In New York City, a tip is a discretionary payment from a customer to a worker for service; a wage-law tip credit is not a suggested amount for customers to leave. For 2026, the official sources establish NYC wage rates and rules for handling some fees, but they do not establish customary tip amounts for restaurants, rides, hotels, delivery, or personal services. To decide whether to add money, check the service you received and the wording on the menu, app, or receipt—especially when a service charge or delivery fee appears.
Who might you tip in New York City?
Consider tipping when an individual provides you with a service, such as serving a meal, preparing a drink, driving you, delivering an order, assisting with luggage, or providing a personal service. Whether and how much to leave depends on the setting, the work performed, and any clearly explained gratuity already included in the bill. A payment prompt is not proof that a particular amount is customary or that a fee has gone to the worker.
There is no verified current customary range for these service categories in the sources available for this guide. Rather than present unverified percentages or dollar amounts as New York City etiquette, use the establishment’s stated policy and the receipt details to make an informed choice.
When should you tip?
Usually, you make the decision when paying for the service—on the restaurant bill, ride or delivery checkout, or directly to the worker, depending on the setting. Before adding anything, look for a gratuity, service charge, delivery fee, or other charge and read its explanation. If it is unclear whether a charge is meant for the employee, ask the business before paying.
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New York State defines a tip or gratuity as money a customer gives an employee for service and says it may be paid in cash, by check, by credit card, or another form of payment. The state’s guidance also says that certain customer charges beyond listed goods or services may be presumed to be tips; how a particular charge is treated depends on the circumstances and applicable disclosure rules. New York State Department of Labor: Tips and Gratuities FAQ
How much should you tip?
No exact NYC customary percentage or dollar range is established here for dining, bars, taxis, hotels, delivery, or personal services. Do not treat the worker wage figures below as a guide to what you should leave: they describe employer wage obligations, not customer etiquette. If you need a precise customary range for a particular service, consult a current consumer etiquette source that addresses that service and location.
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Do you tip on the tax?
The official wage and fee sources cited here do not establish whether a customer should calculate a tip before or after tax. They therefore cannot support a universal NYC rule on tipping on the tax. If you choose to tip, follow the amount you consider appropriate for the service rather than assuming a tax-inclusive calculation is required by wage law.
Is a service charge or delivery fee the same as a tip?
Not automatically. A charge shown on a bill may be an employee gratuity, an administrative charge, or a delivery fee, and its label alone does not establish that the worker received it. New York State guidance sets disclosure requirements in certain contexts, including banquet, special-function, and package-administration charges. For delivery fees, an employer must tell customers when the fee is not a tip if the employer does not intend to give the entire fee to the delivery employee. The state FAQ explains tip and charge rules.
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- Restaurant
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- Dining
- Dinner
Before adding a discretionary tip, check the menu, checkout screen, or itemized receipt for an explanation of the charge. If it says a gratuity is included, avoid assuming you must add the same amount again; if it describes an administrative or delivery fee, do not assume that the fee was distributed to the employee.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What NYC wage rules say—and what they do not say
Effective January 1, 2026, the general minimum wage in New York City is $17.00 per hour. For some tipped workers, employers may count a permitted tip credit toward the applicable minimum wage, subject to eligibility requirements. Those rates concern the worker’s pay and the employer’s obligations; they are not recommended customer tip amounts. New York State Department of Labor: Minimum Wage and New York State Office of the Attorney General: Minimum Wage
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| NYC worker category | 2026 cash wage and possible tip credit | What the figures mean |
|---|---|---|
| General minimum wage | $17.00 per hour | NYC rate effective January 1, 2026. NYSDOL |
| Tipped food-service worker | $11.35 cash wage, plus a possible tip credit of up to $5.65 per hour | NYSDOL’s listed 2026 rates; the credit is subject to applicable conditions. NYSDOL |
| Tipped service employee | $14.15 cash wage, plus a possible tip credit of up to $2.85 per hour | NYSDOL’s listed 2026 rates; the credit is subject to applicable conditions. NYSDOL |
A tip credit is not automatic for every worker or every hour. New York State identifies limits involving non-tipped duties: for example, the state says a hospitality tip credit has limits when a worker spends more than two hours or 20 percent of a shift on non-tipped work. Tipped-worker overtime is calculated at one-and-one-half times the minimum wage rate, less the applicable tip credit. The rules depend on the worker’s circumstances; the existence of a tip prompt does not tell you whether an employer is eligible to claim a credit. NYSDOL minimum-wage guidance
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- Convenience and usability: This tip card for wallet not only adopts standard bank card dimensions for easy fitting into wallets or pockets, but also features a specially designed hanging hole for attachment to your keychain. Whether dining out or carrying it daily, the tip calculator card provides convenience wherever you go.
- No calculation required: The content on the tip card is meticulously arranged for simplicity and clarity, enabling you to quickly retrieve the necessary information based on your needs. The operation process is straightforward, significantly reducing the time spent calculating tips on your own and effectively avoiding embarrassment and misunderstandings caused by errors.
- Clear design: The tip calculator wallet card features a double-sided design, with amounts ranging from 1 to 50 on one side and 50 to 100 on the other, covering most daily expenses. The tip card offers two calculation percentages of 15% and 20% to suit different occasions. Each $5 increment is divided into segments, distinguished by different colors, making it easy to locate and identify amounts quickly.
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A quick receipt check
- Look for a gratuity or tip already included in the total.
- Read the explanation for any service charge, administrative charge, or delivery fee.
- If the explanation does not say whether the employee receives the charge, ask the business rather than guessing from its label.
- Decide separately whether you want to add a discretionary tip for the service you received.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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