Guide for Bartenders Indicates 20% as the New Normal Tip, According to Experts

How Much Should You Tip Your Bartender?

When you’re at a bar and order a drink, there’s that moment when the bartender passes you a tablet displaying suggested tip amounts—often 18%, 20%, or 25%, along with an option for something custom. This situation raises a familiar question: how much should you actually tip your bartender?

Recently, bartenders have noted a decline in tips, which seems to stem from differing attitudes among generations. Younger patrons, especially from Gen Z, are reportedly leaving smaller tips or skipping them altogether. This shift has left many bartenders feeling frustrated and underappreciated.

Derek Brown, an established bartender and hospitality expert in Washington, D.C., has a straightforward viewpoint on tipping. “The standard is around 20%,” he stated, emphasizing its significance.

Similarly, Jonathan Hall, a bar manager in Austin, Texas, pointed out that tipping trends have generally increased over recent years, with the norm climbing from 15% to 18%, and now settling comfortably at 20%.

Toast, a company specializing in restaurant management software, suggests that bartenders should receive tips based on percentages for regular drink orders. Yet, they remind tip-givers that there’s no universal answer. They recommend tipping around $1 to $2 for every drink ordered, which includes beer, wine, and mixed drinks.

For pricier cocktails or an entire tab, Toast suggests tipping between 15% to 20%. While many bartenders expect 20% as the standard, they don’t anticipate it on simpler drinks like bottles or cans.

Toast highlights a minimum tip of $1, stressing that it’s a small token of appreciation for a bartender’s efforts.

When you order more complex cocktails that take extra skill—think mojitos or old fashioneds—it might be thoughtful to tip even more. Factors that can influence your tip include the service quality, the time of day, and your rapport with the bartender.

On particularly busy nights or during happy hour, it might be wise to increase your tip to recognize the bartender’s hard work.

Regular patrons who maintain good relationships with their bartenders often find that tipping well helps to foster those connections. Monica Barber from South Florida strives to tip well, but admits her tipping decisions can fluctuate based on the service she receives. “I usually aim for 20% if the service is excellent, but I might adjust that if it isn’t,” she said.

Seattle local Josh Ruff has his own method, tipping a dollar for each drink and possibly adding an extra dollar at the end of his visit. “If there’s a good interaction, I might go up to $2 per drink,” he shared.

Emerging guidelines indicate that it’s permissible to tip less when faced with rudeness or poor service. However, it’s worth considering that factors beyond the bartender’s control, like a busy night, might be influencing the service quality.

In settings like self-service bars, tipping isn’t obligatory since customers handle their own drinks. That said, leaving a tip for staff who assist in cleaning or other services can be a nice gesture. Likewise, large groups or special occasions often include tips in the final bill, making additional tips unnecessary.