These days, as supply chain and staffing issues continue, as well as costs associated with the rapid reopening of the country’s economy, consumers everywhere are dismayed to see prices soaring in just about every sector of the market, including personal services.
So, if your hairdresser, massage therapist or your favorite coffee hangout is charging more for their services, does your tip need to increase incrementally?
The answer, according to consumer advisors and even consumers is, yes. While you are always free to adjust the amount of your tip depending on the quality of the service received, certain criteria still set the bar for customary tipping—and that means your tip will increase as prices rise.
For reference, here are some typical tipping percentages expected in today’s world.
- Restaurants – 15 to 20% of the bill is still the norm for average service by your wait person, including those of a sommelier. The average tip for a bartender is $1 per alcoholic drink.
- Barber/Hairdresser – It is advisable to tip 15 to 20% of the bill, even if your hairdresser is the owner of the shop.
- Spa Services or Manicure – A 15 to 20% tip is expected in most cases, but in the case of spa services, no tip is expected if the service is provided by the owner.
- Food Delivery – Tip 10% of the bill, more if the delivery was complex or difficult in some way. For pizza delivery, $2 per pizza is acceptable.
- Drivers – A taxi driver should be tipped about 15%, a bit more if they provide heavy baggage handling. For ride-hailing services, like Uber or Lyft, the basic rule is to tip about 20%. For short trips, a good rule of thumb is to tip between $2 and $4.
Tips are always optional in coffee shops or take-out places where there is a tip jar on the counter, but it’s nice to reward the barista or server who regularly makes your morning coffee stop more pleasant.
There is no need to tip a handyman who provides a single service, but gardeners or others who provide regular service should be tipped $20 to $50 once a year. For newspaper delivery people, think $10 to $20 at holiday time, perhaps more if they provide daily porch delivery.
