If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you know how much servers depend on tips. For many, tips aren’t just a bonus, they’re the majority of their income. A good tip can make a shift worthwhile, while bad tipping habits can completely ruin their day. Servers notice the patterns, and there are some customer behaviors they wish would disappear.
These are the tipping habits that servers say are the absolute worst.
Leaving Coins as a Tip
Nothing feels more dismissive than finding a handful of coins left behind as a tip. It’s not about the amount as much as the message it sends, because loose change feels thoughtless, as if the effort to bring out a proper bill wasn’t worth it.
Even when the total adds up, carrying around a pile of coins is a hassle. When possible, use paper money or add the tip electronically to show a little extra care.
Tipping Based on Pre-Tax Amount
It may not seem a big deal to tip only on the pre-tax total, but to servers it can come across as nitpicky. The difference might not seem huge to the customer, but over dozens of tables in a shift, it adds up.
Servers put in the same amount of effort regardless of how taxes are applied to your meal. A tip based on the full bill, including taxes, shows respect for the person serving you.
Leaving Nothing Because You Didn’t Like the Food
Servers don’t prepare the meals; they deliver them and ensure your experience is smooth. Taking out your frustration over a poorly cooked steak or cold soup by withholding the tip punishes the wrong person. If you’re unhappy with the food, bring it up with the manager or chef.
Writing “Get a Real Job” on the Receipt
Few things are as hurtful as leaving a note like “Get a real job” instead of a tip. Working as a server is physically demanding and mentally exhausting, often requiring skills like multitasking, problem-solving, and handling difficult people. This kind of comment adds an unnecessary layer of cruelty.
Leaving Tips in Foreign Currency
Don’t leave coins or bills from another country because servers can’t do much with it. Foreign currency is hard to exchange and, for most, completely useless. For the server, it feels like being handed Monopoly money when they need something they can actually spend.
Stick to local currency or tip through the restaurant’s system.
Claiming You Don’t Believe in Tipping
While you might have strong opinions on how the tipping system should work, the reality is that servers depend on tips to make a livable wage. If you choose to eat out, it’s part of the unspoken agreement to tip for the service you receive.
Instead of making a statement, support the person who’s working hard to make your experience enjoyable.
Splitting a Check and Forgetting to Tip Proportionally
When a group decides to split the check, tipping can easily fall through the cracks. It’s common for someone to assume another person will cover it, leaving the tip short or nonexistent. For servers, big tables mean more work, and missing out on the proper tip after all that effort is frustrating.
Leaving a Religious Pamphlet Instead of Money
A pamphlet on spirituality or religion might be heartfelt, but it doesn’t pay bills. While the gesture might be meant to inspire, to the server it feels dismissive of their time and effort. If you want to share a message, combine it with a fair tip to show you value their service as much as their soul.
Stiffing on the Tip for Large Parties
Big groups create more work for servers, from keeping track of multiple orders to managing requests. Despite the effort involved, some people think it’s okay to tip less on a large bill because the total seems higher.
For servers, these tables require extra coordination, and a skimpy tip doesn’t reflect the additional workload.
Tipping Based on Your Personal Mood
How you feel that day shouldn’t dictate how much you tip. Servers often get stiffed by customers who are in a bad mood, even when the service is excellent. It’s important to separate your personal frustrations from the dining experience. Tipping is should not be an outlet for expressing your own emotional state.
Paying in Cash but Forgetting to Tip
Cash payments might seem easier, but it’s not uncommon for customers to leave without tipping in the confusion of gathering change. If you’re paying with cash, double-check that you’ve left a tip on the table before walking out the door. It’s an easy way to make sure your server feels appreciated.
Using a Coupon and Then Tipping on the Reduced Total
Discounts are great for saving money, but they shouldn’t reduce what you leave for the server. Some customers only tip on the amount after the coupon, which means the server earns less even though they provided the same level of service.
Always tip based on the original bill to ensure the server is fairly compensated.
Asking for a Million Customizations and Leaving a Small Tip
Custom orders require extra attention, from making sure the kitchen gets it right to handling your unique preferences. Servers go out of their way to make sure everything is perfect, which takes more time and effort. When customers leave a small tip after demanding extra care, it feels unappreciative. Leave a tip that reflects the added effort your server put in.
Tipping Less Because “It’s Just Coffee”
Some customers think smaller orders don’t deserve a full tip, but the effort behind the counter is the same. Grabbing a quick coffee might seem low-effort, but baristas and servers still work hard to prepare your order and keep things moving.
Leaving a little extra for their work shows that you respect the care that went into your experience, no matter how simple the order.
Ignoring the To-Go Tip Option
Takeout orders might not involve table service, but they still require effort. Packing the order, ensuring accuracy, and preparing everything takes time that could be spent serving other customers. Adding a small tip for to-go orders is a great way to acknowledge this effort.
Leaving the Tip as an Afterthought
Walking out of the restaurant without leaving a tip, even unintentionally, is one of the worst habits. Servers rely on tips to make up for low hourly wages, and forgetting to tip means they worked hard without fair compensation. Make tipping part of your routine when dining out, so it’s never overlooked.
Leaving a Tip Based on Personal Biases
Sometimes customers base their tipping habits on personal biases, such as the server’s appearance, age, ethnicity, or accent, rather than the service provided. Servers work hard to ensure every customer has a great experience, regardless of their background.
Tipping should be about the quality of service, not personal judgments.
Complaining About Prices Then Skimping on the Tip
Servers don’t set the menu prices, but some customers take their frustration about a pricey meal out on them. Leaving a smaller tip because you thought the food was too expensive is unfair to the person who served you. Servers work hard to provide a good experience, regardless of the cost of your order and tipping reflects the service, not the restaurant’s pricing.