your appreciate for responsive and quick service.

Answer 10

Never below 15 and rarely over 20%. It's all about rounding.