The common "tipping" screen makes many customers feel uncomfortable. (Photo by bigshot01 on Shutterstock)

In A Nutshell

Americans are “guilt tipping” less in 2025, spending $283 on pressure-driven tips, down from $453 in 2024.

The average person now gives in to tip pressure 4.2 times a month, compared to 6.3 times last year.

41% say the cost of living led them to reduce tips, while only 11% report tipping more.

78% of Americans think businesses should pay employees more instead of relying on customer tips.

NEW YORK — That awkward moment when the coffee shop tablet swivels toward you with tip options starting at 20%? More Americans are hitting “no tip” this year compared to last year, and they’re keeping serious money in their pockets as a result. This shift in consumer behavior is not only influenced by personal choice but also by an evolving perception of social expectations surrounding tips.

New research shows Americans spent $283 on pressure-driven tips in 2025, down 38% from the $453 they reluctantly handed over in 2024. The average person now caves to tipping pressure 4.2 times per month, compared to 6.3 times last year, according to a Talker Research survey of 2,000 Americans.

The shift reveals how consumers are getting braver about resisting social pressure at checkout counters nationwide. Each month, the typical American still tips $24 more than they think is fair due to awkwardness or pressure, but that reluctant generosity is clearly declining.

More Americans are finally just saying “no” to those annoying “guilt” tips. (Credit: Sadi-Santos/Shutterstock) The Great Tip Screen Revolt

Twenty percent of Americans admit they always or often tip higher because they feel guilty or pressured. But about three in ten (29%) say they rarely or never give in to these tactics anymore.

The rebellion comes as tip screens have gotten more aggressive. About 37% of people noticed tipping options have crept higher than before, though that’s down from 48% who said the same thing in 2024. Either the tip inflation has slowed, or people have stopped paying attention to those ever-climbing suggested amounts.

Rising Costs Drive Tipping Cuts

Economic pressures are clearly influencing how Americans tip. Forty-one percent say the cost of living has led them to reduce their tips, while only 11% report tipping more in 2025. Overall, 22% of Americans now tip less across all situations.

Yet empathy for workers hasn’t disappeared entirely. About 32% of people say they tip more specifically to support service employees, showing that many Americans can distinguish between helping workers and simply giving in to corporate pressure tactics.

What Americans Really Want: Better Wages, Not More Tips

The most telling finding? A whopping 78% of Americans think businesses should pay employees more instead of relying on tips. This overwhelming majority points to growing frustration with companies that shift labor costs onto customers through increasingly pushy payment screens.

Americans appear to be catching on to how the tipping system works and many don’t like being asked to subsidize wages that employers should be paying.

Methodology

Talker Research conducted the online survey between May 9-15, 2025, polling 2,000 Americans recruited through opt-in research panels and programmatic sampling. Participants received small incentives for completing the survey. The research team used quality controls to exclude rushed responses, bots, and duplicate entries. Results apply only to Americans with internet access and may not represent those without online connectivity.