The American Public and Tipping

This story was orginally published on ssrs.com The Center of Excellence and Innovations

Findings from the SSRS Opinion Panel, A Nationally Representative Probability-based Panel of U.S. Adults

A new SSRS Opinion Panel poll finds that the average tip U.S. adults report leaving when paying the bill at a restaurant, assuming the food and service were average, is 16% of the bill.

These findings are part of an SSRS Opinion Panel poll conducted September 9 – 23, 2024, among a nationally representative sample of 3,364 adults aged 18 and older.

How Much U.S. Adults Leave as a Tip at Restaurants

The two most common percentages adults leave as a tip are 20% of the bill (reported by 37%) and 15% of the bill (reported by 24%).

One in four U.S. adults (25%) report leaving a tip of less than 15% of the bill, while 43% report tipping at 20% or more.

Not surprisingly, the size of the average tip is larger for those with higher incomes and smaller for those with lower incomes. More than half (55%) of adults with household incomes of $75,000 a year or more report tipping 20% or more, while 10% tip less than 15%. In contrast, 43% of those with incomes under $50,000 report tipping under 15%, while 28% tip 20% or more of the bill.

Tipping When Picking Up Take-Out Food

The SSRS poll also finds that half of adults (50%) report leaving a tip when picking up take-out from a restaurant always (18%) or sometimes (32%). About the same proportion (49%) report they rarely (25%) or never (24%) leave a tip.

Perhaps surprisingly, the reported frequency of leaving a tip for take-out does not differ significantly by household income.

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