Tipping is a hot topic. In the United States, it's a cultural expectation that dining in at a restaurant means leaving a tip, usually between 15 and 25% of the total bill. But what is the protocol when picking up takeout? Do you have to tip, and if so, how much?

As more people rely on takeout or delivery food amid the pandemic, many are unsure about tipping etiquette. We're here to clear up any confusion. 

Should I Tip When Picking up Takeout Food? 

What happens when you place a takeout order at your favorite restaurant? You start by either calling or ordering online. If you call by phone, your order is taken by whoever answers (sometimes a host, but often a server or bartender) and put into the restaurant's point of sale system. The cook then gets to work, assembling your favorite chicken tenders, pad thai, or burrito.

When the food is ready, a server or a host grabs the food from the kitchen window and packages it, ensuring your order is accurate and adding any extra sauces or sides you may have requested. Depending on the restaurant, bagging a to-go order might include assembling your salad, grabbing sides out of the walk-in cooler, and putting together desserts. 

When you arrive, the server or host verifies your name, takes the payment (unless you paid while ordering online), and makes sure you have what you need to enjoy your meal. 

Here's what many diners don't realize: your to-go order is likely put together by a server who makes the tipped minimum wage—which is just $2.13 in most states. 

Why You Should Tip When Picking up To-Go Orders 

In most restaurants, a server packages and puts together to-go orders. This time pulls them away from other tasks, such as filling ice, stocking plates, rolling silverware, and waiting on dine-in customers. As tipped employees, they deserve to be tipped for their time. 

But, you think, doesn't the restaurant have to fill the gap between what the server makes and regular minimum wage? Yes, by law, restaurants are required to make up the difference, but that doesn’t always happen.

In addition to the low base pay, many servers are required to tip out several other employees, including hosts and bussers who clean tables and wash dishes. On a busy Friday night in a larger restaurant, servers could be tipping out two to four hosts and two or three bussers. 

Those tip outs are often calculated based on each server's gross sales—so failing to tip a server could result in them paying out of their pocket for boxing up your to-go order. 

When Is It Okay to Skip the Tip When Picking up Food?

Restaurants that offer counter-only service must pay their employees standard minimum wage, not the lower rate reserved for servers and other tipped employees. 

If you are picking up takeout at a restaurant that does not offer table service, you can skip the tip. However, most customers do tip at least a few dollars even for counter-only service. 

How Much Should I Tip When Picking up Takeout Food? 

Getting takeout does not require the same level of service (or time!) as eating in. So, do you still have to tip the same amount?

In general, takeout tips should be between 5 and 10% of the total bill before any discounts or promotions. If you are able, tipping up to 20% can help struggling servers make ends meet. But it is not required or expected that customers will tip the same for takeout as they would for dining in.

Final Thoughts

Tipping is a polarizing topic in the United States, with some restaurants doing away with tipping altogether. Despite the shift towards no tipping, restaurants in the country are only required to pay servers $2.13 per hour to work long, often physically exhausting shifts. Until there is a nationwide movement to pay servers more, tipping is part of the culture of dining out. 

Aim to leave 5 to 10% of your bill as a tip, even when ordering takeout. If you can leave more, your servers and favorite restaurants will be grateful.

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