Here’s how much you should tip in these 12 situations, according to George Kamel

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Tipping is common practice in the United States, but many people are still unsure about whether or how much to tip in certain situations. According to a Pew Research Center survey, only about a third of Americans believe it is very or extremely easy to decide whether to tip – the rest are less confident. A straightforward, detailed guide would be incredibly helpful—especially since many tipped workers rely on those tips to make enough money.

Luckily, George Kamel recently outlined exactly that in a blog post for Ramsey Solutions. Kamel is one of the personal finance experts at Ramsey Solutions, Dave Ramsey’s financial advisory and education company. It describes how much you should tip in many common scenarios across different categories.

Try Kamel’s guidelines next time you don’t know how much to tip.

Restaurants

Eating out is a great way to enjoy a good meal without having to worry about the preparation and cleanup. However, menu prices may not reflect your total cost as tipping is often expected. Here’s how much Kamel says you should tip at different restaurants.

Sit-down restaurants

It is generally accepted that guests should tip their waiters after eating at a sit-down restaurant. About 92% of Americans say they always or often tip in this situation, more than any other category in the Pew Research survey.

Kamel wrote that you should tip your waiter or server at these restaurants between 15% and 20%, and even more if you are particularly happy with the service. Employers are only required to pay waiters a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, with the rest of their earnings coming from tips. Kamel emphasized that you should always tip, even if the service is poor.

Buffet restaurants

In a buffet restaurant you usually choose all the dishes and bring them back to the table yourself. However, waiters will likely clear your plates and refill your drinks. Kamel recommended tipping at least 10% to recognize the work these servers do for you. If you have good service, consider tipping more.

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Takeaway restaurant

Sometimes you don’t feel like eating at a restaurant, so you grab your food to eat from the comfort of your own home. In this scenario, there is no waiter waiting for you, so you don’t have to leave the same tip as if you were dining in.

Kamel pointed out that it is still nice to leave something behind for the workers. He suggested tipping them a few dollars to “show your appreciation” — but if it’s a large order, consider tipping a little more.

Fast food restaurants

How about going to a fast food restaurant like McDonald’s? Kamel argued that the quality of service you receive depends on whether and how much you tip. If a restaurant employee brings food to your table or clears your table for you, you might leave a few dollars behind.

However, Kamel does not believe this is necessary in this situation. He wrote: “Don’t feel obligated. In these fast and loose situations, it’s okay to skip tipping.”

Delivery

If you order food from a restaurant and have it delivered to your home, Kamel says you should “be sure to tip.” More than three-quarters of Americans agree and either always or often tip in this situation. Kamel’s tip is: “Be generous and give them 10 to 20%.”

Cafe

Kamel wrote that you don’t have to tip if you just pick up your morning coffee or tea from a local cafe. However, he suggested leaving your barista a dollar or two to say thank you if they provide particularly good service.

Travel

Between transportation, accommodation, and entertainment, traveling can be expensive. You should also factor tips into your budget. These are some situations that can arise while traveling that Kamel says require a tip.

Taxi driver

Your taxi driver will likely expect a tip to get you to your destination, but only 43% of Americans always tip in this situation. Kamel argued that if the trip was terrible and “you feared for your life during the trip,” there was no need to leave anything behind.

If you were happy with the ride, he suggested tipping 10 to 15%, with a small extra charge if the driver helped with your luggage.

Housekeeping

If you’re staying in a hotel or motel, you’ll likely have housekeeping services available to you. Kamel suggested tipping every day when using housekeeping, rather than a large tip at the end, as staff can change. He recommended tipping a few dollars at a budget hotel and more at nice hotels.

Foreign travel

Americans traveling abroad should keep in mind that tipping culture can vary greatly by country. In some places, such as Japan, it can be considered impolite to tip.

Kamel recommended researching your destination in advance to understand the tipping standards there.

Grocery delivery

Grocery delivery services are incredibly convenient, but will likely cost you a little more than the grocery shopping itself since you’ll have to tip your delivery person to compensate them. Kamel’s recommended rule of thumb is 15 to 20%, whether you’re using a gig service like Instacart or in-store delivery services like Walmart.

Home Services

If you hire someone to do work around your home, leaving a tip is a nice gesture. Here are Kamel’s tips for various services at home.

House cleaner

According to Cleango, around 10% of all U.S. households pay for professional home cleaning services. If you’re in this group, Kamel says you should tip your cleaners between 15 and 20%.

Moving company

Transporting all of your belongings is a major hassle, especially if they are large or unusual items. According to Kamel, if you hire professional movers who do an excellent job, you should tip $10 to $50 per mover. Determine your tip based on the attitude of the crew, the difficulty of the move, and the amount of your belongings.