Rethinking Tipping: What a U.S. Study Says About Generosity and its Thai Relevance
A recent trends report by restaurant technology provider Toast highlights how tipping culture in the United States is evolving, revealing regional differences in generosity and growing public fatigue with gratuities. The study, published in June 2025, offers insights for observers beyond America as global service norms shift.
The core finding ranks U.S. states by digital tipping, using data from Toast’s checkout system. Delaware led with an average tip of 22.1% in the first quarter of 2025, followed by West Virginia and New Hampshire at around 21% or more. California and Washington posted the lowest digital tips, at about 17.3% and 17.8% respectively. This pattern suggests how regional cost of living, hospitality expectations, and local service traditions shape tipping behavior. Researchers note that lower-cost areas in the Northeast and South may tip more, while higher-cost states see more hesitancy to add extra percentages.