# This or That Tip Jar Ideas for Cafes, Bars and Food Trucks Source: https://thisorthatquestion.com/this-or-that-tip-jar Updated: 2026-11-11 Label two clear jars with the two sides of a question and let customers vote with their tips. Change it every week or two. ## Quick facts - A this or that tip jar uses two jars side by side, one for each answer, and each tip counts as a vote. - Clear jars work best because customers can see which side is winning, and a close race pulls in more tips. - Most shops change the question every week or two. Regulars stop voting once they have answered the same question. - Pairs with no wrong answer split the vote most evenly, for example "Pancakes or Waffles?" or "Beach or Mountains?". - Keep politics, religion and real people off the jar. Customers who disagree with a topic like that tip less, not more. ## Food and drink tip jar ideas Food matchups suit any counter that serves food. People hold strong opinions about breakfast and pizza toppings, so these pairs split close to 50/50. 1. Pancakes or Waffles? 2. Coffee or Tea? 3. Iced coffee or Hot coffee? 4. Pineapple on pizza or No pineapple? 5. Tacos or Burritos? 6. Crunchy peanut butter or Smooth peanut butter? 7. Fries or Tater tots? 8. Ketchup or Mustard? 9. Chocolate or Vanilla? 10. Cake or Pie? 11. Sweet or Salty? 12. Bagel or Croissant? 13. Cereal before milk or Milk before cereal? 14. Ranch or Blue cheese? 15. Hot sauce or No hot sauce? ## Pets and animals "Cats or Dogs?" is the most common this or that tip jar question. Run it first, then rotate to the less obvious pairs below. 1. Cats or Dogs? 2. Penguins or Otters? 3. Big dogs or Small dogs? 4. Sharks or Dolphins? 5. Owls or Eagles? 6. Hamster or Goldfish? 7. Lions or Tigers? 8. Bunnies or Kittens? 9. Pandas or Koalas? 10. Raccoons or Possums? ## Lifestyle and everyday habits 1. Early bird or Night owl? 2. Beach or Mountains? 3. Summer or Winter? 4. Books or Movies? 5. Texting or Calling? 6. Socks with sandals or Never? 7. Shower in the morning or Shower at night? 8. Toilet paper over or Toilet paper under? 9. Road trip or Flight? 10. Sunrise or Sunset? 11. City or Countryside? 12. Paper map or GPS? 13. Rain or Snow? 14. Camping or Hotel? 15. Pajamas all day or Dressed by 9? 16. Hoodie or Sweater? 17. Window seat or Aisle seat? 18. Bath or Shower? 19. Sneakers or Boots? 20. Podcasts or Music? ## Pop culture and silly matchups Silly pairs work best at bars and late-night counters. Customers laugh, argue with friends, and then tip to settle it. 1. Vampires or Werewolves? 2. Pirates or Ninjas? 3. Zombies or Aliens? 4. Time travel or Teleportation? 5. Invisibility or Flying? 6. Dinosaurs or Robots? 7. Hogwarts or Narnia? 8. Batman or Superman? 9. Star Wars or Star Trek? 10. Mario or Sonic? 11. Elves or Dwarves? 12. Ghosts or Bigfoot? 13. Unicorns or Dragons? 14. Free pizza for life or Free coffee for life? 15. Fight one horse-sized duck or Fight 100 duck-sized horses? ## How to set up a this or that tip jar 1. Get two matching clear jars. Mason jars or deli containers both work. 2. Write one option on each jar in large letters. Customers should read it from 6 feet away. 3. Put the full question on a small sign between the jars, for example "Pancakes or Waffles? Vote with your tip." 4. Place the jars next to the register or the pickup spot, where customers wait with change in hand. 5. Count each jar at the end of the week and post the winner on a chalkboard or on your shop's social media. 6. Swap in a new question the next day. Keep a list of 20 pairs so you never run out. ## What makes a tip jar question work - Pick pairs that split the room. If 9 out of 10 people pick one side, the race feels over and voting stops. - Use 1 to 3 words per side. Customers decide in the second it takes to hand over change. - Match the crowd. Coffee shops do well with breakfast and pet pairs; bars do well with silly pairs. - Tie the question to the season: "Pumpkin spice or Peppermint mocha?" in fall, "Beach or Pool?" in summer. - Let staff pick sides. A barista cheering for one jar gives customers a reason to join in. - Announce the winner. Posting results gives regulars a reason to come back and vote on the next one. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a this or that tip jar? A this or that tip jar is a pair of tip jars, each labeled with one side of a question such as "Cats or Dogs?". Customers vote by dropping their tip in the jar they agree with. Baristas, bartenders and food truck crews use them because a playful vote gets people to tip who would otherwise walk past a single jar. ### What are good this or that tip jar ideas? Good this or that tip jar ideas use two options with no wrong answer, such as Cats or Dogs, Pancakes or Waffles, Coffee or Tea, and Beach or Mountains. Pick pairs that split your customers close to evenly, keep each side to three words or fewer, and change the question every week or two. ### How does a this or that tip jar work? A this or that tip jar works by turning tips into votes. You set out two jars, label each with one answer to a question, and customers drop their tip into the jar they agree with. The jar with more money wins, and you post the result before starting a new question. ### Do this or that tip jars actually increase tips? Often, yes, but test it. A two-jar vote gives customers who skip a plain jar a reason to tip, because picking a side feels like a game. Results depend on your crowd and the question, so run one pair for a week and compare the total with a normal week. ### What should I avoid on a tip jar? Avoid politics, religion, sports rivalries in a divided town, and real public figures. These topics push some customers away from tipping at all. Also avoid pairs with an obvious winner, because a lopsided jar tells people the vote is already settled. ### Where can I find tip jar ideas this or that style for a bar? Use the pop culture and silly matchups on this page, such as Pirates or Ninjas and Vampires or Werewolves. Bar customers often vote in groups, so pairs that start a friendly argument at the table work better than food or pet questions. ### How often should I change the question? Change the question every one to two weeks. Regulars vote once and then ignore the jars, so a fresh pair gives them a new reason to tip. Busy shops with many first-time customers can run a strong question such as Cats or Dogs for longer. ### What jars should I use? Use two identical clear jars so neither side looks bigger. Wide-mouth mason jars, large deli containers and clear acrylic tip boxes all work. Clear sides let customers watch the race, and a close race prompts more people to tip.