What amount to tip can often be a complicated matter.
In recent times, companies have prompted patrons to add a tip for a coffee or beverage at a bar, with a tipping feature appearing on card payment terminals during checkout.
Tipping practices in the UK are evolving, with the average tip given through card machines at cafes, bars, and shops increasing by 9 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year, from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2025.
The typical gratuity given when settling payments via card increased from £3.44 to £3.76 on an annual basis throughout the UK.
Nevertheless, compared to the same period in 2022, the national average tip has decreased by 15 per cent, dropping from £4.44 to £3.76.
This is Money has examined tipping information from the payment service provider SumUp across numerous pubs, restaurants, cafes, stores, and other businesses. It excludes cash transactions, which may occasionally involve higher tips.
We have studied tipping habits in various UK cities throughout the year, analyzing thousands of card payment transactions from Glasgow to Southampton.
Which urban centers offer the highest gratuities?
The general pattern for tipping amounts has decreased since 2022 – but this doesn't necessarily mean people are less kind-hearted.
SumUp notes that the growing preference for using cards, even for minor purchases, which became more common during the pandemic, significantly influenced people's tipping habits.
A representative from SumUp stated: "The move towards cashless payments sped up after the pandemic, as individuals are now more inclined to use cards even for minor purchases such as buying a cup of coffee, which typically results in smaller tips in comparison."
The increased tendency to tip on smaller amounts results in a lower average tip. Moreover, the cost-of-living crisis has decreased consumers' extra income, affecting their capacity and desire to tip as they did before.
Stoke-on-Trent is recognized as the city in the UK with the highest tipping rates, based on SumUp's findings, where locals tend to give the most generous tips.
The typical gratuity in Stoke-on-Trent during the first half of 2025 amounted to £10.54.
This surged by 169 per cent from the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year, when the typical tip amount was £3.91.
Glasgow has experienced the second-largest increase in the average tip amount compared to the previous year.
In Glasgow, the average tip amounted to £2.90 in the first half of this year. In the same timeframe last year, it was £1.69.
This indicates an increase of 72 per cent from the first half of 2024 to the corresponding period in 2025.
Residents in Plymouth are among the highest tippers, with amounts starting at £5.26, although this has decreased by 25 per cent compared to £7.02 in the previous year.
The evaluation considers tips collected through a card reader when a tip is voluntarily added, excluding those given in cash or incorporated into the service charge on a food or beverage bill.
When SumUp launched its tipping feature in 2022, only a limited number of merchants were utilizing the function.
SumUp claims that by 2025, a greater number of businesses will have started using its services, which might partly explain the major transformations observed in cities such as Stoke, Glasgow, and Plymouth.
However, it might also indicate the economic expansion these cities have experienced during this time.
'Stoke continues to be the center of pottery in the UK, and due to the popularity of programs such as ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down’, Generation Z and younger groups are starting to show renewed interest in the art,' the representative stated.
Although Plymouth has also experienced some economic recovery since the pandemic, it has emerged as a center for defense and marine research and development.
Residents in Sheffield usually leave an average tip of £4.19, according to SumUp data. This marks a 35 per cent increase from the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2025.
In Hull, the average tip during the first half of the year amounted to £2.20. This represents an increase of 24 per cent compared to the first half of 2024, when it stood at £1.77.
In London, the capital of the UK, the average tip has increased by 4 per cent compared to the previous year, rising from £3.80 to £3.95.
The cities where tipping has significantly decreased
On the opposite side of the table, businesses in Derby have experienced the largest decline in tips, with the average tip dropping by 71 per cent from £8.19 to £2.36 between the first half of 2024 and 2025.
The average tips in Cardiff have decreased by 25% compared to the previous year, dropping from £2.56 in the first half of 2024 to £1.91 during the same period in 2025.
SumUp mentioned that the significant increases in these cities could be due to a lower number of merchants utilizing the tip feature on card terminals in 2022, as opposed to 2025.
Corin Camenisch, the product marketing lead at SumUp, stated: 'This data highlights the significant changes in tipping habits throughout the UK since 2022.'
The data underscores the difficulties encountered by the hospitality industry and the strength demonstrated by certain regions in adjusting to financial challenges.
Numerous hospitality employees earning minimum or living wages rely on tips as a crucial source of income. Companies that manage these tips openly contribute to the welfare of their staff, foster customer confidence, and improve the industry's image.
In October 2024, the government amended the guidelines regarding gratuities, implementing new laws that mandate all tips, regardless of being paid in cash or through a card, to be fully distributed to employees.
Camenisch states: 'With an increasing number of tips being added to card payments instead of being provided in cash, maintaining transparency and equitable distribution is turning into a key operational concern.'