# When is tipping not 12%? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2005, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906 "2005-11-20T09:12:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/1 "2005-11-20T09:12:37Z")
Okay, obviously if the job wasn’t good, but… 😉 Waiters- 12%. Barbers- 12%, right? Yeah. Cabbies? I’m no NYC guy, so my cab rides are few and… almost never between, so this is not an issue, but I had one tonight (car repair). Same deal? Yeah, I know, the things in NYC are ‘taxis’- whatever. Do you usually tip them? Just out of curiousity, or in case I ever visit. Let’s name other situations; please, no hooker jokes. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/2 "2005-11-20T09:13:58Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > Okay, obviously if the job wasn’t good, but… 😉 > … > please, no hooker jokes. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/3 "2005-11-20T09:15:03Z")
I thought it was always 15%? ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/4 "2005-11-20T09:18:21Z")
BTW, **Mods** , I’M NOT ASKING FOR OPINION ON THIS ONE. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PREVALENT SOCIAL CUSTOM OF THE AMERICAN IS. NO OPINION, JUST WHAT THE CUSTOM IS. I mean, if someone asked a GQ about ‘In your country, what is considered to be ruder:…’, you wouldn’t move it to IMHO. Just asking about customs, not opinions. Factual. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/5 "2005-11-20T09:21:07Z")
When you live in a place where sales tax is 8.75%, tipping is definitely not 12%. :smack: It can be 15%; or if it’s a small bill and/or you don’t care, you can just double the tax. It’s been a while since I was in a cab, but I’ve never had a set number like 12%. It’s more like “around ten percent, or up to the next five dollars, or if it’s been a short ride, round up to the next dollar and just fork over a couple of singles.” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/6 "2005-11-20T09:26:16Z")
FWIW, this thread is the first time I’ve ever heard the 12% figure; it’s been 15% as long as I’ve been tipping. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/7 "2005-11-20T09:34:32Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > When you live in a place where sales tax is 8.75%, tipping is definitely not 12%. :smack: It can be 15%; or if it’s a small bill and/or you don’t care, you can just double the tax. That’s crazy. Why does a waitress get a lower tip % if she lives in a low sales tax state??? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/8 "2005-11-20T09:45:43Z")
> [@rfgdxm](#): > > That’s crazy. Why does a waitress get a lower tip % if she lives in a low sales tax state??? It’s not being based on the tax rate. If you’d normally tip 15% and the sales tax is 7 or 8% it’s easier to just double the sales tax, giving you a tip amount that’s close to 15%. If the tax was 5% you’d triple it! ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/9 "2005-11-20T09:59:12Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > FWIW, this thread is the first time I’ve ever heard the 12% figure; it’s been 15% as long as I’ve been tipping. Reservoir Dogs, opening scene- actor says 12 %. I’m not crazy… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/10 "2005-11-20T10:06:30Z")
This is the first I’ve heard of 12%. Always thought the custom was base 15%, a little higher in major urban areas. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/11 "2005-11-20T11:00:37Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > Reservoir Dogs, opening scene- actor says 12 %. > > I’m not crazy… 😃 Not crazy, but cheap. 🙂 The standard for waiters is 15% although in New York, 20% is closer to the norm. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/12 "2005-11-20T11:21:16Z")
When I’m in Australia then it is nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/13 "2005-11-20T11:50:02Z")
I would expect you give me at least 40% for the time of day so were your watch. For directions to the Park a straight fee of $30 is warranted. You had better tip a minimun of 50% at a pizzaria, and no less then 70% to hold the spit. For more than one alcoholic beverage an hour cough up a 100% tip, but never less than $50 a night. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/14 "2005-11-20T12:18:18Z")
> [@John\_Stamos'\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Not crazy, but cheap. 🙂 > > The standard for waiters is 15% although in New York, 20% is closer to the norm. I’m young, and I’m here to learn; ‘cheap’ is unfair a term :dubious:… ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/15 "2005-11-20T12:50:04Z")
The custom in the States for wait staff is 15 percent and has been for as long as I can remember. I usually leave 20, but 15 is the custom. For other professions it varies. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/16 "2005-11-20T13:03:28Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > When you live in a place where sales tax is 8.75%, tipping is definitely not 12%. :smack: It can be 15%; or if it’s a small bill and/or you don’t care, you can just double the tax. How is tipping related to the sales tax? Are tips taxed? ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/17 "2005-11-20T13:04:26Z")
Anyone know various US state sales tax rates? I do know in MI 12% by customs is an “OK” rate. No server will be infuriated with that. Also, where I live (Lansing) is far from any state borders. People so rarely travel out of state they get confused with “calculating twice the tax rate.” Makes me wonder how waiters in New Hampshire get by? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/18 "2005-11-20T14:20:02Z")
15% - 25% for servers ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/19 "2005-11-20T14:26:27Z")
All of this ‘double the tax rate’ and ‘confused by the tax rate’ stuff just baffles me. How damn hard can it be to figure 15% of something. Take 10% and add half again. Have we really sunk that low math-wise? As for me? 15% is what I tip. But I do include performance incentives. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906/20 "2005-11-20T14:53:26Z")
OP - you have a lot of us scratching out heads. 15% is the normal mimimum tip for service workers like waiters and has been for a long time. 20% is the norm for above average service and many use it as their usual minimum. 10% is a slight for crappy service. 0% should be given for service that approaches bad. None of this has changed in the last decade or more and I have never heard of anything in the 12% range. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-tipping-not-12/331906.md?page=2)