Yes, 20% has increasingly become the expected tip for good service at sit-down restaurants in the United States. This shift reflects rising costs and greater awareness of how much service workers depend on tips. Many etiquette experts now recommend 20% as the starting point rather than 15%.

The easiest mental math trick is to find 10% of the bill by moving the decimal point one place left, then double it. For example, 10% of $100 is $10, so 20% is $20. This makes 20% one of the simplest tip percentages to calculate without a calculator.

Traditionally, tips are calculated on the pre-tax subtotal of the bill. However, many people tip on the total including tax for simplicity, and servers certainly appreciate the extra amount. Either approach is acceptable, so choose whichever method you're most comfortable with.