Seattle named US’ most generous tipping city

38 percent of online food orders in Seattle contained a tip of more than 20 percent

New research shows that consumers are digging deeper in their pockets to support restaurant workers as the holiday season begins in earnest. Research from restaurant website design company Popmenu claims that more than half of consumers surveyed say they have been tipping restaurant workers more than they did prior to the pandemic with many leaning toward tips of 20 percent or higher. Popmenu’s research included a nationwide survey of 1,000 US consumers and an in-depth analysis of approximately 450,000 online food orders placed over the last six months.

The study found that 58 percent of consumers say they have increased the amount they typically tip servers and delivery drivers during the pandemic; 30 percent have been tipping the same; six percent have been tipping less and six percent don’t typically tip at all

“The pandemic has created a more giving America when it comes to tipping restaurant staff,” said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and co-founder of Popmenu.

“Consumers know this is an industry that has been hit hard and they want to support their favourite eateries, especially staples of their local community. As discussions around compensation structure for restaurant workers continue throughout the industry, this is good news for a profession that is largely dependent upon the generosity of guests in recognition of great food and service.”

Popmenu says it also analysed a sample of approximately 450,000 online food orders placed in the last 180 days to compile a list of top cities with the highest percentage of orders that included tips of 20 percent or higher. On average, around one in four orders in these cities included tips of 20 percent or more. In the top three, 38 percent of online orders included tips of 20 percent or more. 

Seattle was named as the most generous city in the US when it comes to tipping, while Austin, Texas, came in second place. Nashville, Tennessee, Detroit, Michigan, and Denver, Colorado, completed the top five – all registering more than 30 percent of online orders that contained a tip of more than 20 percent.