Do I tip at a self-checkout?
There is no one on the other side of this transaction. You did the scanning and the bagging; the machine just asked for 20%. Nothing was served, so nothing is owed.
This is the prompt Americans like least. Pew Research found 72% say tipping is now expected in more places than five years ago, and people oppose on-screen tip suggestions 40% to 24%. A self-checkout kiosk is the poster child for that backlash.
Skip it and move on. Etiquette experts put self-serve screens firmly in the safe-to-decline column.
When to tip more
If a staffed cashier actually helps, carries a heavy order to your car, or untangles a problem, a thank-you is a kind touch. A machine never needs one.
Quick questions
Should I tip at a self-checkout?
No. There's no service to reward at a self-checkout, so a tip isn't expected. The prompt is a software default, not an obligation.
Why do self-checkouts ask for tips?
Because the payment tablet can show a tip screen by default, businesses leave it on. Pew Research found most Americans oppose these on-screen prompts.
Related situations
Verdict based on: The Emily Post Institute (2024), CNBC (2024), Pew Research Center (2023).
Tipping guide · Methodology.
General etiquette guidance, not financial or legal advice. Norms vary by region and situation, and tipping is always your call.