If there’s one thing Americans can’t resist, it’s the rivalry between generations. Millennials are obsessed with their avocado toast, Gen Z is glued to their devices, Boomers pull up their bootstraps like it’s gospel, and Gen X is the middle child right between it all. Each generation navigates life differently, and though there’s a “standard” rule for tipping service workers, a new study finds each generation even views gratuity differently. If you think you know who tips most generously, you may want to take pause—the findings on which generation leaves the worst tips are more surprising than you’d think.

In February 2025, TradingPedia, a financial news and education platform, conducted a nationwide poll on tipping habits. Across 2,005 Americans, age proved to be a major factor in how much and how often people tip. Many would assume, myself included, that the elder Boomers and Gen Xers would be most generous with gratuity, while Gen Z and Millennials would be at the bottom of the ranking. Well, let me color you surprised.

Millennials, despite their reputation for being chronically broke because of coffee and avocado addiction, were found to be the highest and most reliable tippers, leaving 19.49% on average. Gen Z (yes, Gen Z) came in a close second with an average of 19.31%, followed by Gen X with 18.21%. That can only mean one shocking thing about which generation leaves the worst tips: It’s the Boomers.

While people aged 61 and older were found to tip consistently, their tipping average is quite a bit lower than the three generations beneath them at 16.4%. Another tipping habit among Boomers is declining to tip for grocery pick-up and restaurant carryout, among other more modern services. And to top it all off, Boomers are the most likely generation to not tip at all, with over 20% of surveyed individuals revealing they never tip. In contrast, 11.6% of Gen X, 3.3% of Millennials, and 3% of Gen Z report they don’t tip.

If you, like me, thought the elder generation would be the most giving when it comes to gratuity, we can chalk this up to a “you learn something new every day” moment. Despite bearing the brunt of hardship due to high cost of living and stagnant wages, the younger generations are most generous in supporting service workers—perhaps because of the shared struggle to make a living today. One thing, however, is certain: Avocado toast isn’t the issue.