Restaurant Tipping: What's the Average Tip Percentage in 2026?

The average restaurant tip at Toast restaurants in the U.S. is 19.3% at full-service restaurants (FSRs) and 15.8% at quick-service restaurants (QSRs) as of Q1 2026. 

Tip percentages vary widely depending on service type, location, and how a guest pays, making it harder than ever to know what counts as a "normal" tip.

This data, drawn from card and digital transactions across Toast restaurants nationwide, breaks down exactly where tipping stands today: by service type, by state, and over time. Below is a snapshot of the key numbers, followed by a closer look at how tipping has shifted in recent years.

Note: All Toast tipping data reflects card and digital payment transactions only. Cash tips are not captured in this dataset.

Quick facts:

• The average tip at a full-service restaurant in the U.S. is 19.3% (Toast Q1 2026 data)

• The average tip at a quick-service restaurant in the U.S. is 15.8% (Toast Q1 2026 data)

• The average tip for takeout service at restaurants in the U.S. is 13.7% (Toast Q1 2026 data)

• Delaware tips the most (22.1% overall)

• California tips the least (17.3%)

How the average restaurant tip percentage has evolved

How restaurant tipping trended from 2025 - 2026

Full-service guests consistently tip several points higher than quick-service guests, a gap that Toast data has tracked for years.¹ Quick-service tips have been flat at 15.8% for six consecutive quarters.

Regional differences in restaurant tipping (2026)

Delaware tips the most (22.1% overall); California tips the least (17.3%). “Overall Tips” is calculated by taking the total amount of tips divided by Gross Processing Volume. It is not the average of QSR tips and FSR tips for the period.

Toast data reveals significant regional variations in restaurant tipping habits across the United States:

(Source: Toast Q1 2026 tipping data)

Dining method impacts tipping behavior

According to Toast survey data,² approximately 79% of respondents say they are willing to tip a server who visits their table. This stat highlights the enduring value of face-to-face interactions and attentive customer service. 

How customers receive their food clearly affects tipping patterns:

• Dine-in service: Highest tipping rates

• Takeout orders: Moderate tipping rates

• Delivery orders: Lower tipping rates than dine-in

This pattern suggests that the level of personal service and interaction directly correlates with tipping behavior in restaurant settings.

The economics behind restaurant tipping

The federal minimum wage for tipped restaurant employees remains $2.13 per hour, unchanged since 1991.

As hospitality professor Courtney Norris explained to Bankrate: 

"I think that percentage range has moved up, based on inflation and cost of living. [Waitstaff] wages haven't. $2.13 has been the sub-minimum wage since 1991. That tip amount has to increase to offset everything else going on in today's economy."

However, some states have different approaches. Toast Q3 2024 wage data shows significant variation:

• California: No distinction between tipped and non-tipped employees, minimum wage $16 per hour

• Washington, D.C.: As of July 1, 2026, the base minimum wage for tipped employees will increase to $10.30 per hour. However, if an employee’s hourly tip earnings (averaged weekly) added to the base minimum wage do not equal the District’s full minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference.

• Chicago: As of July 1, 2026, the base minimum wage is $12.96 for employers with 4 or more employees. If a tipped worker’s wages plus tips do not equal at least the full minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.

Current expert recommendations for restaurant tipping

Based on Pew Research analysis of more than three dozen tipping guides, current restaurant tipping guidance includes:

• Minimum acceptable tip: 15% for restaurant service

• Standard expectation: 20% for full-service restaurants

• Excellent service: 20-25% for exceptional dining experiences

• Quick-service: 10% is increasingly becoming the norm, though not required

Bankrate experts recommend at least 18% of the pretax bill for waitstaff at sit-down restaurants, with the amount varying based on service quality.

How much should you tip at a restaurant?

Based on current Toast data and expert recommendations:

Full-service restaurants:

• Standard service: 18-20%

• Good service: 20%

• Excellent service: 20-25%

• Poor service: 15% (minimum)

Quick-service restaurants:

• Optional but appreciated

• 15-16% average among those who choose to tip

• $1-2 for simple orders

Special situations:

• Large parties: Check if gratuity is automatically added

• Complicated orders: Consider tipping on the higher end

• Holiday dining: Consider seasonal generosity

• Discounts: Tip based on the original pre-discount total, not the discounted amount  

Restaurant industry perspective

The restaurant industry faces unique challenges regarding tipping. Toast research indicates that despite concerns about "tipflation," tipping percentages in restaurants have remained relatively stable over the past year, neither dramatically increasing nor decreasing.

Some restaurants have tested no-tipping models — raising menu prices and paying higher base wages. Most have returned to traditional tipping. The operational complexity and guest resistance proved harder to manage than the model itself.

Where restaurant tipping stands today

According to Toast's Q1 2026 data, the most recent available, full-service restaurant tipping is back up to 19.3%. For some states, like Delaware, the average full-service restaurant tip sits higher at 22.5%, and for others, like California, the average tip sits lower at 17.7%.  

Tipping percentages are stable. Digital payments have made the act of tipping more visible and more expected. For restaurant operators, that's the environment you're running in right now. 

Help your staff earn more with Toast Menu Upsells

While tip percentages have remained relatively steady, increasing the size of each check can translate into higher tip earnings for your staff. Toast IQ's Menu Upsells helps servers recommend complementary menu items and guides guests with real-time pairing suggestions during the ordering process. 

Restaurants using Menu Upsells see transactions that are, on average, more than 35% higher than checks at the same restaurant without an upsell.* Larger checks can mean larger tips, creating a better experience for both your team and your bottom line.

See how Toast Menu Upsells helps restaurants increase check sizes and boost staff earnings. Book a demo today. 

Frequently asked questions about restaurant tipping

What is a good tip at a restaurant? For full-service restaurants, 20% is the current standard for good service. For exceptional service, 20–25% is appropriate. (Source: Pew Research analysis of 30+ tipping guides)

How much should you tip at a sit-down restaurant? It’s recommended to tip about 20% at a sit-down restaurant. Toast data shows the actual average is 19.3% at full-service restaurants as of Q1 2026.

What is the minimum acceptable tip? 15% is widely cited as the minimum for restaurant service. Anything below that signals extreme dissatisfaction with the experience.

Do you have to tip at a quick-service restaurant? Technically no, but if you have an enjoyable experience, Toast data shows that the average QSR tip is 15.8%. 

How are overall tips calculated?

“Overall Tips” is calculated by taking the total amount of tips divided by Gross Processing Volume. It is not the average of QSR tips and FSR tips for the period.

Why have tip percentages increased over time? The federal tipped minimum wage has been $2.13/hour since 1991. As the cost of living has risen without a corresponding wage increase, tip percentages have moved up to compensate.

Do tipping rates include taxes or fees?

Tipping rates are gratuities added to the total processing volume, including taxes and fees.

This information is provided for general informational purposes only and is not indicative of Toast’s operational performance or reported financial metrics.

*Based on internal Toast data from 1/1/2026 - 3/17/2026 comparing in-store and kiosk checks over $5 with items with upsell prompts that converted and proceeded to payment to checks without such items, from customers with at least one upsell in the same period. Individual results will vary.

¹Data from applicable restaurants on the Toast platform where a tip was added to the order via a card or digital payment from Jan 1, 2018, to March 31, 2026. Cash tips are not included in the analysis.

²To better understand how restaurant guests feel about the current state of the restaurant industry, trends, and expectations, Toast polled 1,571 U.S.-based restaurant guests over the age of 18 from February 14, 2024, to February 21, 2024 who have dined in, ordered takeout, or ordered delivery in the previous three months. Respondents were not made aware that Toast was fielding the study. Panel providers granted incentives to restaurant respondents for participation. Using a standard margin of error calculation at a confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error on average is +/- 2%.