Tipping fatigue is real in America. According to a recent study, one in three adults is calling what's become of the social norm "out of control." But, while there might be a segment of the population that's fed up with the 20% rule, or being asked to tip literally everywhere, not everyone is against the gesture. In fact, some parts of the country and specific generations are much more likely to leave cash on the table than others.
Financial news and education platform TradingPedia conducted a nationwide poll on the state of tipping, surveying a total of 2,005 adults across the country between February 24 and February 28, 2025. Respondents included 1,090 men and 915 women across a range of ages. Looking state by state, the report found that Californians give the lowest tips, at a 17.4% average. (Although 22.6% of the state said they tip 20%, around 17% said they give under 15% and 11% said that they don’t tip at all.) Washington State wasn't far behind, with an average of 17.4%.
Delaware, in contrast, is home to the biggest tippers, with a 21.25% average tip! This correlates with the fact that the state is known for its low taxes and lack of sales tax. West Virginia, Indiana, New Hampshire, and Iowa trailed shortly behind with similarly generous reputations. Interestingly, only 141 individuals, or 7% of respondents, say they "never" tip. And no survey participants from Kansas or Nevada opted for this answer.
Geography isn’t the only trend in tipping, either. The survey found that men typically leaving a slightly larger tip of around 19.07%, compared to an average of 18.6% for women.
Age seemingly plays a big role in the practice. And while you might think older (and presumably, a more successful generation) might have a more open-handed approach, you would be wrong. The survey found that although respondents 61 years or older did tip more consistently at, say, a sit-down restaurant, they were more apt to skip it at the grocery store or picking up takeout. They also leave smaller tips compared to younger generations—just 16.4% on average.
Gen Xers, in contrast, tip an average of 18.21% at restaurants, while Gen Z leaves an average of 19.31%. That makes Millennials the best tippers, by generation—they tip an average of 19.49% and were found to be the most reliable tippers. Guess that avocado toast is paying off!
