If You Live in This State, You’re Probably a Terrible Tipper, Sorry Not Sorry
You might feel good about leaving a 20% tip after dinner, but the reality isn’t that simple. Where you live can reveal a lot about your tipping habits, and in some of the country’s wealthiest ZIP codes, generosity tends to fall short. Here are 15 places where diners consistently leave less than expected.
California
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California diners leave the smallest tips in the country, averaging just 15.2% at full-service restaurants. High living costs and automatic service fees may be part of the reason. Many people also feel that rising menu prices already cover fair pay for servers, so they don’t see the need to add much extra.
New York
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New Yorkers leave an average tip of 15.6%, lower than many might expect given the city’s steep dining costs. Automatic service fees and constant dining out have fueled “tip fatigue,” and in fast-paced restaurants with quick table turnover, individual tips often end up smaller than at slower, traditional spots.
New Jersey
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New Jersey diners tend to tip less despite higher household incomes. With many meals coming from takeout or casual spots where tipping is minimal, the state’s average hovers around 15.5%—well below the 20% many consider standard.
Massachusetts
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Massachusetts diners often tip less, even with high salaries and living costs. A younger crowd, including many students, and the rise of service fees both contribute to that habit. The average tip sits around 15%, as many believe those added charges already cover fair pay for servers.
Connecticut
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Connecticut has one of the highest income levels in the country, but its tipping habits don’t reflect it. Many restaurants add automatic charges, and older diners often stick to the traditional 15–18% range. As a result, the average tip is around 15.9%.
Washington
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Washington’s average tip is 14.9%, one of the lowest in the country. Higher minimum wages can give diners the impression that servers don’t rely on gratuity as much, which affects how people tip. The state’s café-heavy culture also plays a role. Coffee shops, breweries, and quick-service counters dominate the scene, which automatically results in smaller tips being the norm.
Nevada
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Tourism drives Nevada’s economy, but tipping doesn’t follow. The state averages 16.6%, dragged down by casino service charges and resort fees that replace traditional tipping. Many international visitors also come from places where gratuity isn’t expected, so they often skip it.
Oregon
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Oregon’s tipping culture is shaped less by white-tablecloth restaurants and more by food trucks, breweries, and casual counters. Those places don’t generate big gratuities, and higher menu prices often convince diners they’ve already covered the service. That’s why the state averages 16.4%.
Hawaii
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Despite high meal prices, Hawaii diners tip less than expected, around 14.8%. Most restaurant customers are tourists, and many come from countries where tipping isn’t standard. Combined with expensive bills, this leads to smaller tips, even in popular vacation spots with top-rated service.
Illinois
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Illinois tips are below average, even with a strong food scene. Added service fees, rising menu prices, and faster dining experiences may explain the gap. Diners often say high costs make them less likely to tip more, often limiting it to 16.4%, even when service is good.
Maryland
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Maryland diners tend to leave smaller tips, even though incomes are high. Many people eat quick meals during commutes, where tipping is less expected. In full-service restaurants, steep taxes and higher food prices may also push diners to stay closer to the minimum 15.9% range.
Rhode Island
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In Rhode Island, the tips are steady but small. With an average tip of 15.3%, the state falls on the lower end of the scale. Regular customers at local restaurants often leave less per visit. Even with a busy dining scene, tipping habits rarely go above 20%.
Colorado
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Colorado’s tipping culture hasn’t caught up with its booming food and beer scene. Many diners still see 16.6% as standard. The state’s many casual, outdoor-focused restaurants also tend to get smaller tips than full-service restaurants in bigger cities.
Minnesota
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Minnesotans leave an average tip of 16.0%, which trails the typical 20% benchmark. Many diners believe this percentage is enough, and tipping higher isn’t part of local habits. Smaller, family-run restaurants make up much of the dining landscape, and customers usually don’t tip as much in those settings.
Arizona
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Fast-casual restaurants and a large retiree customer base shape Arizona’s tipping culture, where smaller gratuities are the norm. Even in busy urban areas, many diners stick to lower percentages and reserve big tips for standout service. That pattern leaves the state with an average tip of 17.3%.