How much should you tip?

We've all been there: Staring at a screen that prompts you to "leave a tip," and three options to press. How much should you tip for a meal these days? How about a coffee or a hot dog at a baseball game? In this episode, Clare and guest host Brandi Fullwood dig into the data on tipping, and how it impacts workers in restaurants of all shapes and sizes. 

Listen to Brandi's podcast Seattle Eats wherever you're listening to this episode. 

Have a question we should answer on the show? Click here to tell us using our online form, or email the team at ControlF@kuow.org

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Sources in this episode:

• The Land of the Fee (2021), Throughline from NPR, 2021
• Tipping Culture in America: Public Sees a Changed Landscape, Pew Research Center, 2022
• Average Restaurant Tip Percentages & Tipping Trends in the U.S. (2026), Toast, 2026
• Square Food & Beverage Data Reveals Higher Tipping Rates and Growing "High-Low" Spending Pattern, Square, 2026
• A Critical Exploration of Tipping Practices in the American Hospitality Landscape from a Qualitative Approach, 2024

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