Is "doubling the tax" a good way to calculate tip in Manhattan?

[stah00]

I'm terrible at math, and would rather not whip out my cellphone to calculate a tip at a fine dining establishment.

Can someone give me guidelines of calculating an appropriate tip based on the amount of tax I see on the bill?

[MikeG]

For the record, NYC sales tax is now 8.875%, not 8.375%. Many people, myself included, consider doubling it a perfectly reasonable if perhaps not "generous" tip.

[mr_seabass]

MikeG, I'm with you.

[kelea]

Yeah..I'm pretty much double tip rounded up. On occasions where the wait staff was exceptional or if we were a big group then i'm at 20%

[StrawbrryF]

I agree. I don't think 20% is standard now. Only for really good service and unfortunately, that's the exception, not the rule.

[small h]

Yes, you could double the tax, which is 8.375%. But you'd be tipping a little less than the standard 20%. To tip 20% on a bill of $23.00, move the decimal point one space left and multiply by two, for a tip of $4.60. I think that's as easy (if not easier) than doubling the tax. I'm not so hot at math myself, but this, I can handle.

[stah00]

duh! sorry, don't know why that didn't occur to me earlier. *blush* thank you all

[rrems]

If you round the tax up to the next dollar and then double it, you will be at about 20%, which has become pretty much customary these days, assuming the service was good.

[duck833]

Can't you figure 10% of the bill in your head? Then just double it?

Simple matter of moving the decimal point and then times 2.