NYC Tipping Guide: Who to Tip (and How Much) in New York City
NYC Tipping Guide: Who to Tip (and How Much) in New York City
Your complete NYC tipping guide — restaurants, taxis, hotels, delivery, plus how to handle those awkward iPad screens.
Written by
Kattie
Updated:
Updated:
Tipping in New York can feel like a total mystery, especially if you're visiting and don't want to offend anyone — or accidentally tip half your budget away. Here's a simple, honest breakdown of what people actually do here.
🌭 Street Vendors
You don't need to tip street vendors. Most people just pay and go. If someone is extra friendly or puts effort into your order, dropping a dollar is a nice gesture — but totally optional.
🍔 Fast Food Spots
Shake Shack, Chipotle, McDonald's, all that — no tip required. The screen might ask you, but locals hit "no tip" all the time. Tip only if you really want to.
☕ Coffee Shops & Cafés
Places like Starbucks, Dunkin', or local cafés — the tip jar is there, but it's optional. Many locals throw in their change or round up to the next dollar. If someone made you a fancy latte with art, $1–$2 is nice.
The awkward screen situation: Yeah, the cashier will flip that iPad screen around asking for 18%, 20%, 25% on a $4 coffee. Don't panic. Most New Yorkers hit "no tip" or "custom" and throw in $1. You're literally just getting a drip coffee handed to you — you're not required to tip 20%. The suggested percentages are wild for coffee to-go. Do what feels right, not what the screen guilts you into.
🍽 Sit-Down Restaurants
This is where tipping definitely matters. A super easy trick locals use: double the tax and add a couple of bucks. In NYC, tax is about 8.875%, so doubling it gets you close to 18% — then round up to 20% if service was great. That usually puts you around 18–20%, which is perfect.
Most people tip on the pretax amount (the subtotal before tax is added). If service was truly bad, it's okay to tip less — but consider talking to a manager instead of just leaving nothing.
🍸 Bars
$1–$2 per drink is standard. If you're running a tab, tip 15–20% when you close out. Bartenders remember good tippers, especially if you're staying for multiple rounds.
🚕 Taxis & Ride-shares
Always tip here. For taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts, 20% is standard. The apps make it easy for ride-shares. Tip more if they help with luggage, wait for you, or navigate tricky traffic.
🚲 Pedicabs
20% is standard. If the pedicab driver gives you a mini tour, takes photos, or waits for you — go a little higher.
🧳 Bellhop / Hotel Staff
If someone helps with your bags, you tip them. A simple rule that works everywhere:
$2–$5 per bag. More if the bag is huge or they help with something extra.
🛎 Housekeeping, Doormen & Concierge
These folks always appreciate tips, and a small gesture goes a long way. A good move:
Tip a few dollars at the start of your stay so they keep an eye on you
Tip again at the end if they took care of you
Housekeeping: $3–$5 per night
Doormen/concierge: depends on what they help with
📦 Delivery Workers
For food or grocery delivery, most people leave $4–$8, depending on weather, time, and distance. If it's raining or freezing, tip more — they're out there so you don't have to be.
💇 Hair Salons / Barbers / Spas
15–20% is expected. If multiple people worked on you (shampoo person, stylist, massage therapist), tip each one separately.
🎭 Coat Check
$1–$2 per item when you pick it up (not when you drop it off).
🚽 Bathroom Attendants
If someone hands you a towel or keeps things stocked, $1–$2 is customary (though this is becoming less common in NYC).
💵 Cash vs. Card
Cash tips are always appreciated — they get the full amount immediately. But card tips work fine too, and most places make it easy to add them.
🧾 Quick Summary
🌭 Street vendors: optional
🍔 Fast food: no
☕ Coffee shops: optional, round up or $1–$2
🍽 Restaurants: double the tax (18–20%)
🍸 Bars: $1–$2 per drink or 15–20% on tab
🚕 Taxis/ride-shares: 20%
🚲 Pedicabs: 20%
🧳 Bellhop: $2–$5 per bag
🛎 Housekeeping: $3–$5 a night
📦 Delivery: $4–$8
💇 Salons/barbers/spas: 15–20%
🎭 Coat check: $1–$2 per item
🚽 Bathroom attendants: $1–$2
Tipping in New York can feel like a total mystery, especially if you're visiting and don't want to offend anyone — or accidentally tip half your budget away. Here's a simple, honest breakdown of what people actually do here.
🌭 Street Vendors
You don't need to tip street vendors. Most people just pay and go. If someone is extra friendly or puts effort into your order, dropping a dollar is a nice gesture — but totally optional.
🍔 Fast Food Spots
Shake Shack, Chipotle, McDonald's, all that — no tip required. The screen might ask you, but locals hit "no tip" all the time. Tip only if you really want to.
☕ Coffee Shops & Cafés
Places like Starbucks, Dunkin', or local cafés — the tip jar is there, but it's optional. Many locals throw in their change or round up to the next dollar. If someone made you a fancy latte with art, $1–$2 is nice.
The awkward screen situation: Yeah, the cashier will flip that iPad screen around asking for 18%, 20%, 25% on a $4 coffee. Don't panic. Most New Yorkers hit "no tip" or "custom" and throw in $1. You're literally just getting a drip coffee handed to you — you're not required to tip 20%. The suggested percentages are wild for coffee to-go. Do what feels right, not what the screen guilts you into.
🍽 Sit-Down Restaurants
This is where tipping definitely matters. A super easy trick locals use: double the tax and add a couple of bucks. In NYC, tax is about 8.875%, so doubling it gets you close to 18% — then round up to 20% if service was great. That usually puts you around 18–20%, which is perfect.
Most people tip on the pretax amount (the subtotal before tax is added). If service was truly bad, it's okay to tip less — but consider talking to a manager instead of just leaving nothing.
🍸 Bars
$1–$2 per drink is standard. If you're running a tab, tip 15–20% when you close out. Bartenders remember good tippers, especially if you're staying for multiple rounds.
🚕 Taxis & Ride-shares
Always tip here. For taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts, 20% is standard. The apps make it easy for ride-shares. Tip more if they help with luggage, wait for you, or navigate tricky traffic.
🚲 Pedicabs
20% is standard. If the pedicab driver gives you a mini tour, takes photos, or waits for you — go a little higher.
🧳 Bellhop / Hotel Staff
If someone helps with your bags, you tip them. A simple rule that works everywhere:
$2–$5 per bag. More if the bag is huge or they help with something extra.
🛎 Housekeeping, Doormen & Concierge
These folks always appreciate tips, and a small gesture goes a long way. A good move:
Tip a few dollars at the start of your stay so they keep an eye on you
Tip again at the end if they took care of you
Housekeeping: $3–$5 per night
Doormen/concierge: depends on what they help with
📦 Delivery Workers
For food or grocery delivery, most people leave $4–$8, depending on weather, time, and distance. If it's raining or freezing, tip more — they're out there so you don't have to be.
💇 Hair Salons / Barbers / Spas
15–20% is expected. If multiple people worked on you (shampoo person, stylist, massage therapist), tip each one separately.
🎭 Coat Check
$1–$2 per item when you pick it up (not when you drop it off).
🚽 Bathroom Attendants
If someone hands you a towel or keeps things stocked, $1–$2 is customary (though this is becoming less common in NYC).
💵 Cash vs. Card
Cash tips are always appreciated — they get the full amount immediately. But card tips work fine too, and most places make it easy to add them.
🧾 Quick Summary
🌭 Street vendors: optional
🍔 Fast food: no
☕ Coffee shops: optional, round up or $1–$2
🍽 Restaurants: double the tax (18–20%)
🍸 Bars: $1–$2 per drink or 15–20% on tab
🚕 Taxis/ride-shares: 20%
🚲 Pedicabs: 20%
🧳 Bellhop: $2–$5 per bag
🛎 Housekeeping: $3–$5 a night
📦 Delivery: $4–$8
💇 Salons/barbers/spas: 15–20%
🎭 Coat check: $1–$2 per item
🚽 Bathroom attendants: $1–$2
