Tip Calculator — 15% Tip

When 15% is the right call

Fifteen percent is the customary floor for ordinary, acceptable table service — the rate that says service was fine without being a reward for anything exceptional. It is also the figure many people fall back on for lighter situations: counter pickup, a quick coffee, or takeaway where full table service was not involved.

Because it is the smallest of the three customary rates, 15% is the easiest to estimate in your head — take 10% by moving the decimal one place, then add half of that again. This page pre-fills 15% so you can see that baseline tip on your bill before deciding whether the service warranted stepping up to 18% or 20%.

Questions

Is 15% still an acceptable tip?

For ordinary table service, 15% remains a customary baseline rather than a slight. Expectations have drifted upward — many diners now start at 18% to 20% for good service — but 15% still reads as a fair tip for service that met expectations without standing out.

When does 15% make the most sense?

For acceptable but unremarkable table service, and for lighter situations like counter pickup or takeaway where full table service was not provided. If the server was especially attentive or it was a sit-down occasion, many people step up to 18% or 20%.

More ways to use this calculator

Start with the main tip calculator or compare the other published scenarios.