While the standard tip in America for restaurants and bar tabs may be thought of as 20 percent, the actual tipping practices of customers varies across state lines.
A new report from LendingTree ranked which states, including Washington, D.C., had the best tippers, and some are home to Americans significantly more generous to waitstaff than others. New Hampshire, for instance, saw the highest percentage of its away-from-home food spending (16.07 percent) go toward tips.
Why It Matters
Tipping has become a controversial issue in the U.S., with some customers feeling pressured to pay tips plus mandatory service charges.
As costs of food and drinks rise with inflation, many Americans have reported “tipping fatigue,” even as payment systems often automatically add a tip.
In 2023, Americans spent about $78 billion on tips at restaurants and bars, according to LendingTree.
The map shows the states that had the best tippers, according to the new LendingTree report.
What To Know
The LendingTree report found that New Hampshire had the highest tipping rate, at 16.07 percent of spending on food purchased to be consumed away from home in the state.
Next up were Washington D.C., South Carolina, Minnesota, North Carolina and Maine, which all had tipping rates within the 8 percent and higher range for all away-from-home food purchases.
On the other hand, Utah, Mississippi and Idaho had the worst tippers, spending just 5.10 percent or less.
The report ranked the states based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2023 Economic Research Service National Food Expenditure Series. Specifically, it compared total spending on food away from home (including tax and tip) and total spending on food away from home (excluding tax and tip).
Tipping at full-service restaurants accounted for over 15 percent of dining expenditures, while this figure decreased to about 7 percent when factoring in other establishments, such as fast food eateries and bars, according to LendingTree.
Patrons sit outdoors at Talea Restaurant on April 1, 2023, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Patrons sit outdoors at Talea Restaurant on April 1, 2023, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images
While not exactly mandatory, tipping is widely expected, especially in the food service, hospitality and personal care industries. The federal minimum wage for tipped employees remains at $2.13 an hour, making tips a significant portion of service workers’ income.
Regional customs and dining preferences play a role in tipping habits, with states varying significantly in the share of dining expenditures allocated to tips.
“With tipping, we’ve also seen complaints, but you notice how nationally it’s on the rise, with some states with higher incomes leading the charge,” Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. “It speaks to Americans still wanting to financially commend great service, even if the practice seems to be sometimes overblown in our modern economy.”
A 2025 WalletHub survey found nearly nine in 10 Americans believe tipping culture is “out of control,” with many respondents expressing annoyance at the proliferation of tip prompts and feeling pressure to tip even in scenarios that have not traditionally warranted gratuity. Over half those surveyed admitted to tipping out of social obligation rather than for excellent service.
Rising living costs and consumer fatigue have also contributed to shifting attitudes, as automated tip suggestions and screens become a common sight in restaurants and coffee shops.
What People Are Saying
Beene also told Newsweek: “While ironically we continue to hear from many Americans online complaining about higher costs when dining out, the reality is the percentage of dollars being spent on going out to restaurants has been increasing in the years since the pandemic. Some of this may be due to grocery prices also taking a bump, so some customers may feel that grabbing a deal at restaurants and not having to prepare the food themselves is worth the extra money.”
What Happens Next
Taxation of tips has become a focal point in recent political debates. President Donald Trump is pushing to end federal taxes on tips, a proposal that has drawn support from labor unions and some industry groups, but also criticism from economists who warn it could disproportionately benefit only certain workers and result in lost federal revenue.
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