• by Teresa Buyikian , October 9, 2025

Tipping culture seemingly permeates every corner of the restaurant and services industry, from the barista to even the fast-food worker -- but consumers have apparently had enough.

That's according to the results of the annual 2025 study of 1,000 U.S. consumers conducted by restaurant technology provider Popmenu. Nearly two-thirds -- 65% -- of respondents said they’re  “fed up” with tipping. This stat is up from 60% in 2024 and 53% in 2023.

The aftereffects of tipping fatigue don’t bode well for service workers: 43% of consumers say they now are tipping less this year, in part due to the exhaustion they experience from being asked to tip more than 10 times per week for various services. In fact, 44% have tipped, at least once per week, “at establishments where they don't think it's customary or warranted,” with 66% feeling pressured to tip when shown gratuity amounts on digital payment screens, “especially when prompted in front of employees.”

“Guilt tipping” has emerged as the result of tipping in situations when the service was poor, which was reported by 64% of those surveyed. Often 52% consumers tipped “when they felt bad for a worker,” and 45% tipped so they wouldn’t “look cheap. 

"Tipflation is taking its toll on consumers who are fed up with feeling pressured to dig deeper into their pockets several times a week, often at places where it may not be customary," said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and Co-founder of Popmenu, in a press release. "While tipping trends are looking better for restaurant staff this year, workers who rely on gratuities to supplement lower-base incomes need to be watchful of a longer-term negative effect on earning potential."

But all is not lost for those restaurant servers who rely on tips: 45% of consumers reported tipping servers 20% or more, which is up from 38% last year. Only 23% tip delivery drivers 20% or more. And while full-service and fast-casual restaurant workers make the highest dollar amount in tips, other food service employees aren’t totally out of luck: 46% of those surveyed still tip at coffee shops, 32% tip at food trucks and 27% tip at fast-food establishments.