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Is tipping at a tipping point?
Traditionally, 15 percent was an average tip, with 20 percent for excellent service. Now, the suggested tips on many restaurant bills include 22 percent, 25 percent and even 30 percent. As FOX News correspondent Jonathan Serrie reports, it's a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tipping in the United States has been a hot button topic for many years.
Overall, average restaurant tips in the U.S. in 2026 across all establishment types stood at about 18.8%, according to a recent analysis by Toast.
Here’s a look at which states tipped the most and the least.
Delaware tips the most
Big picture view:
Tipping percentages varied significantly depending on geographic location.
Delaware recorded the highest overall average tip percentage among states at 22.1% (with 22.5% for FSR and 18.8% for QSR), while California recorded the lowest overall average at 17.3% (17.7% for FSR and 14.8% for QSR).
FILE - Customer using Chowbus handheld checkout system and choosing tip, Queens, New York. (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Tipping in the US
By the numbers:
Tipping behavior remained relatively steady over the past two years, with full-service restaurant (FSR) tips averaging 19.3% and quick-service restaurant (QSR) tips averaging 15.8%.
Takeout transactions saw the lowest average tip percentage at 13.7%, reflecting a general tendency for diners to tip less when personal interaction and table service are reduced or absent.
A gap remained between restaurant types, as full-service dining consistently outpaced quick-service tipping by roughly 3.5 percentage points.
Regulars tipped more
Dig deeper:
While real-world diner behavior acted as a benchmark — typically 18–20% for full-service table service and 14–16% for quick-service orders — personal connection heavily influenced gratuity.
A survey highlighted in the data revealed that 77% of diners tip more at restaurants where they are regulars, with many adding an extra 5% to 15% or more on top of their standard tip.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from an analysis conducted by Toast, a restaurant point of sale and management system company. Data collected by Toast came from Toast platforms where a tip was added via credit card or some form of digital payment. Cash tips were not calculated in this analysis. This story was reported from San Jose.