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I recently went to the US and was a little bit confused about the tipping procedure sometimes. I found many resources on how much to tip, but now how exactly it goes down. To my understanding, tipping in cash is preferred in most places, so that is what I tried to do. The problem is, that I used the credit card more often than cash, so I did not have enough change/small bills to pay an adequate tip. Let's see how I usually payed:

1. Receive check


2. Give credit card


3. Receive receipt


4. Leave tip in cash


5. Leave restaurant

What do I do if I do not have the right amount of cash to tip at step 4? Assuming I want to tip $10, is it okay to give a $20 and ask for $10 back? If I have no cash left, when do I say how much I want to tip? Is it acceptable to leave the tip at the table and leave?

If you don't have exact change for the tip, you can do one of two things:

1. Ask for change. Rather than saying "here's twenty, please give me ten," you can say "could you change this twenty into to two tens please" and then leave one of the tens.




2. Just add the tip to your credit card receipt. While cash may be preferred, I would estimate that over 99% of people paying with a card also leave the tip on the card. Leaving a separate cash tip is hardly necessary.

As to when you say how much you want to tip, the credit card receipt has a line on which you can add a tip amount and then enter the total before you sign it. Paying by card is usually a 2-step process. After you give your card, you get two receipts, then you sign one (usually adding a tip amount and calculating the resulting total) and return it to the server, who completes the transaction.

What do I do if I do not have the right amount of cash to tip at step 4?

Tipping a credit card is perfectly acceptable. And actually, tipping on the CC is better for the merchant and back of the house staff since it makes tip sharing easier.

Assuming I want to tip $10, is it okay to give a $20 and ask for $10 back?

Yes, absolutely.

If I have no cash left, when do I say how much I want to tip?

You rarely have to say how much, you just add it on the credit card receipt. If the merchant's card processor is not configured for tips then either:

A: They legitimately don't expect a tip so don't feel you need to leave one.

B: They will ask if you want to put the tip on the credit card.

Is it acceptable to leave the tip at the table and leave?

Yes, but you should not be careless enough to let it get stolen. In most places this isn't an issue, but, if you can leave the cash in the book or hand it to the server directly, that better.

US citizen here, and I for the most part haven't carried cash for almost 20 years. I've never thought twice about credit-card tipping.

It does seem likely that a server would prefer cash for various reasons, not least of which is that they'd likely get to take home their money sooner. But its not something to obsess about.

If it really worries you, increase the tip by a few % to make up for it. 20 years ago or so cab drivers used to be the worst about not liking credit card payments (I was told repeatedly due to the card company getting a % of their money). If I more than made up for that in the tip, I found them very appreciative.