Most workers in New York’s service industry earn minimum wage or slightly above it. They make a large portion of their income through tips. This encourages New Yorkers in the service industry to provide better service.
This tipping guide for NYC teaches the tipping etiquette in the City That Never Sleeps.
How Much Should You Tip in New York City?
It depends on who you’re tipping. Generally, tipping in New York City aligns with the national average, which is 15–20% of the total bill.
While tipping 15–20% of the total bill is considered standard, it’s up to you to put a price on the quality of the service you’ve received. Although 15–20% is standard, you can tip a custom amount.
A few other things you should take into consideration when tipping are the type of establishment you’re in and the order size. Having said that, let’s take a look at the tipping etiquette for a few different positions.
How Much Should You Tip Waiters/Servers in New York City?
Unless you’ve received extremely poor service, you should always tip Waiters between 15–20% of the total bill.
Lately, 20% has become the norm, especially in higher-end establishments in NYC.
You can also round up the number if it’s a few dollars off from a whole number. So, for example, if a dinner for two costs $80, a 20% tip would make the bill $96. If you received good service, you can round up the amount you’ll pay to $100.
In some establishments, especially in tourist-heavy areas or for large parties, a gratuity may be automatically included in the bill. This is often labeled as a “service charge.”
It’s important to review your bill carefully to determine if this charge is included to avoid double tipping. If a service charge is included, additional tipping is not necessary unless you feel the service was exceptional.
Appropriate Amount to Tip Bartenders in New York City
You should tip Bartenders in New York at least $1 to $2 per drink. You can also round up the number. So if your drink is $7, you can round it up with a $10 bill.
Of course, you can be more gracious with your tip if they provide you with personalized service, like a custom cocktail or garnish to make your cocktail more “Instagrammable”.
Some Bartenders, such as flair Bartenders, do more than mix and serve drinks. They also provide a form of entertainment, so it’s customary to tip them a higher amount. Similarly, if you’re in a cocktail bar where Bartenders are the ones providing the focal service, consider giving an additional tip.
As for larger groups with an open tab, it’s best to tip Bartenders the usual 15–20% after you get the bill.
Should You Tip a Host/Hostess in New York City?
In most cases, you won’t be tipping a Host or Hostess in a restaurant or bar. Hosts/Hostesses typically get a portion from a tip pool with other front-of-house staff members.
However, if you have a special request, such as getting a table with a good view, you should definitely hand a tip to your Host/Hostess to increase your chances of being accommodated.
How much you tip is up to you, but most people tip in the $5–$10 range. In high-end establishments, you may even want to up the tip to $20.
Sommelier Tipping Etiquette in New York City
The job of a Sommelier is to recommend wine and food pairings in upscale restaurants. While tipping them is considered optional, they can be instrumental in your overall dining experience.
In that case, you should consider tipping them $10 to $20 directly, or include the tip in the total bill.
Tipping Hotel Staff in New York City
When staying at a hotel in NYC, it’s customary to tip various staff members who assist you during your stay:
- Bellhops/Porters: Tip $1–$2 per bag for assistance with your luggage.
- Doormen: If they hail a cab or assist with your luggage, tipping $1–$2 is appropriate.
- Concierge: For special services or reservations, consider tipping $5–$20, depending on the complexity of the request.
- Housekeeping: Leave a tip of $2–$5 per day, preferably each morning, to ensure the person cleaning your room receives it.
How Much to Tip Valets in New York?
The appropriate amount to tip Valets is between $3 to $5. You can tip them before or after the service. Most people tip after.
If you think the Valet provided an exceptional service, consider tipping $10. The same applies if the Valet works in a high-end establishment or if you drive an expensive car.
General Tipping Tips for New York City
While you now probably have a general idea about how much you should tip different service personnel, here are a few best practices that you should follow:
- Most service workers prefer cash tips, so consider having $1, $2 and $5 bills on hand.
- Some restaurants and bars include gratuity (or service charge) in your total bill. Gratuity is usually applicable to large groups, depending on the establishment’s policy. That said, check your bill carefully to avoid double-tipping.
- Tip the pre-tax amount. There’s no need to tip on taxes.
- At coffee shops or your fast-casual lunch spot, you can leave $1–$2 for your coffee or takeout in the tip jar. You can also opt not to tip if all they did was hand you the order over the food counter. At the end of the day, tipping is voluntary.
How Much Should You Tip Other Service Industry Workers in NYC?
Tipping Hotel Concierge and Housekeeping in New York City
You don’t have to tip a hotel Concierge unless they’re going above and beyond to meet your specific needs, like a last-minute room change. In that case, you should tip between $5–$10 at least.
For housekeeping, however, you should always tip $5 a day. You can consider a higher amount if they’re being accommodating towards your specific requirements.
Tipping Taxi and Rideshare Drivers in New York City
When using transportation services in NYC, tipping is a standard practice:
- Rideshare Drivers (e.g., Uber, Lyft): Similar to taxi services, tipping 15–20% of the total cost is appropriate. Most rideshare apps offer in-app tipping options, but cash tips are also appreciated.
- Taxi Drivers: It’s customary to tip 15–20% of the fare. If the driver assists with luggage or provides exceptional service, consider tipping on the higher end of the scale.
Tipping Food Delivery Workers in New York City
Under the new Delivery Law, delivery workers in NYC now make at least $19.56 per hour. This is a considerable increase from the previous $11 an hour.
That being said, tipping in New York for delivery services is not mandatory, but still recommended. You can round it up to the nearest higher amount, give $5 or tip a percentage of what your delivery is worth.
Tipping Tour Guides in New York
Tour guides are tipped just like other service workers. If you really enjoyed their services, you should go for a 15–20% tip. Otherwise, you can tip less or not tip at all.
Read our tipping guide for Magic City article to learn how much to tip in Miami.
NYC Tipping FAQs
In New York City, it’s customary to tip waitstaff between 15% and 25% of the total bill, depending on the quality of service. This practice is standard across the United States, where tips represent a significant portion of income for many service employees.
A standard tip for bartenders in New York City is $1 per drink ordered, increasing to $2 in more upscale establishments.
For hotel staff in NYC, it’s customary to tip bellhops $1 to $2 per bag, housekeeping $2 to $5 per day and doormen $1 for hailing a cab.
For spa and salon services in New York City, a 15% to 20% tip is customary, rewarding quality service.
Yes, tipping tour guides in NYC is customary. For local tours, a tip of $2 to $5 per person is appropriate, while for day trips, consider tipping 15% to 20% of the ticket price.
For coat check services in New York City, a $1 tip is appropriate when retrieving your belongings.
While tipping is customary in many service situations in NYC, it’s not necessary for counter service at fast-food restaurants or coffee shops where no table service is provided.
