(Nexstar) – Tipping has stirred quite the debate in the US recently. Whether at restaurants, cafes, or even airport kiosks, it seems there’s a constant push to tip.
A recent study reveals that Americans spent about $7.8 billion on tips for dining out in 2023. Interestingly, tips account for roughly 15% of the total spending in typical full-service restaurants.
It’s worth noting that even less traditional dining spots, such as McDonald’s and Chipotle, are also asking for tips now, though they represent just under 7% of total spending on takeout food and drinks.
In certain states, the tipping trend has notably risen. For instance, in New Hampshire, over 16% of the food expenses away from home are now tips, making it the highest in the nation, according to the study.
In Washington, D.C., the percentage hovers just below 13%, followed by South Carolina at about 11.17% and Minnesota at 10.11%.
Here are the top 10 states with the highest tipping percentages:
- New Hampshire – 16.07%
- Washington, D.C. – 12.65%
- South Carolina – 11.17%
- Minnesota – 10.11%
- North Carolina – 9.75%
- Washington – 9.51%
- Vermont – 9.31%
- Nebraska – 9.12%
- Rhode Island – 8.54%
- Maine – 8.18%
If you want a deeper look at these statistics, you can check Lendingtree’s website.
It seems that the trend of asking for tips is continuing to grow among American businesses, but many consumers aren’t too pleased about it.
A survey indicates that two-thirds of Americans express dissatisfaction with the tipping culture, with 41% considering tipping to be excessive. Additionally, 38% are frustrated with the frequently pre-selected tip amounts on screens.
