Tip screen: easily choose how much to tip

Reading time: 4 minutes

A tipping screen gives you just a few seconds to choose: 5, 10, or 20 percent - or nothing at all. The screen is designed to make you tap a high amount faster than you might intend. Want to decide the tip amount yourself? Make up your mind beforehand, be aware of the tricks involved, and use the tips below. That way, you keep your finances in check and feel good about your choice.

Lifestyle Habits Explorer: here you can read about how the tipping screen works, how it influences your behavior, and how to stay calm when it’s time to pay.

What is a tipping screen?

You see them increasingly often in the hospitality industry. You pay with your debit card, and the terminal asks: "Would you like to leave a tip?" Often, the staff member is watching. According to NU.nl, this type of screen is becoming more common in the Netherlands.

Tipping is customary here. In other countries, tips often supplement low wages, but that is not the case in the Netherlands. Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (the Dutch hospitality trade association) states that tipping remains voluntary and does not serve as a wage supplement. According to the industry, the screen also helps prevent people from forgetting to tip; with digital payments, people are more likely to overlook the spontaneous tip.

Why do you so quickly tap the 20% tip option?

The screen employs a few well-known psychological tricks:

• The anchoring effect: the screen often starts with the highest percentage. This makes 5% suddenly seem very low.
• A large box: the highest percentage is sometimes displayed in a larger size or a specific color. Your eye is automatically drawn to it.
• A hidden button: selecting "no, thank you" sometimes requires an extra tap or scrolling.
• Social pressure: the staff member is watching, so it feels awkward to choose a small amount or nothing at all.

Such design tricks are known as "dark patterns." Lotje Beek of Bits of Freedom explains that the design leads you to make a choice you might not have made otherwise. A "nudge" is a gentle push in a certain direction, yet the final choice remains yours. Consumer psychologist Patrick Wessels identifies another factor: sometimes you are paying to avoid social awkwardness, or you simply want to feel generous and sociable for a moment. That is quite different from tipping because the service was excellent.

The good news is that you are not alone in this. Being aware that the screen is steering you helps, but it doesn't eliminate the pressure entirely. That is why having a plan beforehand is useful.

How many people tip?

According to NU.nl, 61 percent of customers choose "no tip" at terminals where the tipping function is enabled. The remaining 39 percent do leave a tip. Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (the Dutch trade association for the hospitality industry) states that this is the case for most payment terminals. So, opting not to tip is quite common.

What does tipping actually cost you?

Small amounts add up. For example: you dine out for 70 euros and choose a 20 percent tip. That means you tip 14 euros. If you do that twice a month, it comes to 336 euros a year. This illustrates why having a plan can help.

Want to know more about how your brain handles money? Then read The Psychology of Money: Why saving is a strategy.

7 tips for the tipping screen

1. Decide on your amount beforehand. For example, choose a fixed percentage or a set amount per visit.
2. Include a budget item for dining out. List "dining out + tip" in your monthly plan under the "outings" category. That way, your choice won't come as a surprise. You can find a helpful explanation in Pay yourself first: build up a savings buffer.
3. Take your time. It’s okay to take a moment. Read all the button labels before you tap.
4. Look for the "no tip" button or, alternatively, "other amount." Then, choose a round figure yourself.
5. Tip for the service. Ask yourself: was it good? That way, tipping remains a compliment.
6. Consider tipping in cash. That allows you to decide the amount yourself, without using the screen.
7. Keep the "spotlight effect" in mind. People pay less attention to your choice than you think. Read more in Spotlight effect: why no one pays as much attention to you as you think

Is the tipping screen fair?

Opinions on this are divided. Marijke Leliveld, a professor of consumer ethics, finds the debate over whether a tipping screen constitutes a "nudge" or "sludge" interesting. If such a nudge is used solely to generate more revenue in the for-profit sector, it becomes "sludge." In her view, there is nothing wrong with asking for a tip more explicitly, provided there is still an alternative choice. Beek notes that it is best to present the options on an equal footing.

So, there is no need to get annoyed at every screen. Tipping remains a nice gesture, even when you choose the amount yourself.

Do keep in mind that practices vary by country. In many countries, tipping is an established custom, whereas in others it is not. So, check local customs before you travel.

Conclusion

A tipping screen is designed to make you choose quickly. With a set plan, the choice is yours. Decide in advance, include a dining-out allowance (including tips) in your budget, and you can tip whenever you feel the service was good.

Do you want more control over your spending, including smaller expenses?

• Check out our Practical Money Tips - covering financial overviews and saving strategies - and discover step-by-step how to get a clear picture of your finances.

Frequently asked questions about tipping

Am I required to tip if the screen asks for it?

No. In the Netherlands, tipping is voluntary - a view shared by the hospitality industry. You can always choose "no tip" or select a different amount.

How much should I tip in the Netherlands?

There is no fixed rule. Choose an amount that reflects the service and fits your budget.

Lifestyle Habits

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This article is based on NU.nl, "Hoe het fooienscherm je portemonnee en je zelfbeeld bespeelt" (4 October 2026). It was written by the founder of Lifestyle Habits, who holds university degrees (BSc in Business Economics and MSc in Strategic Management) and has 20+ years of work experience in the financial sector, including at a publicly listed international financial company. Lifestyle Habits works with reliable sources, complemented by years of practical experience and knowledge of finance – from budgeting and saving to investing, retirement, and creating a financial overview. Lifestyle Habits is an online platform for your personal finances to help you manage money smartly. Curious about who is behind Lifestyle Habits and what the brand stands for? Check out the webpage About Lifestyle Habits.

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