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Tipping in Detroit
Michigan
Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, and Vegas-style at the three downtown casinos — dealers and cocktail servers work for tips.
What to tip in Detroit
| Service | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurants | 18–20% | Standard. Detroit's restaurant scene has grown fast and conventions match any big US city. |
| Casino dealers | $5–10/hour, or a bet | MGM Grand, MotorCity and Hollywood at Greektown all run full casino floors. Tip dealers as you would in Las Vegas — a chip bet for the dealer is the classic way. |
| Casino cocktail servers | $1–2 per drink | Drinks on the floor are inexpensive or comped; the tip is the point. |
| Coney island diners | Round up, $2–3 minimum | Bills at the classic coney counters are small enough that 18% is pocket change — round up instead. |
| Bars & pubs | $1–2 per drink | Standard per-drink tipping. |
| Taxis & rideshare | 15–20% | Rideshare covers most trips; the QLine streetcar handles the Woodward corridor. |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3–5/night | Leave cash daily. |
| Stadium food & drinks | Not required | Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena concessions are counter service. |
What's different here
- •Michigan pays tipped staff $5.49 an hour in cash, and the rate rises annually until it reaches 50% of the state minimum wage in 2031 — a middle path between the $2.13 states and the full-wage West Coast.
- •Detroit has three full casinos within a couple of miles of downtown — MGM Grand, MotorCity, and Hollywood at Greektown. Casino tipping conventions (dealers, cocktail servers, slot attendants) apply exactly as they do in Las Vegas.
- •Ford Field hosts the NCAA Men's Final Four on 3 and 5 April 2027 — the city's biggest influx of visitors since 2009. Conventions don't change during event week, but downtown valet and bell staff are worth having cash ready for.
- •Windsor, Canada is a tunnel ride away. Tipping across the border runs a similar 15–20% — see the Canada guide before you cross.