What to tip in New York?
Asked by: Libby Strosin | Last update: August 27, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (46 votes)
Tipping in New York City in restaurants & bars Plan to tip around 10-15% in New York City restaurants.
What should you tip in New York?
Waitstaff in restaurants: 15–20 percent of the total bill (the higher end has become more of the norm). This is the one place where you really must tip; unless you've had awful service, staff may look askance at anything less than 15 percent.
Is it rude not to tip in New York?
No it is not mandatory to tip anywhere although some places might have something on their menu that says X% gratuity will be added to the bill.
What is the tip rule in NY?
The basics of tip laws in New York
Any money a customer leaves voluntarily above the ticket price (including tax) is a tip or gratuity. Tips belong to the employee, not the employer, and employers can't take any part of employee tips, with one exception: employers can take a percentage of tips for a valid tip pool.
Do you tip cab drivers in New York?
If you use a taxi or Uber in New York, paying a sufficient tip is very important, because for most taxi or Uber drivers the tip is sacred. And if you don't tip or tip the driver too little, you can get into a lot of trouble. The standard tip percentage for taxi or Uber drivers in New York is between 20% and 30%.
Rules for Tipping in New York City
Should I tip Uber in NYC?
The company's official policy is that tipping is optional, but etiquette experts say you should always tip your Uber, Lyft or other ride-share driver. This is because an Uber is not a taxi (though taxi drivers should still get tips; more on that below).
Do you need cash for a NYC taxi?
When you take a cab, you can pay with cash, credit card, or a payment app on your phone, like Apple Pay. NYC cab drivers are required to accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express credit cards and MasterCard and Visa debit cards with no minimum fare requirement.
Do you need cash for tips in New York?
If you are unsure, you can always ask the staff. You are almost always expected to tip in cash.
What is the 80 20 rule in NYC?
Employers in New York State must follow the 80/20 rule, which prevents employers from using tip credits to satisfy New York minimum wage requirements if the employee spends more than two hours, or 20% of a shift, doing non-tipped work.
What is the 80 20 30 rule?
The rule required employers to pay tipped workers the full minimum wage for all time spent providing “directly supporting work” — which means side work like cleaning and setting tables — that exceed 20% of their hours in the workweek and when tipped workers performed directly supporting work for more than 30 ...
Do you have to tip in Mcdonalds New York?
You don't need to tip at McDonald's, Subway, or any other place where you order at a counter and receive your purchase there. Some places with counter service will have tip jars, but contributing to them is completely optional.
How to pay in New York?
Credit cards are accepted everywhere. In New York (and in the rest of the US) people that use credit cards are more common than those that use cash. In many ways, it is comparable to using a debit card. Debit cards will work at ATMs and you can pay more and more with them in restaurants and stores in New York as well.
What happens if you don't tip in America?
In America, tipping is optional in name only.
Legally it's voluntary but if you slink out of a restaurant without leaving a gratuity of between 20 and 25 per cent, you're likely to be chased by a waiter demanding to know why.
Do you tip at Starbucks NYC?
Remember, there's a human behind the counter. While kindness in the form of a tip is not free, the small token can reap dividends for baristas. "While tipping at Starbucks isn't mandatory, it remains a powerful way to show appreciation for the hard work and personalized service baristas provide," Stavridis says.
How much to tip an Uber driver?
In restaurants, for example, they often recommend tipping percentages at the bottom of your receipt or on the payment screen. You can use a similar approach when tipping your Uber driver: Aim for 10 to 20 percent of the total fare. So, if your ride costs $30, a tip of around $3 to $6 would typically be appropriate.
What is gratuity vs tip?
"Gratuity" is defined in the Labor Code as a tip, gratuity, or money that has been paid or given to or left for an employee by a patron of a business over and above the actual amount due for services rendered or for goods, food, drink, articles sold or served to patrons.
What is the 1 in 3 rule in NYC?
What is the 1-in-3 rule? three highest scoring people still on an eligible list. An Agency may consider all three candidates, and can select any one of them, even the third-highest scorer (the “1-in-3” Rule).
What is the 72 hour rule NYC?
Employers must give 72 hours' advance notice of an employee's work schedule. Employers must not request “on-call” shifts or “call-in” shifts from employees within 72 hours' of the start of the shift. Employers must not add shifts to an employee with less than 72 hours' notice without the employee's consent.
What is the 70 40 rule in NY?
By way of background, in 2021 New York enacted a law requiring nursing facilities to spend at least 70% of revenue on resident-facing care and 40% on direct care staff.
Is it illegal to be cashless in NYC?
Stores must accept cash unless they have a machine to convert cash to a prepaid card. They cannot charge more for paying in cash.
Do you tip taxi drivers in NYC?
In New York City, tipping your taxi driver is customary and appreciated as a gesture of thanks for good service. A tip of 20% of the fare is standard, though you may choose to tip more for exceptional service or convenience.
Should I carry cash in New York?
Cash is widely accepted in NYC, including at local businesses and for transportation. Carrying cash provides a tangible and controlled way to manage spending. ATMs are plentiful in NYC for easy access to cash when needed. Cash is essential for tipping culture and at events that operate on a cash-only basis.
Is NYC taxi cheaper than Uber?
NYC taxis are generally cheaper than Uber. Taxi apps like Arro don't impose surge pricing, while Uber does. You can call a Taxi in NYC by using the Curb or Arro apps. You can also hail a ride on the street and then use the Arro app to pay for it.
Do you tip cab drivers?
Transportation Tipping
Cab driver: 15 percent to 20 percent tip of the fare. (Find out ahead of time if your cabbie accepts a credit card. If he or she doesn't, make sure you have enough cash for both fare and tip.)
How do you pay for a cab in New York City?
Yes, drivers accept credit/debit cards for all fares; there are no minimums or fees to use your credit/debit card. Do I have to sign the receipt? Customers only need to sign the receipt when the total is $25.00 and over.