Tipping in America 2025: Why More People Say They’re Tipping — But Fewer Know When It’s Expected

If tipping was once limited to sit-down restaurants, today it has become an expected default in 2025. The ever-present use of digital checkout screens has merged tipping prompts into nearly every quick-service counter and takeout window, fundamentally changing the entire landscape. According to the Lending Tree, average tip at full-service restaurants through card and digital tips is 19.4% nationally. The culture of tipping has proliferated; even limited-service establishments, which initially didn't bank on gratuity, now see an average tip of 15.8%. In Delaware, the combined average stands out at 22.1% while California sits at 17.3%. 

The tipping culture isn’t just a concerning issue; it's made Americans feel cornered. As per the 2025 guide on U.S. tipping by Radical storage, 15-20% is now the standard tip for restaurants, and the same numbers are applicable to services from Taxis, food delivery, Spa and hair facilities.  The uneasiness continues to grow 59% of U.S. adults have at least one negative opinion about tipping, and 35% believe that tipping culture is spiraling out of control.  

Moreover, Americans aren't just questioning how to tip; they now reject the notion of having a tip forced onto them. OysterLink’s state-by-state report shows that a strong 72% of U.S. adults oppose automatic service charges included in their restaurant bills. The numbers reveal the resistance towards tipping, which was an optional and voluntary act, and now it’s increasingly being normalized as a mandatory fee. A sharp variation in tipping continues to cut across the country: West Virginia averages 20.5%, and Kentucky follows close behind at 20.3% while Indiana and New Hampshire sit at the same average of 20.4%. Meanwhile, in the lower ends, states like Washington and Nevada sit at 17.8% and 18.1% respectively, showing how widely the norms on tipping diverge based on the region.  

This pushback has shown that the tipping system is no longer a culture based on gratitude but on choice and control. When restaurants or third-party apps pedal a default tip screen or automated gratuities, customers feel their liberty of choice is stripped away. For businesses and workers, this calls for caution; if consumers continue to oppose automatic charges, it could pressure operators to revert to voluntary tipping or risk losing customers altogether.