Expert: Danielle Ryan
Company: PARLOUR Pizza
Phone: (502) 267-1188
Website: PARLOUR Pizza
Published on July 11th, 2025
Tipping, leaving extra money for someone who gives you a service, is still common in 2025, but people are starting to talk more about whether it’s fair or if it should change.
In the U.S., tipping is still expected in many places, like restaurants, hair salons, and ride-sharing apps. Most people tip between 18% and 25% at restaurants. But now, you might see tip screens at the coffee shops or even grocery stores. This makes some people feel uncomfortable, and it’s called “tip fatigue.”
Some business have tried to combat this through-
- Raising menu prices to pay their staff a fair wage
- Using technology to prompt a certain tip percentage
People are starting to ask new questions: Instead of “how much should I tip?” more people are asking, “should we even be tipping at all?”
What You Can Do as a Customer:
- Be informed. Know which workers rely on tips to make a living wage. In restaurants, for example, servers are often paid below minimum wage and depend on tips to close the gap.
- Trust your judgment. If you’re prompted to tip at a counter or store where there’s minimal service, it’s okay to skip the tip—or to leave a small one if you feel the service was especially helpful.
- Budget accordingly. When dining out or using services where tipping is expected, plan for that cost ahead of time.
Tipping is changing, and in 2025, we’re all trying to figure out what’s fair. As customers, we can stay informed, tip fairly where it matters, and support long-term changes that lead to a more equitable system—for everyone.
