Does New Hampshire have sales tax?

No general sales tax, but it charges an 8.5 percent meals and rooms tax on restaurant meals, alcohol, hotel rooms and rental cars.

What is the New Hampshire meals tax rate?

8.5 percent, the same across the whole state, with no city or county meals tax added.

Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?

Either is fine. Most people tip on the pre-tax subtotal, and the difference is small.

Is takeout food taxed in New Hampshire?

Prepared takeout from a restaurant is generally treated as a meal and taxed. Basic groceries are not.

Do I tip on top of an automatic gratuity?

Not usually. If a charge on the check is for the staff, you do not need to add another tip. If it is unclear, ask your server.

Food culture

New Hampshire meals tax and tipping: what the restaurant check adds

Mosey · November 11, 2026 · 5 min read

New Hampshire's license plate says "Live Free or Die", and its tax policy is often summed up as "no sales tax". That is true of shopping, but it is not true of restaurant meals. The state charges a meals and rooms tax on meals, alcohol, hotel rooms and rental cars, and it appears on your restaurant check. Know the rate, what it covers and how it changes the tip, and the check holds no surprises.

What is the New Hampshire meals tax?

The Meals and Rooms Tax is a state tax charged to patrons of restaurants, hotels and rental car companies. The rate is 8.5 percent. It applies to prepared food and drink served at a restaurant, including beer, wine and liquor, whether or not food is served. Basic groceries are not taxed. Rates can change when the legislature acts, so check the Department of Revenue Administration if the number matters.

How does it appear on the check?

Most restaurants list the tax on a separate line near the bottom of the check, after the subtotal, with a total that includes it. Some restaurants include the tax in the menu price, and the check or the menu should say so. If you cannot tell whether tax is included, ask your server.

How much is the tax on a typical meal?

At 8.5 percent, a $50 meal adds $4.25, for a total of $54.25 before the tip. A $100 dinner adds $8.50. The rate is the same across the state, with no city or county meals tax added. That makes New Hampshire simpler than states where local rates differ.

Should you tip on the tax?

Most Americans tip on the pre-tax subtotal, since the tax is not the server's service. Others tip on the total for simplicity. The difference is small. On a $50 subtotal, an 18 percent tip is $9.00, whereas on the $54.25 total it is $9.77. Either is acceptable, and servers rarely mind. For large checks, calculating on the pre-tax amount saves a few dollars.

How much should you tip in New Hampshire?

For table service, 18 to 20 percent is the common range. For counter service, a dollar or two or a round-up is customary, and many card readers suggest amounts. For delivery or takeout, a few dollars for a larger order is appreciated. In New Hampshire, employers can pay tipped workers a lower cash wage than the standard minimum, provided tips bring them up to the full minimum, so tips are a larger part of a server's income than in states with no tip credit. Check the state labor department for current figures.

What about service charges and large parties?

Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for large parties, typically six or eight and above, and it appears on the check. Whatever the case, the check will show the charge. Do not tip twice unless you want to leave extra.

What does a typical New Hampshire check look like?

Imagine a table of two with two entrees at $22 each, a shared appetizer at $12 and two drinks at $8 each. The subtotal is $72. The meals tax at 8.5 percent is $6.12, so the total before the tip is $78.12. An 18 percent tip on the subtotal is $12.96, and a 20 percent tip is $14.40. The card is charged about $91 to $92.50. If you want a rule of thumb, the tax is a bit less than a tenth of the subtotal, and the tip is a bit less than a fifth.

At a counter, the tax is added at the register, and a card reader may ask for a tip before showing the final total. You can usually choose a percentage, a custom amount or no tip. If the reader does not show the tax, ask the cashier.

Is alcohol taxed too?

Yes. Beer, wine and liquor served in a restaurant are subject to the same meals and rooms tax. Alcohol bought in a state liquor store is not taxed at the register, because New Hampshire has no sales tax and the state liquor stores price their stock accordingly.

How does this compare with shopping?

Retail shopping in New Hampshire has no sales tax, which attracts shoppers from Massachusetts and Maine. Restaurant meals are the exception, so a family from out of state may find the meal more expensive than they expect compared with a store. Takeout food from a restaurant is generally treated like a meal, so the tax applies. A basic grocery item is not taxed.

What if the tax looks wrong?

Check the check against the menu prices, and ask the server to explain any charge. If you think a restaurant has charged tax incorrectly, you can contact the state revenue department.

How do you remember the New Hampshire places worth a good tip?

The meal and the service arrive together, so note both. In the Mosey app, rate the dish by name and add a line such as lovely server or quick lunch, so the places that looked after you are easy to find again. Keep them in a list for each region you visit, share it with friends who ask for tips, and follow friends whose taste you trust. A note written at the table is more useful than a memory of last August.

Rate your next New Hampshire meal in the Mosey app and keep the list for your next trip.

Common questions

Does New Hampshire have sales tax?
No general sales tax, but it charges an 8.5 percent meals and rooms tax on restaurant meals, alcohol, hotel rooms and rental cars.
What is the New Hampshire meals tax rate?
8.5 percent, the same across the whole state, with no city or county meals tax added.
Should I tip on the pre-tax or post-tax amount?
Either is fine. Most people tip on the pre-tax subtotal, and the difference is small.
Is takeout food taxed in New Hampshire?
Prepared takeout from a restaurant is generally treated as a meal and taxed. Basic groceries are not.
Do I tip on top of an automatic gratuity?
Not usually. If a charge on the check is for the staff, you do not need to add another tip. If it is unclear, ask your server.
Is alcohol in a restaurant taxed?
Yes, at the same rate as food.