People in These 11 States Are the Worst Tippers (Is Yours on the List?)

No matter how frequently you dine out or how often you try to stretch your restaurant budget, you've probably noticed how tipping habits can vary a lot depending on where you are. 

Toast, a payment and technology platform for restaurants, recently released its "Restaurant Trends Report" for the first quarter of 2025. This report offers various insights, including just how generous (or not) diners really are across the United States.

So, which states ranked the lowest? See below and find out if your state is one of the 10 doling out tips sparingly.

New Jersey is unique: residents tend to tip 19.4% at full-service restaurants (FSRs), but tips drop to under 14% at quick-service restaurants (QSRs), such as fast-food or hybrid counter-service spots. 

While New Jersey isn't the lowest for total tips, its quick-service tipping (the lowest of any state) brings its average down.

Head south to Georgia for the 9th-lowest overall tipping rate. That 18.8% tip helps to offset the fact that Georgia has no minimum wage. 

Servers in the state can earn as little as $7.25 per hour, including tips, which allows employers to pay as little as $2.13 per hour.

Texas is one of three states with an average tip of 18.7%, which places it on this list of low-tipping states. It seems that Texans might have high standards for what they consider good service when they go out to eat, which could explain the small tips they leave.

Hungry customers in Mississippi are willing to tip 18.7% on average, which servers likely appreciate, given that the state defaults to the federal minimum wage.

As for FSRs, Mississippians fall just under the national average at 19.1%, but its QSRs average of 16.5% drove its average down.

Even though New York City is famous for its high costs, that doesn't seem to affect how much people tip in the state. New York diners have even been described as "demanding."

However, the 18.7% overall tipping average is drastically pulled down by New York residents tipping just 15.2% for quick-service restaurants, which is among the lowest rates of all states.

Arkansas's tipping average closely matches several of its neighbors. But that 18.6% tipping average pales in comparison to the 19.3% and 19.4% diners are tipping in Oklahoma and Tennessee, respectively.

If you add Missouri's impressive 19.9% overall tipping rate to the mix, it's easy to see why Arkansas made this list.

The next state on the list, Louisiana, has no state laws regarding minimum wage or tips like other lower-tipping states.

Nevertheless, restaurant-goers don't see a need to noticeably make up the difference, tipping 18.5% on average and 19% at full-service restaurants.

Florida, known as the Sunshine State, ties with Nevada for having one of the lowest overall tipping rates at 18.2%. At full-service restaurants, Floridians tip an average of 18.5%. In contrast, at QSRs, the average tip in Florida is 15.6%.

Nevada ranks third lowest (alongside Florida) in overall tipping, perhaps because it has a comparatively higher minimum wage at $12 per hour. Nevada employers also cannot include tips in that amount.

There's a wider tipping spread between the types of establishments, however. Tipping jumps to 18.7% for full-service but falls to 15.7% for quick service for the state, bringing down the overall average.

Washington diners tip the second least after California. They add about 17.8% overall and 18.3% to the bill at FSRs.

Like several other states, the law prevents tips from counting toward the minimum wage, so tips are always in addition to the base pay of at least $16.66 per hour, potentially affecting tipping behavior.

California has the lowest average tip at 17.3% and the lowest average tip at full-service restaurants: 17.8%.

This isn't surprising, as the state has one of the highest minimum wages in the country at $16.50 per hour. Many servers earn even more due to the state's ban on using tips to meet the minimum wage requirement.

Tipping used to be about showing appreciation for good service, but it may also hint at deeper economic trends. States with higher average tips might have more individuals showing signs of financial success, while on the flip side, smaller tips might reflect tighter budgets.

Either way, the next time you're out and having a great meal, remember that the person responsible is doing their best and might appreciate the acknowledgement.