Americans Confused and Frustrated by Tipping Culture, Majority Tip 15% or Less at Restaurants

Public opposition grows against suggested tip amounts and service charges amid increasing 'tipflation'

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that Americans are increasingly confused about when and how much to tip, with only about 34% finding it easy to know whether to tip for different types of services and 33% saying the same about knowing how much to tip.
The survey revealed that tipping behavior varies widely depending on the situation, with 92% of respondents saying they always or often tip after eating at a sit-down restaurant, but only 12% saying the same about fast-casual restaurants like McDonald's or Chipotle.
There is growing opposition against suggested tip amounts and service charges, with 40% of Americans opposing suggested tip amounts and 72% opposing service charges.
Younger Americans are more likely to view tipping as an obligation rather than a choice, with 38% of Americans under 30 saying that tipping is an obligation compared to 24% of adults 65 and older.
Quality of service was the number one factor for respondents in deciding whether and how much to tip, with 77% of Americans saying service quality is a major factor in their tipping decisions.